Your page solicits opinions on your module's Road map. Here are mine:

>> Should this module provide PDF field or just provide display options for file field?
From a UI standpoint, I think having a PDF field type makes it clearer for users. However it's not that hard to document using a filefield and selecting the PDF option. I think you should do what is easiest for you here.

>> Detect pdf reader and just use pdf.js to display when nothing is detected. (Maybe use http://www.pinlady.net/PluginDetect/PDFReader/)
I hate to say it, but having both as an option would be the ideal. Some people are control freaks and want a consistent display across platforms, which I think pdf.js would give them. Other people want to let the site visitor have more control. And if they are used to PDFs opening in a viewer they have installed, it may be best to continue delivering them that way.

>>Make pdf viewer works inside the Drupal page instead of using iframe (Need JS/CSS masters' help).
This, of course, is the holy grail. I wish I was able to offer you some help here, but I'm afraid I don't have the skills you need to pull this off.

>>Should Internet Archive BookReader be an option like fileviewer module?
There are some fantastic examples of Internet Archive BookReader in the wild. If you visit http://archive.org/stream/birdbookillustra00reedrich#page/356/mode/2up you see each set of pages have their own URI. And the audio button at the top will play text-to-speach of the material for you. http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/5749cc67-077a-47e6-9622-7b... will play Mahler, conducted by Leonard Berstein with the NY Phil while you look over the manuscript.

Simply amazing stuff. I don't know how many of these features are possible in the scope of what you are developing. But it is certainly what the dream module would do.

I will volunteer to do any documentation, testing, or try my hand at some css if that will help you.

Comments

Zarevac’s picture

Zarevac commented

Whats the difference with this: http://drupal.org/project/fileviewer
Will that project stop?

shenzhuxi’s picture

shenzhuxi commented

File viewer uses http://openlibrary.org/dev/docs/bookreader to display PDF and requires Poppler installed on server side.
I'm thinking about moving Internet Archive BookReader to PDF module. Also File viewer uses the the same path DRUPAL_HOME/file/% as file_entity. So File viewer will not have big updating. File viewer 7.x-1.0 seems just work fine and not bug report so far.

mallezie’s picture

mallezie
Primary language Dutch
Location Loenhout
commented

I'd like to chime in on the following:
>>Should Internet Archive BookReader be an option like fileviewer module?

I think this should be a good idea. BookReader suits more for my needs. It displays more book-style (we're coming from issuu.com which has a nice GUI). I'm not sure how would be the best option. Make a submodule? If you only would use BookReader you shouldnt need the pdf.js library.

I assume this module will be the future of fileviewer? So i suggest moving this to here. (And in the meantime fix the file-path).

I'm willing to create patches for this. If you could point me, in what seems best? A submodule, just drop it in for now? Or something else.

In the future i'm also willing to work on features for the bookreader plugin (best with some help) i'm thinkin on enabling embed / share / info / download-link ... like search settings now in fileviewer.

shenzhuxi’s picture

shenzhuxi commented

I will port IA BookReader to PDF as an option for display.

About the file path, I want to make pdf support file_entity, but just can't figure out why the file_field display can't be used in file_entity http://drupal.org/node/1440950
I contact the author of file_entity but didn't get any reply.
@mallezie hope you can help to find out this.

Zarevac’s picture

Zarevac commented

File entity would be a welcome asset. I will install this mod and experiment with it and see what CSS possibilities there are.

shenzhuxi’s picture

shenzhuxi commented

Finally, I find out!!!
http://drupal.org/node/1540668
file_entity itself disabled other field formatter.

If you want to use pdf module with file entity, just ask the author to fix it.

shenzhuxi’s picture

shenzhuxi commented

Finally, I find out!!!
http://drupal.org/node/1540668
file_entity itself disabled other field formatter.

If you want to use pdf module with file entity, just ask the author to fix it.

shenzhuxi’s picture

shenzhuxi commented
Status: Active » Closed (fixed)