Prizm® Viewer v8/9 FAQ

Reference the Latest Builds page here. You can check for the current version of the Prizm Viewer you have installed by using the About Box, accessible from the toolbar and the right click menu.

Q2: Which Windows operating systems are supported in Prizm Viewer?

Prizm Viewer requires Microsoft® Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008 or Windows 7 operating systems. Prizm Viewer will operate in both 32 and 64-bit operating environments, but only as a 32-bit object.

Q3: Which internet browsers are supported by Prizm Viewer?

Prizm Viewer requires 32-bit Internet Explorer® (6, 7), or Firefox® (1.5, 2.0, 3.0) browser to function. Currently, 64-bit browsers are not supported. Prizm Viewer is a browser-based ActiveX application and/or plug-in application. Prizm Viewer has been tested with IE8 and it performs as expected.

Q4: Where can I get a copy of the Legacy Converter application that is mentioned in the Prizm Viewer Administrator Tools?

This utility can be downloaded from here: http://ftp2.pegasusimaging.com/prizmviewer/PrizmViewer9.LegacyConversion.zip

Contact support@accusoft.com if you have any further questions about using the utility.

General Troubleshooting

Q1: How do I enable debug logging for troubleshooting Prizm Viewer?

1) Open any document in Prizm Viewer
2) Right click on the image and select preferences from the menu or the toolbar
3) In the Viewer\General page, check the box that says “Error Log File”
4) Select OK
5) Close Prizm Viewer
6) Prizm Viewer will write to the log file the next time it is opened.

The debug log file can be zipped and sent to support@accusoft.com for analysis. You can locate the log file at:

Windows 2000, XP, 2003:
C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp\Prizm Viewer Log File.txt

Windows Vista, 2008:
C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Temp\Low\Prizm Viewer Log File.txt

Q2: How do I view annotations from a server?

Your system administrator will need to set up an Annotation Server, and provide annotation mapping information for your organization. The Prizm Viewer help file discusses Annotation Mappings in Your Preferences\Annotations Preferences, and the Annotation Server help file includes extensive documentation. Both can be downloaded from the Prizm Viewer product pages.

Q3: How do I display camera raw images?

Prizm Viewer will support viewing many camera raw formats. Contact support@accusoft.com and they can help you set up a configuration file that turns on camera raw viewing capabilities. Viewing these images can slow down the speed of other document types.

While much richer print functionality is available through the Prizm Viewer print function accessible either through the Print toolbar button or the right click menu under Print, Prizm Viewer will also print the contents of the viewing window when the IE browser print button is selected. See the information at this location http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311757 to properly code HTML to support printing web pages containing PV8. The admin help file also discusses how to do this.

Using the browser Print Preview function causes the browser Print button to stop functioning correctly.

Q5: I installed a Microsoft Office service pack and the image file I want to open no longer opens with Prizm Viewer. How do I correct this?

The steps below outline how to make Prizm Viewer the default image viewer for the image type you want to have Prizm Viewer open.

1) Open the file associations dialog from the start menu.
2) Select the Restore Defaults button to re-establish file associations created when Prizm Viewer was installed.
3) You may also, if you wish, check the box marked “Check file associations at startup and notify if mismatched.” This will present you with an option to adjust your file associations if another application has re-set them since Prizm Viewer was last used.
4) Close all instances of IE.
5) Try to Open your file type and it should open in Prizm Viewer now.

Solving Security Issues with IE

Q1: How do I eliminate the ActiveX warning bar that appears at the top of the browser every time I view images on My Computer using Prizm Viewer?

This is part of a security update in Internet Explorer 6 and 7 preventing ActiveX controls from loading without prompt. This can be solved by changing your security settings for ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer as detailed below. Documentation cited uses an XP interface; you may need to make small adjustments for other operating system interfaces.

1) Open Internet Explorer.
2) Click on the Tools and a menu displays. Click on Internet Options.
3) The Internet Options dialog box displays. Select the Advanced Tab.
4) Scroll down to the bottom and select “Allow active content to run in files on My Computer”
5) Click Apply
6) Close internet explorer and then your internet settings have been successfully changed. Please note that this change affects all ActiveX controls running on your computer.

