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Stability with pdf documents?!?!?

Question asked by user25183 on Feb 12, 2019
Latest reply on Feb 13, 2019 by user25183

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I have an FMP doc that contains lots of image and pdf.

I recently added a Table that essentially contains a scan in PDF format for each record. It is not connected to other tables.

Structure is simple : RecordId, DocumentDate, DocumentName, Document (Container), keyword[1..10], notes

When navigating in the Document Table it crashes many times (a series of crash), then stop an can be stable for hours.

It doesn't look like it is record related. Container are stored internally. I have noticed issues with pdf since a few version, now it is just not workable.

I have an iMac, FMPadv 16.0.5.500

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Jason Wood Feb 12, 2019 7:46 AM
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When navigating in the Document Table
What specifically precipitates the crash? Navigating to a layout based on the documents table? Moving between records?

Is it really a crash (app closes and crash report comes up), or do you get the beach ball and need to force quit?

Are there any script triggers, unstored calculations, or summary fields on the problematic layout(s)?
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 12, 2019 8:03 AM
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Crash to the report screen, no beach ball.

There is no script in the layout except Button for navigation single step in the style "go to next record".

It can be "Go to layout" from a list layout that doesn't show the container field, moving between records using FMP button or mine, adding a record (just happen a minute ago again) right click to "Insert PDF" choose file and Bang.

I have got the beach ball a few time on "Insert PDF" will take sometimes or I would press esc.
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Jason Wood @ user25183 on Feb 12, 2019 8:06 AM
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Is this a hosted solution and does the problem occur on multiple devices?

If not hosted, can you try opening on another device? If that works, try reinstalling FileMaker or try disabling any plug-ins.
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 12, 2019 8:32 AM
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It is not hosted, the solution is used on 2 Mac the second using the first as host. That layout might not be used on the second device. I will try!

There is no plug-in! Reinstalling, back to Windows!

Is there a limit on the size of PDF, or suggested max size? Could a multi-page document be in another format?

Should the container be in another table? another file?
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Jason Wood @ user25183 on Feb 12, 2019 8:54 AM
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Limit is 4GB.

I recommend external container storage but it shouldn't matter for this. Different table/file shouldn't matter either.

Looks like Acrobat has caused this problem in the past. Filemaker Pro 16 crashing when adding pdf reference to interactive container.

Try removing the two Adobe plugin files from
[Hard Disk] -> Library -> Internet Plug-Ins -> AdobePDFViewer.plugin
[Hard Disk] -> Library -> Internet Plug-Ins -> AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin
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Jason Wood @ Jason Wood on Feb 12, 2019 8:57 AM
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By the way, every time you crash with a local file open, there is considerable risk that the file will be corrupted. You may not know about this until years in the future when problems become apparent. Recommend reverting to a backup after every crash, and further, use FMS if possible.
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 12, 2019 12:24 PM
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Hi Jason
Thanks for all the information. Just make it less and less reassuring to use FMP.
It is too late to do the backup and it would make it unreliable. How would you do that with multi-user? Ask everyone to take a break to restore from back up, so a few records will be missing and use it again. 5 minutes later do the same, what is missing at the end of the day, week, year....

I considering moving my stuff to Windows with a reliable DB. FileMaker/Apple is not fixing things, not answering they just push the war with Adobe that is going on for years! Who's paying, the hand user.

I will remove the extension but I don't think is it the problem, I have other solution in FMP that work don't crash and have many scripts behind.
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Jason Wood @ user25183 on Feb 12, 2019 1:03 PM
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Peer to peer sharing is not recommended for a production environment and in fact the feature is deprecated as of FileMaker 18 (link). A dedicated FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud is the way to host in a multi-user environment. FileMaker Server protects the file from damage in the event of a client crash or network interruption.
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 12, 2019 1:26 PM
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Thanks for the warning.
Meaning that My actual usage will be impossible in after the next update. Two Mac and an iPad and iPhone to consult some FileMaker Database.
I should change now and not spend any more in FileMakerPro and possibly Apple product since there is no other DBMS solution that works on Mac.
I will consider a move to a Microsoft tablet that supports all product natively!
Filemaker is an interesting product but takes a strange direction, losing some market in hope of other markets.
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Jason Wood @ user25183 on Feb 12, 2019 1:52 PM
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I doubt you'll find anything better but I wish you luck!
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 13, 2019 8:50 AM
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Maybe not better, but Apple/FileMaker seems to force that I install a server home! with future version 18.
Never worked with iCloud!

Microsoft and Office Access may not be better but seems to understand that kind of user need. At a reasonable cost.

Still on Mac and Filemaker for now! But seriously considering other options.
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user25183 @ Jason Wood on Feb 13, 2019 8:51 AM
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Since removing those Adobe Acrobat plug-in no crash yet
Thanks
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Stability with pdf documents?!?!?

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