PDF Embeds Not Working on Classic Themes

[kelasante]

Quick summary

PDF embeds do not show inline embeds on live sites. It shows in the Editor but not in the preview or published page.

Steps to reproduce

1. Add a PDF to a simple site using File block.
2. Enable "show inline embed" in block settings

What you expected to happen

PDF shows in Editor and Live Site

What actually happened

PDF shows only in the Editor and not on the live site.

Impact

Some (< 50%)

Available workarounds?

No but the platform is still usable

Platform (Simple and/or Atomic)

Simple

Logs or notes

No response

[kelasante]

Issue was reported in 7448330-zen

[github-actions]

Support References

This comment is automatically generated. Please do not edit it.

• 7448330-zen
• 7467104-zen
• 7469540-zen
• 7463738-zen
• 7473833-zen
• 7467231-zen
• 7486167-zen
• -zen
• 7489159-zen
• 7482639-zen
• 7505106-zen
• 7504998-zen
• 7458612-zen
• 7464568-zen
• 7471698-zen
• 7449298-zen
• 7496224-zen
• 7522039-zen

[ai2n]

Might impact atomic too. 7467104-zen

[OmarFPG]

7469540-zen, since this is a business user, I've suggested a plugin as a temporary workaround.
7463738-zen, Premium plan, no plugin workaround at hand. But the PDF embed shows a link to the file, which is viewable, at least.

[OmarFPG]

7473833-zen, another premium user, no plugin workaround.

[liviopv]

📌 REPRODUCTION RESULTS

• Tested on Simple – Could Not Replicate
• Tested on Atomic – Could Not Replicate
• Replicable outside of Dotcom – No

📌 FINDINGS/SCREENSHOTS/VIDEO
Chrome for Mac

Firefox for Mac

Safari for Mac

📌 ACTIONS

• Triaged
• Requested author feedback
• Closed as could not replicate (please reopen if the issue reoccurs)

📌 Message to Author
@kelasante @OmarFPG I was not able to reproduce, as seen in the screenshots above.

Please collect the browser info from the users you interacted with and reopen the issue as needed.

[OmarFPG]

Thanks, @liviopv. I tried adding new PDF embeds, and they're working now; however, I'm not seeing them yet on the customers' sites. I'll ask them to try removing them and adding them again.

[kelasante]

Thanks! @liviopv it is still not working on my test site, https://nogymhero.wordpress.com/pdf-test/ (Chrome 120, OS Sonoma)

This is how it looks like in the Editor:

And this is how it looks on live site:

[jp-imagines]

Just came across this in 7467231-zd-a8c (related to 7467104-zd-a8c – comment above updated for proper ID), and I'm still able to replicate the issue on this user's site. However, I don't see the issue on @kelasante 's test page above.

On the user's site, the object element for the embedded PDF file exists, but it has a hidden property which forcefully hides it.

That looks to be coming directly from their theme (Maywood). If I preview that theme on @kelasante 's site, I see the same hidden property and behavior. This might be a theme-specific issue?

[Mfarroq1]

7486167-zen The issue only appears in the classic themes, In block themes pdf working fine

[kelasante]

Just came across this in 7467231-zd-a8c (related to 7467104-zd-a8c – comment above updated for proper ID), and I'm still able to replicate the issue on this user's site. However, I don't see the issue on @kelasante 's test page above.

On the user's site, the object element for the embedded PDF file exists, but it has a hidden property which forcefully hides it.

That looks to be coming directly from their theme (Maywood). If I preview that theme on @kelasante 's site, I see the same hidden property and behavior. This might be a theme-specific issue?

When I created the test page, I had the Hever theme but switched it to Twenty Twenty-Two yesterday. That seems to be why it was not working yesterday and works today per @Mfarroq1 comment. I'll follow up with the user 7448330/zen who initially reported this and share workaround of switching to a block theme.

[jp-imagines]

@kelasante Some CSS should do the trick as a temporary workaround if they're uninterested in changing themes:

/* Workaround: Display embedded PDFs | xxx-zd JP */
.wp-block-file > object.wp-block-file__embed[hidden] {
    display: unset;
}

[kelasante]

@kelasante Some CSS should do the trick as a temporary workaround if they're uninterested in changing themes:

/* Workaround: Display embedded PDFs | xxx-zd JP */
.wp-block-file > object.wp-block-file__embed[hidden] {
    display: unset;
}

Thank you @jp-imagines That CSS did the trick! 😄

[mgozdis]

Another user report here but they are AT: 7489159-zd-a8c

I thought it was this bug, which was closed, but it's affecting all browsers now and not just Safari.

Deactivating Gutenberg is another workaround if site is AT.

[Aurorum]

7482639-zen (provided workaround)

[sophiegyo]

Encountered in 7505106-zen (and related 7504998-zen). Provided workaround, including an adjustment to try to stop the preview working on iOS devices because of this issue:
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/649982

[liviopv]

📌 REPRODUCTION RESULTS

• Tested on Simple – Replicated
• Tested on Atomic – Replicated / Could Not Replicate / Uncertain
• Tested on P2 (optional) – Replicated / Could Not Replicate / Uncertain
• Replicable outside of Dotcom – No

📌 FINDINGS/SCREENSHOTS/VIDEO
Simple Site, Twenty Sixteen Theme

Also reproduced in a local site and reported in core: WordPress/gutenberg#57419

📌 ACTIONS

• Triaged

📌 Message to Author
Thanks for reopening @kelasante

[liviopv]

Moving interactions from duplicate issue

• 7458612-zd-a8c
• 7464568-zd-a8c
• 7471698-zd-a8c
• 7486167-zd-a8c
• 7449298-zd-a8c

[darnelldibbles]

Another instance found in the forums: https://wordpress.com/forums/topic/pdf-embed-is-no-longer-working-since-2022/?view=all

[saginpj]

• 7496224-zen (provided workaround)

[sophiegyo]

User report 7522039-zen

Theme: Exford (Varia)
Plan: Personal - can't use CSS workaround

[saginpj]

• 7542307 - zen
• 7573280 - zen (provided CSS workaround)

[liviopv]

I can no longer reproduce, I think it was fixed with WordPress/gutenberg#57396 closing