PHP FPDF Failed to load PDF document in Chrome

Question

I am trying to generate a pdf document using fpdf library with php but I am getting an error in chrome as Failed to load PDF document. I am able to view the document properly in firefox. Below is the code I am trying to generate pdf. Can anyone please help? Thanks in advance.

<?php
 ini_set('display_startup_errors', 1);
 ini_set('display_errors', 1);
 error_reporting(-1);
 ob_start();
 $pdf = new FPDF();
 $pdf->AddPage();
 $pdf->SetFont('Arial', 'B', 16);
 $pdf->Cell(40, 10, 'Hello World!');
 header('Content-type: application/pdf');
 header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');
 header("Content-Disposition: inline; filename='example2.pdf'");
 $pdf->Output('example2.pdf', 'I');
 ob_end_flush();
?>

in my chrome it works fine. I hope, you don't forget `include('fpdf/fpdf.php');` ? — splash58, Jun 13 '16 at 14:32
yes I have included `fpdf.php`, infact I was able to view the file in firefox. — krishna89, Jun 13 '16 at 14:39
try solution here https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45101160/how-to-make-mpdf-6-1-work-with-php-7-1-5 — Montaser El-sawy, May 06 '20 at 00:31

websky · Answer 1 · 2022-11-01T17:31:19.483

1

I know this old question, but there are requests for answers in the comments. Do not set the header. FPDF generates them.

<?php
   require('fpdf.php');

   $pdf = new FPDF();
   $pdf->AddPage();
   $pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',16);
   $pdf->Cell(40,10,'Hello World!');
   $pdf->Output('example2.pdf', 'I');
?>

I also recommend http://www.fpdf.org/

edited Nov 01 '22 at 17:31

answered Feb 02 '19 at 06:36

websky

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 15 '22 at 18:20

I just spent all morning trying to figure out why I was getting this same error. Worked in Firefox for me, too, but not in Chrome, and it wouldn't open in Adobe either.

The problem was that I was trying to run the script in a function and calling the function from a button. I fixed it simply by adding the script to it's own PHP file, and then linking to the php file directly.

Note: I did try ob_start() and ob_end_flush() and it didn't make a difference in the function. When it's in its own file it doesn't need it anyway.

// file.php
<?php
require $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/wp-content/plugins/eri-webtools-plugin/libraries/fpdf/fpdf.php'; // <-- File path for WordPress plugin
$pdf = new FPDF();
$pdf->AddPage();
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',16);
$pdf->Cell(40,10,'Hello World!');
$pdf->Output(); // To Download, use $pdf->Output('D', 'test.pdf', true);
?>

// html
<a href="file.php">View PDF</a>

PHP FPDF Failed to load PDF document in Chrome

2 Answers2