An issue has come up where people are unable to view the PDF in FileMaker Preview Mode. In this article, we will discuss our instance of running into this problem and provide the solution for it.
Hello and welcome to the first post of what will hopefully be many on our FileMaker Blog. In our first update, we will be tackling the problem related to displaying the PDF in FileMaker Preview Mode. Without further ado, let us begin.
What is FileMaker Preview Mode?
We’ll talk a bit about FileMaker now, so those in the know are welcome to skip ahead.
In a basic sense, there are four ways or ‘modes’ to work with data in FileMaker Pro – Browse, Find, Layout, and Preview. In Preview Mode, you get to see what the data in a form or report will look like before you print it out. It is essentially like the ‘Print Preview’ option in Microsoft Word.
Viewing a PDF requires a document reader from Adobe which you can get here. Now, ideally, the data in FileMaker Preview Mode should show up in the portable document format (PDF). This is where things did not go according to plan.
About the System
We will get to the problem in a bit, but here are the specifics of the system we were using. Note that solutions can differ for different versions of FileMaker.
Software: FileMaker version 14.0v1
Operating System: Windows 10
FileMaker Preview Mode PDF Problem
This problem happened after our staff had finished their tasks and compiled all the data after a hard day’s work. Unfortunately, it was at this time that disaster struck. We tried to enter the Preview Mode on FileMaker 14, but only received the below error message in response:
“Combined size of the header plus the footer is longer than can fit on the page. To print, first make the header or footer shorter or use longer paper.”
We faced this issue after we recovered the database. Before that, we were able to view the PDF in Preview Mode in the same database.
Fixing the FileMaker Preview Predicament
We recommend updating your FileMaker to the latest version, (14.0v6 currently). This version addresses many issues that have to do with PDFs. While they might not be directly related, it may impact your particular issue and it also saves you trouble later on. You can download the latest updates for FileMaker Pro from the official website. Also, be sure to keep checking for new updates.
FMDBSolutions Has the Answer
FMDBSolutions and our group of staff have come across numerous such problems in FileMaker and are battle-hardened to defeat any obstacle you face. We know how valuable the FileMaker software is and our experience will make sure you don’t lose time and money because of a silly mistake. We are certified FileMaker developers, and can be found under ‘India’ on the FileMaker Partners section of the site (Naethra Technologies Private Limited).
Our company has performed work for people around the globe. You can view our FileMaker Portfolio to see how many clients from the US, England, Australia, and other countries place their trust in us. Our clients all got what they wanted and then some because we at FMDBSolutions go above and beyond to satisfy our customers. Contact us now to avail our services, or click below for a free FileMaker consultation.


