This article provides guidance on identifying and resolving issues related to PDF generation and downloads within OPS-COM, including reports, incidents, emails, and notices. It is intended to assist **OPSCOM administrators** in maintaining consistent document exports.
### Common PDF Export issues Administrators may occasionally encounter issues when the system generates PDF files for **Incidents**, **Emails**, **Printable Hangtags**, or **Notice (NIC) Letters**. Common symptoms include: - Broken or blank PDF files. - Corrupted files that cannot be opened. - Failed or timed-out downloads. - Text shifted to the margins or otherwise malformed layout. ### Browser Compatibility and Downloads Many download-related issues are linked to the specific web browser being used. If you experience blank or failed downloads, it may be due to how **Chromium-based** browsers handle security verifications during the file transfer. **Chromium-based browsers include:** - Google Chrome - Microsoft Edge - Brave - Opera **Non-Chromium browsers include:** - Mozilla Firefox - Safari A failed security verification occurring after a download starts but before it completes can result in a file that appears finished but remains blank or unopenable. ### Resolving Download and Layout Issues If you encounter a malformed or failed PDF, follow these steps to resolve the issue: 1. Click the **Download** or **Generate** button again to retry the request. In many cases, a second attempt will successfully pass security verification. 2. Open **OPSCOM** in a non-chromium browser, such as **Mozilla Firefox**, if the issue persists across multiple different files. 3. Review the source text formatting in the **Email Template** or **Incident Description** fields. Complex formatting pasted from external word processors can sometimes interfere with the PDF generator's layout. 4. Remove any hidden HTML or unusual characters from the text input field and click **Save** before re-attempting the export.Switching browsers is typically not usually required. If the issue is infrequent, it is likely a temporary communication glitch between the browser and the server.
--- ### Best Practices and Considerations - **Regularly update your browser** to the latest version to ensure the highest compatibility with PDF generation engines. - **Test new templates** by generating a sample PDF immediately after creating a new **Notice Letter** or **Email Template** to ensure the layout appears as intended. - **Seek technical support** if text remains shifted or malformed after clearing your formatting, as this may indicate a need for a generator adjustment on the server side.If you continue to experience downloading issues after switching browsers, please reach out to the [**OPSCOM Support**](mailto:support@ops-com.com) team for further investigation.