Chrome PDF Viewer Prompts for Authentication after the First Page

Date Published: Sep 27,2020 Category: Planned_First_Fix_Release:Will_Not_Fix; Product:Content_Management_Learn,Browsers_Learn; Version:Learn_9_1_Q4_2019,Learn_9_1_Q2_2019,SaaS Article No.: 000059626

Product: Blackboard Learn Release: 9.1;SaaS Service Pack(s): Learn 9.1 Q4 2019 (3800.0.0), Learn 9.1 Q2 2019 (3700.0.0), SaaS Description: Due to a bug in Chrome's PDF viewer, an HTTP "Basic" Authentication dialog box, or hang may occur after showing the first page of a multi-page PDF with Fast Web View Optimization applied. Steps to Replicate: Note: This issue can fail to replicate for some individuals since Google is gradually rolling out the change that causes the Chrome bug to apply.

1. Create a multi-page PDF using the Fast Web View optimization 2. Log on to Blackboard Learn using Google Chrome 3. Create or reuse a Course 4. Select Build Content > Item 5. Create the Item > Attach the PDF to the item 6. Save 7. Click the Link to the PDF

Expected Behavior Chrome displays all of the PDF without prompting.

Observed Behavior Only the first page appears. An HTTP "Basic" dialog box appears, or the PDF stops loading.

Symptoms: The Chrome PDF Viewer prompts for Authentication after the first page. Cause: This is Chrome bug 961617 "SameSite cookies are not sent in range requests in PDF viewer". Resolution/Workaround:

1. Use another browser, such as Firefox 2. Right click (Option-click for Macintosh) and save the PDF 3. Use an external PDF application, such as Adobe DC Reader, the open source Sumatra PDF, or the Macintosh Preview application to read the PDF 4. Some of the more advanced PDF production tools—such as Pro—may offer the ability to either not apply the Fast Web View optimization in the first place, or to remove it. Information: Except for the Blackboard Annotate inline-grading service, Blackboard Learn does not itself display . PDFs are displayed by the browser. This is true regardless of if the PDF opens in a new tab, or is embedded onto the page as Course content within in an 'iframe.' Therefore, this issue does not affect Blackboard Annotate.

Blackboard, Inc. does not endorse third-party tools; they are only mentioned as a convenience. Target Release: Will Not Fix Patch Available: No