Question
When opening eXtendFiles record URLs, what determines whether some files will render and display directly within the web browser interface and why do other files automatically trigger a download action instead of displaying in the browser?
Answer
The behavior of whether a file opens in the
browser or downloads automatically depends on
the file format and the browser's ability to
render it natively.
Browser-Supported Formats
Files in formats that web browsers can natively
display will typically open directly in the
browser. Common browser-supported formats
include:
- Images: JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png),
GIF (.gif), SVG (.svg), WebP, and
BMP
- Documents: PDF (.pdf)
- Text: Plain text files (.txt), HTML
files
- Media: Some audio and video formats
(depending on browser support)
Browser-Unsupported Formats
Files in formats that browsers cannot natively
render will automatically download when
accessed. These include:
- Proprietary image formats: RAW
camera files (.cr2, .nef, .arw, .dng),
Adobe formats (.psd, .ai)
- Office documents: Microsoft Office
files (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt,
.pptx)
- Specialized formats: CAD files, 3D
models (.stl), various proprietary
formats
- Compressed files: ZIP, RAR, and
other archive formats
Using Preview and Thumbnail Fields
For many browser-unsupported file formats,
eXtendFiles can generate preview images and
thumbnails that are browser-compatible. Once
these previews are generated, users have the
option to view the file contents in the
browser without downloading the original
file.
The preview and thumbnail generation feature
supports conversion of many file formats
(including formats like .psd, .ai, .eps, and
more) into browser-viewable images. This
allows users to preview file contents directly
in NetSuite for formats that would otherwise
require download and opening in specialized
applications.
For more information on enabling this feature,
NetSuite Administrators can refer to the eXtendFiles Preview &
Thumbnail Generation documentation.