How To Open An External non-QlikView File Via Ajax Client

This article explains the steps to allow end-users to open external non-QlikView files ( txt, pdf, etc).

Browser security.
Google Chrome will show the error "Not allowed to load local resource" in the Console when a UNC Path is provided.


 

Qlikview Webserver:

1- QMC > System > Setup > Qlikview webserver > web > Root folders
2- Click the green “+” button
3- Add a virtual folder name and then the path of the folder in which the files are stored
4- In the QlikView application, add a button object
5- Properties > Actions > Add action
6- Select the "Open URL" action
7- The URL must be " HTTP://<hostname>/<name of the virtual folder>/<file name with extension> 
ex. http://Coolservername/tempfolder/sales of 2012.pdf.
NOTE: Be sure to include the file Content-Type (Mime-type) under the System\Setup\QlikView Web Servers (select the server) , tab Web\Mime Type section.
Example; for One Note files the extension is .ONE and the Content type is application/onenote.

Microsoft IIS WebServer:

1- Go to IIS Manager
2- Select the Default web site
3- Right click > Add virtual directory
4- Add the Alias and location of the files
5- The IIS virtual folder is created
6- In the QlikView application, add a button object
7- Properties > Actions > Add action
8- Select the "Open URL" action
9- The URL must be " HTTP://<hostname>/<name of the virtual folder>/<file name with extension> 
ex. http://Coolservername/tempfolder/sales of 2012.pdf.
NOTE: Be sure to include the file Content-Type (Mime-type) under the IIS Manager MIME Types settings as well, From Default Web Site, or Web Site being used for Qlik, go to the MIME Types Applet and confirm .one Extension is there, if not, add it with Extension value of .one and MIME Type of application/onenote.  It may already be listed at the server level in which case under the web site it will show as Inherited in the Entry Type column.
Example; for One Note files the extension is .ONE and the Content type is application/onenote.

Chrome will save the file, in order to open the file instead to save it the following steps need to be followed:
1. Download the file
2. In the downloads bar that appears in the bottom of the page click the arrow icon.
3. A popup menu will appear, select "Always open files of this type".

The next time the link will open the file instead of saving it.