How To Fix PDFVIEWER005 - The PDF format is assigned to an unknown Adobe application

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PDFVIEWER - PDF Viewer

• Message number: 005

• Message text: The PDF format is assigned to an unknown Adobe application

What causes this issue?

The program defined for displaying PDF documents on your computer is an
Adobe product not supported by PDF integration. The interface supports
both Adobe Acrobat Reader' and Adobe Acrobat.
The R/3 application will now try to display the document using the HTML
Viewer.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Install either Adobe Acrobat Reader - which is free - or Adobe Acrobat
, full product, on your computer.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PDFVIEWER005 - The PDF format is assigned to an unknown Adobe application ?

  The SAP error message PDFVIEWER005 indicates that the PDF format is assigned to an unknown Adobe application. This typically occurs when the SAP system is trying to open a PDF document, but it cannot find the appropriate application to handle the PDF files.
  Cause:
  
  Missing or Incorrect PDF Viewer Configuration: The SAP system may not be configured to use the correct PDF viewer application, or the viewer may not be installed on the system.
  Registry Issues: On Windows systems, the registry settings for the default PDF viewer may be incorrect or missing.
  File Association Issues: The operating system may not have the correct file associations set for PDF files, leading to the inability to open them with the intended application.
  Adobe Application Not Installed: The specific Adobe application that SAP is trying to use may not be installed on the machine.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check PDF Viewer Configuration in SAP:
  
  Go to the SAP GUI and navigate to the settings for the PDF viewer.
  Ensure that the correct path to the Adobe application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader) is specified.
  
  
  
  Install or Repair Adobe Acrobat Reader:
  
  If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed, download and install it from the official Adobe website.
  If it is installed, consider repairing the installation to fix any potential issues.
  
  
  
  Set Default PDF Viewer:
  
  On Windows, right-click on a PDF file, select "Open with," and then choose "Choose another app."
  Select Adobe Acrobat Reader and check the box that says "Always use this app to open .pdf files."
  Click "OK" to set it as the default application.
  
  
  
  Check Registry Settings (for advanced users):
  
  Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit).
  Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pdf and ensure that it points to the correct application.
  Be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can affect system stability.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes and Support:
  
  Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant notes or updates regarding PDF viewer issues.
  If the problem persists, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Ensure that your SAP GUI is up to date, as updates may include fixes for known issues.
  If you are using a specific version of Adobe Acrobat, ensure compatibility with your version of SAP.
  Consider checking user permissions, as insufficient permissions may prevent the application from launching correctly.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the PDFVIEWER005 error and successfully open PDF documents from SAP.