Скачать или смотреть Resolving the PDF Loading Issue in Android WebView

Discover effective solutions to open PDF files in Android WebView, including helpful code snippets and troubleshooting tips.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/65931122/ asked by the user 'ganjaam' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8192914/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/65931230/ provided by the user 'Rezaul Karim' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/10123247/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Can’t Open PDF File Using WebView? Here’s the Solution!

Working with WebView in Android can sometimes present challenges, especially when it comes to displaying files like PDFs. If you’ve ever faced the issue where your WebView loads web pages but fails to display a PDF file, you’re not alone! In this guide, we'll explore what might be causing the issue and how to resolve it effectively.

Understanding the Problem

When embedding PDFs in an Android WebView, some developers experience difficulties where the PDF does not load or display properly. In fact, you may have code that appears correct, and you might even be able to open the PDF directly in a web browser such as Google Chrome. Yet when you try to open it via your Android app, the PDF won't show up at all.

This problem occurs because WebView doesn't handle PDF files natively; instead, it behaves more like a simple browser with limited capabilities. In many cases, it lacks the proper plugins or handlers to render PDF content.

The Solution: Using Google Drive to View PDFs

A popular workaround to this issue is to utilize Google Drive as a viewer for PDFs. By redirecting the display of PDF files through Google Drive, you can ensure that your WebView effectively shows the content. Below, you will find the necessary code to implement this solution smoothly.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Enable JavaScript in WebView:
Ensure that JavaScript is enabled, as this is necessary for loading dynamic content.

Modify the URL:
Instead of loading the PDF directly, append it to a Google Drive URL that will act as a viewer.

Load the New URL:
Use the modified URL in the loadUrl method of your WebView.

Code Example

Here’s a refined version of the code you can use to display PDFs in your WebView.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

XML Layout Code

Make sure your XML layout has a WebView component defined correctly like below:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Permissions in AndroidManifest.xml

Don’t forget to include the necessary permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Final Thoughts

By utilizing Google Drive's capabilities, you can seamlessly display PDF documents within your Android application. This method not only works effectively but also avoids complex implementations.

If you encounter further issues, ensure that the URLs are correctly formatted and that you have a stable internet connection. Happy coding, and may your PDFs load effortlessly!