Advanced features of PDFs are 'stripped out' when I upload to a Wiki page

Question

I have a PDF that utilizes JavaScript to run correctly. (It is form that needs to be filled out by the user, then printed. Though I don't understand the technical reason why, the PDF uses JavaScript to prepare the print version. It is not possible to print the form any other way.)

The form works fine while simply residing on my hard drive.

When I upload the form to a Wiki page, then open or download the PDF again, the JavaScript is not functioning, thereby giving me print errors.

Is there something magical that happens to PDF attachments when they are uploaded to a Wiki? Is there something I can do (as a Confluence Admin) to make this work?

Please keep in mind I am not a developer but rather a documentation/knowledge management specialist. Thanks in advance.

Lisa Hontschik · Answer

Thanks again.

The PDF works fine with the JavaScript before I upload it to the Wiki.

When I upload it to the Wiki, then download it again and try to use it, the JavaScript doesn't work.

Something happens to the PDF in the upload or download process, but I don't know what.

Davin Studer · Answer

Confluence does not edit the contents of PDF files during upload. My hunch would be that the PDF viewer you are using either does not support the features, or it has security set to not enable those features. Most good PDF viewers have the option to disable javascript.

Lisa Hontschik · Answer

Thanks for the reply, Davin.

I don't actually have an issue with the PDF reader. In fact, I'm not using the macro at all. The user downloads the PDF via an attachment link on the Wiki page. Somewhere between me uploading the PDF to the Wiki page and the user downloading it, the JavaScript features of the PDF are removed or disabled.  That's the issue.