Troubles with conversion to pdf

Troubles with conversion to pdf

by SNT onderwijs -
Number of replies: 8

Hi

For the assignment, we have the submitted files converted to PDF.

That way we can immediately annotate on jpg and pdf.

Strangely enough, we cannot annotate on png and docx.

What is also annoying is an error message for types that it cannot convert. "Cannot open the PDF. The file may be corrupt, or in an unsupported format." Could that error message be suppressed? Because we know that certain file types cannot be converted. Moodle doesn't have to show that every time.

Thank you for your help

-SNT

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In reply to SNT onderwijs

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Is it possible the document submitted could be restricted to other document types ... ie, no .docx submissions?

'SoS', Ken

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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by SNT onderwijs -
Hi Ken

Thank you for the idea.
But some of our teachers have to receive file types that can not be converted to pdf. Then the constant warning is useless.
And it is not user friendly to our students that they have to convert screenshots (png) to jpg.

So we need a better solution.

-SNT
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In reply to SNT onderwijs

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Mind sharing some info ... like what version of Moodle?
Have you turned on debugging to see if Moodle reports any details?
How about web service error logs?
What document conversion is your site currently using?    Unoconvert or Google?
Have you checked settings for paths ... php-cli and ghostscript?

'SoS', Ken

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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by SNT onderwijs -
Thank you Ken
We use Moodle 4.1.6
I'll forward your tips to our IT guy.

You don't know about an option to supress the warning for unconvertable types?

-SNT
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In reply to SNT onderwijs

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
I think the only way to 'supress' would be to edit the language but that really isn't a solution as one would want to see errors in most cases.   So, No!  I don't know of a way ... nor do I think there is a plugin/addon that would be sophisticated enough either!

You are not alone with this issue ... and solutions evidently are highly dependent upon platform. and setup of that platform. :|

'SoS', Ken
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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by Maresa Mühlemeier -
Hello Ken!

I'm having a related issue. Could you help me maybe (I'm Admin, I have a colleague who is Server Admin).

Our trouble is that NO conversion is happening. Maybe it's not even a conversion issues as not even PDFs are shown.
It has worked well up until moodle 3.11.17 but all our moodle 4.+ systems have the same issue.
Ghostscript path is fine.
We also get the error message SNT mentioned above but also sometimes no message at all, just the hint that some files are only available through download; sometimes we don't even get this message but just a "pdf" page with an error picture printed on it.

moodle is run on Windows Server 2022 and Apache.
Unoconv and GoogleDrive conversion are both not configured. Then again, as I said above, maybe it's not about that because even PDFs are not displayed and can only be downloaded.

I'd be grateful if you could provide any insight.

Thanks,
Maresa
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In reply to Maresa Mühlemeier

Re: Troubles with conversion to pdf

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
@Maresa ...
I haven't done windows since Windows NT 4.0!   So am of no help really!

Hey ... all you Windows persons out here in Moodledum ... help this OP out!

And another suggestion for forums ...
*reinstate the Windows Forum* so those 'birds of a feather' and find their 'flock'! smile

'SoS', Ken

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