The Prizm Viewer install sets this for you unless you ask it not to change the setting.

Q2: What Internet Option settings would let me open email attachments with Prizm Viewer?

1) Open Internet Explorer.
2) Click on the Tools and a menu displays. Click on Internet Options.
3) The Internet Options dialog box displays. Select the Security tab.
4) Near the bottom of the Security tab click on Custom level. The Security Settings - Internet Zone dialog box displays.
5) Scroll down to the section labeled Active X controls and plug-ins.
6) Under the option Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt, select Enable.
7) Scroll down to the option Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins and select Enable.
8) Click OK. A Warning window displays asking: Are you sure you want to change the settings for this zone?
9) Click Yes. You will return to the Internet Options dialog box.
10) Click Apply.
11) Close internet explorer and then your internet settings are changed.

Because this setting changes security for your computer and not just Prizm Viewer, other ActiveX applications will also be permitted to run on your computer. You may want to check with your system administrator before making this change on your computer.

Note: The Outlook Express email client presents a “Restricted sites” error message when trying to open email attachments with Prizm Viewer if you don’t make the following changes.

1) In Outlook Xpress, open Tools|Options|Security tab.

2) Under the Virus Protection section and the “Select the Internet Explorer security zone to use”, select the option: Internet Zone(Less Secure, but more functional).

3) Uncheck the “Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus”.

4) Choose OK and re-open your file attachment. It should now open fine with Prizm Viewer.

Because this setting changes security for your Email client and not just Prizm Viewer, you may want to check with your system administrator before making this change on your computer.

Q3: How do I eliminate the ActiveX warning that states, "This Website Wants to Run the Following Add-on: Pegasus Imaging Prizm Viewer v8 ActiveX from Pegasus Imaging Corporation?

If your web server is an internet web server:

1) Open Internet Explorer.
2) Click on the Tools and a menu displays. Click on Internet Options.
3) The Internet Options dialog box displays. Select the Security tab.
4) Near the bottom of the Security tab click on Custom level. The Security Settings - Internet Zone dialog box displays.
5) Scroll down to the section labeled Active X controls and plug-ins.
6) Under the option Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt, select Enable.
7) Scroll down to the option Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins and select Enable.
8) Click OK. A Warning window displays asking: Are you sure you want to change the settings for this zone?
9) Click Yes. You will return to the Internet Options dialog box.
10) Click Apply.
11) Close internet explorer and then your internet settings are changed.

If your web server is an intranet web server:

1) From Internet Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar.
Click Internet Options at the bottom of the list.
Choose the Security tab and click the green checkmark labeled Trusted sites.
2) Click the Sites button.
3) Uncheck the checkbox: "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone".
4) Verify that http://yourintranetsite/ appears under "Add this website to the zone:” and click Add.
5) Check the “Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone” checkbox.
6) Click Close.

To stop ActiveX warnings specifically for Prizm Viewer please use the following steps. Please note this assumes that IE 7 or IE 8 is being used.

1) From Internet Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar.
2) Click Manage Add-ons in the middle of the list.
3) Click the Show: dropdown menu in the top portion of the window and select All Add-ons.
4) Find the Pegasus Image Corporation group in the add-ons list.
5) Make sure the Prizm Viewer v8.0 entry has a status of Enabled. The entry name will include a service pack version number.
6) Double-click the Prizm Viewer v8.0 entry.
7) Modify the list of Restricted sites to include the sites that Prizm Viewer will be used with.
8) Close the two open windows.

Q4: I received the error: “Could not initialize Prizm Viewer control because an internal error occurred” when I double-clicked on a file type associated with Prizm Viewer. What might cause this?

Some third-party virus scanning programs disable Prizm Viewer from running in Internet Explorer. If you use McAfee VirusScan, for example, the Properties of the Access Protection task contain a Category called Common Standard Protection. Unchecking the Block action for the Rule titled “Prevent common programs from running files from the Temp folder” will allow Prizm Viewer to start.

