I uploaded an image in a pdf file. It does not display as I expected.

Question

I scanned the image into a pdf file, uploaded it as an image. The upload was successful but it's shown on the upload page with the Adobe Icon, not an image thumbnail. Selecting P the icon does open the pdf and show the image, What happened?Is this normal? I believe I may have created the profile but it is now managed by another. Profile O’Regan-99.

Comments

Uploading as png worked as expected. A note for WikiTechies: For the pdf version, image size is 0x0 pixels. The png has 213x352 pixels

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MacOS users: Preview does a fine job of converting from pdf to a number of formats (png, jpg) and is free - comes with MacOS.

I'm not going to close this until the pdf displays properly. Work-arounds are not solutions! We should not have to convert file type and re-upload.

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As Kerry Larson says in the answer below, only an image format will actually display as an image.  All pdf documents will display as  and require an extra click to access the image itself.

Answer 1

You apparently uploaded the PDF to O'Regan-99, Catherine Eulala O'Regan.

Comments

Yes. I know. How does that answer the question? I put that information in the id box that accompanies the question box

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Sorry I wasn't helpful.

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The question is attached to Regan-99.

I scanned the image into a pdf file, uploaded it as an image. The upload was successful but it's shown on the upload page with the Adobe Icon, not an image thumbnail. Selecting P the icon does open the pdf and show the image, What happened?Is this normal? I believe I may have created the profile but it is now managed by another. Profile Regan-99.

WikiTree profile: William Regan

asked 3 hours ago in WikiTree Tech by Jerry Regan 

Therefore Julie was addressing an issue with the question, as she did what the rest of us do - clicked the link and was taken to an unrelated profile.

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Sorry. I didn’t verify the wikitree ID in the question I think I forgot to make it O’Regan-99 not Regan-99. My ancestors used both last names and I frequently forget which one to use. The error was in my post, however, not my upload. The upload was to the correct profile. I do apologize for the sloppy question.

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You can edit the question and change the link to the correct profile.

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Thak you. I will do that.

Answer 2

That is normal behavior.  Only image files (JPG, PNG, or GIF format) will display the thumbnail or preview view.

Comments

And where in image help or the instructions for uploading images is that documented? Personally, I believe it shoul be pointed out in the instructions for loading images since pdf files are a supported file type. Atypical behavior should be described.

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It isn't atypical.  A PDF can contain an image, but isn't an image (even though the WT upload process is the same).

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It is atypical with respect to the image loading instructions and help. And even conceding a pdf contains images but isn’t an image, that is also atypical with respect to the image loading instructions that say one can load pdf files as images. If I may load them like images, they should behave as images unless there are clearly stated reservations to the instructions for uploading them. 

Note that at this point my concern is not that pdfs are treated differently from standard image types but that the existing documentation implies that the pdf will be treated as an image and that the actual treatment - atypical for images - is not documented.

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It takes a while to learn the ins and outs of WikiTree.

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With all due respect, if WikiTree wants to penetrate the market of amateur genealogists learning those ins and outs has to disappear or WikiTree will likely suffer the same fate as Beta-Max or the CDMA mobile phone technology. If a thing is too hard or too expensive to use it loses in the market place. Some also might think defending a learning curve as being a bit elitist. '

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I wasn't defending it, just stating the reality.

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'And the major point of my response was that reality needs to change. And again, with all due respect, one could infer that your comment is either a statement of fact or is an implied.. defense of that fact. I’m sorry if I misunderstood. On the other hand, it’s a great example of why clarity is so important - to minimize misunderstandings.

I think we may be getting off topic - with a great deal of assistance from me!

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Following rabbits is a trait shared by genealogists the world over.

I'm not sure if what you want -- a statement on (image) upload that a pdf does not actually display the contents contained therein -- is something that needs a new question, or just to tag the "right" people on this one.  

Problem is, I don't know who would be the person/people "in charge" of those particular pages.  Jamie seems to be the "goto" type who has a tag, so maybe adding the tag jamie would help.  If nothing else, Jamie would be able to point in the right direction.

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We can update the help page to be more specific.

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YES!!!!

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We added a section to Help:Photos_FAQ:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Photos_FAQ#Why_doesn.27t_my_PDF_upload_have_an_image_thumbnail.3F