I made an app in 1.5 and hope to test how PDFs behave in the Android simulator. I have a similar app in 1.4 and when I test the app to display the PDFs I get a message that PDFs couldn't be displayed on that device. After reading a few forum entries, am I to understand that if a PDF is in an app that I can't be displayed at all even if there is another app that enables the device to display PDFs? My app is mostly PDFs and if I can get a definite answer to this question I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.

It is my understanding that Android devices can for the most part display .pdf files, so long as they have a .pdf reader installed. Which is the case for most, if not all Android phones. I also believe that you will have problems displaying .pdf files in the simulator unless you add a .pdf reader plugin to eclipse. But I'm not really sure on all of this, does anyone know differently?

You are correct... Need an installed PDF reader on the Android Device Need an installed PDF reader plugin for Eclipse

Thank you for your quick reply. Okay, you're saying that even if the PDF is in an app the device will still be able to display it as long as the device has another app that let's it display PDFs? I understand that a PDF in an email or downloaded from a website can be displayed this way, but my concern is that this PDF is part of an app and from what I've read on other posts some say it doesn't work. Maybe they didn't have that other PDF reader app. I'd hate to put all this effort into an app that doesn't work properly. Again, thank you for your answers.

The process (workflow) goes somewhat like this: 1) App fires event to open/load PDF 2) App seeks internal code to open/load event using extension PDF 3) If code not found, App seeks external code on the device to load/open PDF (much like file association) 4) If not found, App returns error code Free Eclipse PDF Plugin: http://www.jpedal.org/support_siEclipse.php TEST, TEST, TEST

Thanks for the breakdown. That really explains it for me. I'll add the plugin after work. Have a great day!

Adobe reader came bundled with my os (htc wildfire) I guess most, if not all, phones should have it pre-installed.

Thanks to all, this just solved a problem for me.

Glad to hear... What exactly did you end up doing?

Could not get PDF's to display in eclipse. With the plugin suggested it now works like a charm. May seem simple to many, but new to Android. Old PHP head here expanding the brain:)

omg. i can't believe you guys are having success with PDFs..my links in the menu,instead of opening up a pdf screen,open up the messaging(sms) screen instead.going mad.

I have not changed anything on my end. No updates other than the normal forced window updates and PDF's stopped working in eclipse. Not a clue why.