Embed google docs not working in joomla 5.4.1.

[rambro]

Dear Sir,

Are you sure that your app works in joomla 5.4.1. It is working in joomla 4.x, but it not working in joomla 5.4.1.

Here is some example data:

Outline for Merrick's Memorial Day Ceremony 2025

{google_docs}/downloads/Outline for Merricks Memorial Day Ceremony 2025_v1.pdf|width:600|height:600|link:yes|link_label:Outline for Merrick's Memorial Day Ceremony Pamphlet 2025|border:1{/google_docs}

Note I have my .pdf files stored in a folder called downloads, which is stored in my CloudAccess account on their server.

Here are the two test websites to compare in the blog section:
https://testsitej5.cloudaccess.host and https://testsitej4.cloudaccess.host/index.php

The pdf files show up in joomla 4.x but not joomla 5.x.

[petkivim]

Dear @rambro,

Please check the access rights of the PDF file on your Joomla 5 site. It seems that the file is not accessible by the Google Docs Viewer.

The PDF file is accessible on the Joomla 4 site:

While the Joomla 5 site returns 403:

Best regards,
Petteri

[rambro]

Dear Petteri,

I am the following software below for storing .pdf files. These are stored in file called downloads and their is a script called download.php.

The download folder has 755 rights (just like the "files" folder and the file in question has 644 rights.

I tried putting the file in question in the "files" folder and it works, embed google docs recognizes the file.

It is not recognizing my "downloads" folder even though it has the same permissions as the "files" folder

It seems to me that joomla 5.x wants all the downloadable documents to be in that "files" folder.

I am using the following software:

File Download 1.31
###############################################################

Visit http://www.zubrag.com/scripts/ for updates

###############################################################

Sample call:

download.php?f=phptutorial.zip

Sample call (browser will try to save with new file name):

download.php?f=phptutorial.zip&fc=php123tutorial.zip

---

Any insights on this matter would be appreciated.

[rambro]

Dear Petteri,

I just put my files in the files folder of joomla 5.x. and I used a regular a href tag for person to download a .pdf file. It is not the ideal situation, because I wanted to hide the original file, but it works.

I am in the process of transferring my files from my downloads folder to the files folder.

Rick Ambrosino

[petkivim]

Dear Rick,

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the File Download extension, but my assumption is that its behaviour has changed between Joomla 4 and Joomla 5. It might be that in Joomla 5, the extension is (by design) protecting its download folder so files can no longer be fetched directly by URL, only via the component. That’s why you now get 403 Forbidden even though filesystem permissions look identical.

In order to use Google Docs Viewer to embed the documents, allowing direct access by URL is required.

Best regards,
Petteri