How to Preview PDF Attachments Directly in Business Central Web Client

 Overview

In the upcoming Business Central 2025 Wave 1 release, Microsoft has introduced a new feature that allows users to preview PDF attachments directly in the web client. Previously, when users clicked on an attachment in Business Central, the file would download and then open in a separate application. With this new enhancement, users can now view attachments seamlessly within the Business Central interface without downloading them

Example: Viewing Email Attachments in Business Central

One practical use case for this feature is within the "Compose an Email" page. When adding a file to the Attachments tab, previously, clicking on the file name would download it. Now, we can add a "View File" action that enables direct preview in the same window.

Implementation using Page Extension

Below is an AL page extension that adds a "View File" action to the Email Attachments page. This action allows users to preview attachments without downloading them.

pageextension 69987 "MPA Email Attachments Ext" extends "Email Attachments"

{

    actions

    {

        addlast(Processing)

        {

            action(ViewFile)

            {

                ApplicationArea = All;

                Caption = 'View File';

                Image = View;

 

                trigger OnAction()

                var

                    TenantMedia: Record "Tenant Media";

                    FileInStream: InStream;

                begin

                    // Fetch the attachment from the "Tenant Media" table

                    TenantMedia.SetAutoCalcFields(Content);

                    TenantMedia.Get(Rec.Data.MediaId());

                    if TenantMedia.Content.HasValue() then begin

                          TenantMedia.Content.CreateInStream(FileInStream);

                          // Use the new feature to open the file in a preview window

                          File.ViewFromStream(FileInStream, Rec."Attachment Name", true);

                    end;

                end;

            }

        }

    }

}

---

o   The new function File.ViewFromStream(FileInStream, Rec."Attachment Name", true); is used.

o   This opens the file directly in the Business Central web client preview window.

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Similarly, Added to Email Scenario Attachments

I have also applied the same functionality to the Email Scenario Attachments page.

GitHub Link ViewFile