[ITDْ] Embedded PDF II (BBCode) 2.0.2

[Mian Shahid]

reading an embedded .pdf on a phone on a forum seems bad.
It probably should be an icon and a link.

Thanks for the feedback — you're right, embedding a full PDF directly in a post can feel heavy or awkward on mobile devices (slow load, zoom issues, data usage, etc.).

That's why this add-on is intentionally simple and flexible:

• It only embeds if the URL is a direct .pdf link (easy to control).
• For mobile users or lighter experience, you can always just share the link normally (no BB Code needed) — it will appear as a regular hyperlink.
• The embed is iframe-based, so browsers handle it responsively, but yes, it's not always ideal for small screens or low-bandwidth situations.

Future idea: We could add an optional parameter like [pdf=icon]URL[/pdf] to show only a nice PDF icon + link instead of full embed — that would be a good compromise. If there's enough interest, I'll consider it for the next update.

Appreciate the honest input — it helps make the add-on better for everyone!

Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

 

[Mian Shahid]

anyone get this yet? im still amazed its not addressed...

Thanks a lot for bringing this back to my attention — I really appreciate you taking the time to point it out again!

You're right, it's still an open point for many users, and I'm amazed too that a clean, reliable embed option isn't built-in yet. I've noted it down as a high-priority feedback item.

In the meantime, this add-on is designed exactly to fill that gap — quick inline embeds without needing to attach or download first. If you're running into any specific issues with it on your setup (e.g., mobile, certain browsers, or file types), please share more details and I'll look into it personally.

Again, thank you for the nudge — feedback like this keeps the project moving forward!

Let me know how I can help.

 

[Mian Shahid]

I now have this installed on my site. It is a little easier to use if we use the link tool in the editor and paste the target URL and then paste it again ITDPDF bbCodes on either end.

Thank you so much for sharing this tip — that's a really clever and user-friendly workaround!

You're right — using the built-in link tool in the editor, pasting the PDF URL, then wrapping it with [ITDPDF] ... [/ITDPDF] (or [pdf] ... [/pdf]) makes it super quick and intuitive. No need to manually type the BB Code every time.

This is exactly the kind of practical feedback that helps everyone. I'll add a note about this tip in the description and installation instructions so more users can benefit from it.

Really appreciate you taking the time to test and share — it means a lot!

If you run into any other tweaks or ideas, feel free to post them here.

 

[Mian Shahid]

Other than not having a button in the editor, the only problem I am having with this addon is the size of the embedded PDF display.
It should be responsive but it is not and it is too large on my iPhone as well as smaller than it should be on my workstation.

I noticed that the PDF file must be executable when stored in a file system on our servers. Since our PDF files are normally downloaded by users that was not the default setting.

Can anyone explain the size issue?

Thank you for the detailed feedback — this is extremely helpful and I really appreciate you taking the time to test and report these points!

You're right about the two main issues you're seeing:

1. PDF display size and responsiveness
Currently, the embed uses a fixed iframe height (default 600px or similar), which doesn't adapt well on different screen sizes — too big on mobile (iPhone) and sometimes too small on desktop.
This is a known limitation in the current version, and I agree it needs improvement.

Quick fix you can try right now (no code change required):
- Edit the template used for the PDF BB Code (usually in Admin CP → Appearance → Templates → search for the PDF embed template or the one with iframe).
- Add or modify the style to make it responsive, for example:

"<iframe src="{url}" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" allowfullscreen></iframe>"

 

[🔥Iggy🔥]

Thanks a lot for bringing this back to my attention — I really appreciate you taking the time to point it out again!

You're right, it's still an open point for many users, and I'm amazed too that a clean, reliable embed option isn't built-in yet. I've noted it down as a high-priority feedback item.

In the meantime, this add-on is designed exactly to fill that gap — quick inline embeds without needing to attach or download first. If you're running into any specific issues with it on your setup (e.g., mobile, certain browsers, or file types), please share more details and I'll look into it personally.

Again, thank you for the nudge — feedback like this keeps the project moving forward!

Let me know how I can help.

yes it can be seen as "without needing to attach"....but if it is member created then its forcing them to attach to another site somewhere then linking from there, then hoping that site doesnt go down etc, thats bad practice....im sure you understand.

kind regards

 

[Mian Shahid]

yes it can be seen as "without needing to attach"....but if it is member created then its forcing them to attach to another site somewhere then linking from there, then hoping that site doesnt go down etc, thats bad practice....im sure you understand.

kind regards

You're 100% right — thank you for pointing that out so clearly. I completely understand the concern.

Forcing users to upload PDFs to an external site (like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), then linking back, does introduce risks:

• Dependency on third-party hosting (what if the link breaks or the file is deleted?)
• Potential privacy/security issues
• Extra steps for members who just want to share a quick PDF

That's why the add-on is not intended to replace the built-in attachment system. Instead, it's designed for two main scenarios:

1. Sharing online/remote PDFs — e.g., public documents, tutorials, manuals, or files hosted elsewhere (Google Docs export, official PDFs, etc.) — where direct embed makes sense for quick viewing without download.

2. Convenience for admins/content creators — who often want to embed pre-hosted PDFs in guides or announcements without cluttering the attachment list.

For regular member-created PDFs, you're absolutely correct: the native attachment system is still the best and safest method (upload once, no external dependency, full control).

I'll make sure to add a clear note in the description to avoid any confusion:

"Best used for online/remote PDFs or admin-created content. For user-uploaded PDFs, use the built-in attachment system."

Thanks again for the honest and valuable feedback — it really helps refine how we present and improve the add-on. If you have any other ideas or use cases, I'm all ears!

Appreciate you!

 

[Mian Shahid]

Mian Shahid updated [ITDْ] Embedded PDF II (BBCode) with a new update entry:

Important Note on PDF Hosting & Usage

Important Note on PDF Hosting & Usage

This add-on is primarily designed for embedding online/remote PDFs (public links from Google Drive, Dropbox, official sites, etc.) or admin-created content where quick inline viewing is useful.

For member-created PDFs (user-uploaded files), we strongly recommend using XenForo's built-in attachment system:

• Upload the PDF directly as an attachment.
• It avoids dependency on external hosting (no risk of link breaking or file...

Read the rest of this update entry...

 

[🔥Iggy🔥]

since the pdf can be attached already, it is just a matter of getting the magic for the embed to work.
haven't gotten around to it yet. but i will.

thank you Mian to clarify at least this addon has no plans to support internal embeds.
perhaps @PatMa or someone after 2.4 is settled

kind regards