Outlook 1.2023.425.600, how do i change the default PDF

Robert Pham 10

how do i change the default PDF viewing program on outlook in it's latest version?

I use to be able to use Revu Bluebeam but can no longer use it on this new version.

Jeremy Brown 60 Reputation points

2023-09-15T16:27:39.54+00:00
This will be HUGE for us if this isn't corrected by the time the forced migration occurs. We too use Revu Bluebeam. (approx 250 employees). Microsoft ... if this isn't built in by the time we are required to switch you're going to be having about 80-90% of all architectural, engineering, and construction companies upset they have to download a PDF into a folder and then open the file up manually - even though their Windows settings designate Bluebeam as the default program.

For what it's worth ... the preview option IS a handy thing. I can think of many times I'd rather see this than have Bluebeam open up. But it can't just be only this way.

Also ... I do like how attachments are shown in the new layout. Because of the 3rd party PDF issue, I'm going to switch back to classic view. But it's a pity because there are some elements in the new version that are desirable like the easy to find attachments in a thread instead of having to scroll through the conversation to find all the different attachments.

If you're wanting to keep people using your product as much as possible, then you're going to have to provide more functionality than just a 1990s grade zoom in/out button. Do these things and you'll greatly increase the number of times an email is brought up in a meeting to review PDFs without changing programs.

Suggestions:

add to the right click context menu - Open in windows and Open in browser ... either opening the PDF in whatever the default PDF or browser program is designated in windows. Options are KEY!

keep the preview function as an option, but make it actually useful for display ...

use mouse wheel to scroll for zoom in/out when hovering over the document

use mouse wheel to scroll from page to page when hovering to the left or right of the document

have an option for full page width, full sheet in view

There ... now I have both complained and contributed. Hopefully the things I've mentioned are already in progress. If so, you'll have done something great.

However, I share the other's fear that at some point we're going to be forced to migrate to a rushed, incomplete product that makes negatively impacts our efficiency by removing, ignoring, or forgetting desirable functions and then having to wait a year for an update that may or may not restore all of that.

I hate being cynical, but we've been there so many times it's actually become your reputation as a standard operating procedure.
Knyttl, Jan 15 Reputation points

2023-10-17T20:10:10.84+00:00

Have the same experience as Jeremy a for the same reason I need to switch back to the old version. I found this as the only feature, that is currently blocking me to use a new version. The way of working with PDF attachments is really time consuming and generating a lot more work-to-be-done then the old version.

3 answers

Nick Ambrosino 5 Reputation points

2024-02-23T15:50:28.7566667+00:00

I don't understand how they release a product that doesn't even have the capabilities of the previous version and is constantly giving errors/blank screens. The "new" outlook is still a step backward right now (in Feb 2024, almost a year after this was first posted). I can't attach files from bluebeam directly into outlook. Can't open an attachment in bluebeam, have to use the PDF viewer within outlook which stays blank white most of the time. Attaching recent files doesn't even work correctly, never displays the most recent files I was working with. Why even release it? Incredibly frustrating and lazy.
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S.Sengupta 14,811 Reputation points MVP

2023-05-08T03:45:58.6066667+00:00

Within Microsoft Outlook, go to "File" menu and click "Options".

Select the "Trust Center" link.

Click on the "Trust Center Settings..." button.

Select the "Attachment Handling" menu.

Click on the "Attachment and Document Previewers..." button.

Locate the "PDF PreviewHandler" option from the "File Previewing Options" list, related to the program that you have installed that Outlook is currently using to preview file.

Right-click the PDF, choose Open With > Choose default program or another app in.

Select Always use this app to open .pdf files.

Click OK.
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The Kid 5 Reputation points

2023-08-02T10:45:31.56+00:00

This answer refers to an earlier version of outlook and is not helpful.

Jeremy Brown 60 Reputation points

2023-09-15T16:11:11.2233333+00:00

yep. no File. No Options. No Trust Center. Can't even find them in Help either.
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Faery Fu-MSFT 16,411 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-05-09T03:13:21.9166667+00:00

Hi @Robert Pham ,

Currently, the new Outlook does not support the ability to open .pdf files in your preferred third party app, you can switch back to the classic Outlook at any time by clicking the toggle button in the top right corner of the window.

The new Outlook is not yet complete, and some options may not be available or work as expected. Many features of our current products are designed and upgraded based on customers’ feedback. With requirements like this increase, the problem may well be released in the future, and you can make a suggestion via this link

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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Faery Fu-MSFT 16,411 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-05-17T07:10:55.94+00:00

Hi @Weng, Fanky ,

Just checking in to see if above information was helpful. If you have any further updates on this issue, please feel free to post back. If you think my reply is helpful to you, please remember to mark it as an answer. Warm thanks.

Wesley Heuler 5 Reputation points

2023-09-11T20:59:02.07+00:00

It is insane that MS is bypassing the user preference yet again for applications, and even more so that you have completely removed the choice for that preference after the fact. This is how MS ends up back in court for anti-trust behavior.

Jeremy Brown 60 Reputation points

2023-09-15T16:42:40.93+00:00

@Faery Fu-MSFT

There isn't anything that says, "accept answer". I assume you mean the one that says "Was this answer helpful?" So the question for me is ... was your post "helpful"?

It's actually hard to decide if that post deserves an upvote or not. On one hand, it's helpful that you indicated to make sure our settings include notifications if there's an update posted here.

But ...

it's set up that way by default

you didn't say anything about whether this thread will be updated when the answer is known.

previous experience is that NO it won't be. eventually this will become a locked thread due to time having passed with no new comments.

the truly HELPFUL post would be some sort of update such as "I sent a message to the design team and learned that this function is intended to be a part of the official launch" ... or "The beta version you are using is nearly complete and all final bugs are being sorted out before launch. Currently that feature is not scheduled to be a part of the launch, but is on the list of items to include in future upgrades" ... I mean, that would suck. I'm sure you'd catch heat for the comment, but at least it's honest and transparent. i.e. NOT the Microsoft way.

So having thought it through ... NO, your answer was NOT helpful. There's nothing in it that suggests we will ever know if this will be resolved by launch time or not. Like so many of these forums, the actual MS representative has said very little but asks for positive ratings.

Since the previous product allowed 3rd party opening of PDFs, it should be a GIVEN that you all could outright state "yes, the product is in beta, and that function will be a part of the final design." It's not like that should be part of a secret inner circle that must keep that information from getting out.

Which does make me wonder ... if the LACK of a response is actually the response. That it WON'T be a part of it.

Maybe it's time we reevaluate our email tools.

Brian H 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T14:40:02.7166667+00:00

Five months later and there still appears to be no resolution. I just reluctantly toggled to the new Outlook because I'm afraid the forced switch is coming soon. There are so many things missing that were so useful in the old Outlook. One of them is opening a PDF directly in Adobe. I don't want to download every single file before opening it in Adobe. This is so not efficient.
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