Q5: I click on a link to a JPEG file, expecting Prizm Viewer to display it. Instead, Internet Explorer displays it, not Prizm Viewer. What is happening?

Internet Explorer 5.5 and above do not allow the Prizm Viewer to display JPEG files through the web. Internet Explorer insists on handling them natively. It routes all requests for image/jpeg files to itself even if a plug-in is registered. ActiveX controls have a higher priority than plug-ins, so IE's ActiveX for displaying JPEG files always handles JPEG files. Please contact technical support for ideas on how to work around this problem. This usually requires changes to the Web Server.

Q6: I just installed the Prizm Viewer with PDF support. Which PDF documents will open in the Prizm Viewer?

When using Internet Explorer, the Prizm Viewer will open the following PDF documents:

1) PDF documents specified inside an image list file.
2) PDF documents referenced in HTML via an object tag that specifies the MIME type as "image/pdf".
3) PDF documents referenced in HTML via an object tag that specifies the CLASSID for Prizm Viewer.

When using Firefox, the Prizm Viewer will open the following PDF documents:

1) PDF documents specified inside an image list file.
2) PDF documents referenced in HTML via an embed tag that specifies the MIME type as "image/pdf".
3) PDF documents stored on a Web Server that associates the MIME type "image/pdf" with PDF documents.

Q7: I just installed the Prizm Viewer with PDF support. Which PDF documents will continue to open with Adobe Acrobat Reader?

Unless you set Prizm Viewer file associations to open these file types, Adobe Reader will continue to open PDF documents located on your local hard drive or PDF files on general Websites that associate PDF documents with the MIME type "application/PDF".

Q8: I just installed the Prizm Viewer with PDF support. I want all my PDF documents to open in the Prizm Viewer. How do I do this?

If you are using Internet Explorer, you can associate all PDF documents with the Prizm Viewer. You can do this through the File Associations program or through the Preferences-->File Associations settings in the Prizm Viewer. To do this using the File Associations program, follow these steps:

1) Using the Start menu, go to Start-->All Programs-->Pegasus Imaging-->Prizm Viewer and choose the shortcut to "File Associations". The File Associations dialog will appear.
2) Scroll down in the list of file types until you locate the Adobe PDF entry.
3) Click the checkbox to associate the Prizm Viewer with all PDF documents.
4) Click Ok.

To do this using the Preferences-->File Associations tab in the Prizm Viewer, follow these steps:

1) Open the Prizm Viewer Preferences (Click the Preferences button on the toolbar

, or right-click on the image and select Preferences from the menu).
2) Select the File Associations settings. (This tab does not display for Firefox users).
3) Locate Adobe PDF in the file types list.
4) Click the checkbox to associate the Prizm Viewer to all PDF documents.
5) Click Ok.

If you are using Firefox as your browser, this preference must be set during the installation. If you need to change these settings after Prizm Viewer has been installed, you must re-install Prizm Viewer. If you are installing exactly the same version as the prior install, you will need to first uninstall, then re-install Prizm Viewer with your newly defined file associations.

Q9: I want to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, but Prizm Viewer is providing support for all PDF documents. How do I change this?

You can restore support for Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF documents located on your local hard drive or on general Websites that associate PDF documents with the MIME type application/PDF in Internet Explorer (default for most Websites). You can do this through the File Associations program, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or the Preferences-->File Associations tab in the Prizm Viewer. To do this using the Prizm Viewer File Associations program, follow these steps:

1) Using the Start menu, go to Start-->Programs--> Prizm Viewer and choose the shortcut to "File Associations". The File Associations dialog will appear.
2) Scroll down in the list of file types until you locate the Adobe PDF entry.
3) Click the checkbox (remove the check mark) to remove the association between the Prizm Viewer and PDF documents.
4) Click Ok.
5) Close the browser.

To do this using Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow these steps:

1) Open Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Acrobat Reader dialog box appears.

2) Click Yes.

