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PDF Report Generation Issues

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 OPS-COMOPSCOM 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 OPS-COMOPSCOM 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 OPS-COMOPSCOM Support team for further investigation.

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