If the dialog box does not appear when you open the Adobe Acrobat Reader, use the following steps:

1) Select Preferences from the Adobe Acrobat Reader Edit menu. The Preferences dialog appears.
2) Click Options.
3) Under Web Browser Options, select "Check Browser Settings When Starting Acrobat".
4) Click Ok.
5) Close the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
6) Open the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Acrobat Reader dialog appears.
7) Click Yes.

If you are using the Firefox browser, and want Acrobat to display images with the application/pdf mime type, you will need to re-install Prizm Viewer with that setting cleared. If you are installing exactly the same version as the prior install, you will need to first uninstall, then re-install Prizm Viewer with your newly defined file associations.

Q10: I am using Firefox. Why can't I edit the File Associations?

Firefox and Internet Explorer receive file associations for plug-ins differently. Firefox obtains file associations for the Prizm Viewer from the Prizm Viewer code, which are adjusted at install-time and cannot be changed after installation.

Q11: I installed a Microsoft Office or a Microsoft Office service pack and my TIFF Files no longer open with the Prizm Viewer. How do I correct this?

Microsoft Office contains the Microsoft Document Imaging Viewer which causes the default viewer for TIFF images to change to Microsoft Document Imaging Viewer. The steps below outline how to make Prizm Viewer the default image viewer for TIFF images.

1) Open the file associations dialog from the start menu. Browse to Start | Programs | Prizm Viewer | File Associations.
2) To restore all file associations set at install time, select the Restore Defaults button to re-establish file associations created with Prizm Viewer was installed. Or if you prefer, simply scroll down in the list of file types until you locate the TIFF entry.
3) Click the checkbox to associate the Prizm Viewer with all TIFF and TIF documents.
4) Click Ok.
5) You may also, if you wish, check the box marked “Check file associations at startup and notify if mismatched.” This will present you with an option to adjust your file associations if another application has re-set them since Prizm Viewer was last used.
6) Close all instances of IE.

Q12: I installed Apple Quicktime (or iTunes) and my TIFF Files no longer open with the Prizm Viewer. How do I correct this?

See the steps in Q11 to correct this problem.See the steps in Q11 to correct this problem.

Q13: I installed a Windows Update and none of my associated file types open from an email attachment. Why is this and how do I correct it?

The Windows update can change the security settings in IE so that ActiveX controls are blocked from being loaded. This will cause your image attached to the e-mail to not open since Prizm Viewer is not able to load.

Please refer to the steps in Q2 to resolve this issue.

Licensing Prizm Viewer for Web Site access

Q1: How do I license the Prizm Viewer when using the web server license option?

Web Site Licensing - Prizm Viewer can be licensed for a Web server by specifying the license string in an <object> or <embed> tag. The Web server can be configured to deliver a CAB file installation, including the Web license. The license is stored permanently on the client computer, which is then licensed to access files stored on that server. The client computer can also access other sites, and local files, in Trial Mode.

The Webkey property needs to be set to the web license string. This string is provided to you when you purchase web licensing purchase. Please contact our sales department at sales@accusoft.com and they can assist you. Please note, this property is only necessary when using a web license, which is a license that is tied to a specific web site. If you have purchased one or more single user licenses, the single user license should be entered during installation, or in the Prizm Viewer Preferences dialog window. The examples listed below demonstrate using the Webkey property in an OBJECT and EMBED tags, but they can also be set in a list file or if using the ActiveX interface in the OnInitialize Event.

<OBJECT ID="PrizmControl" CLASSID="CLSID:7A2633F0-33D5-4F5E-93BE-74ACBEE7F7EA">
<PARAM NAME="SRC" VALUE="http://server/images/test.tif">
<PARAM NAME="type" VALUE="image/tif">
<PARAM NAME="WebKey" VALUE="http://www.jpg.com?1234567890ABCDEF1234567890ABC"

<EMBED SRC="http://server/images/test.tif"
TYPE="image/tif"
WebKey="http://www.jpg.com?1234567890ABCDEF1234567890ABC">
</EMBED>
</OBJECT>

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Prizm® Viewer v8/9 FAQ