Displaying PDFs in CLM

  • CRM Desktop (Mac, Windows)
  • iPad

PDF files in CLM content can be displayed via HTML or PDF key messages. When a user displays a PDF file locally referenced from an HTML key message, the PDF displays in an overlay on top of the presentation. Users can navigate the PDF using the standard PDF controls, but the following buttons are not available:

  • Action menu
  • Reactions
  • Highlighter pen
  • Thumbnail navigation

Ensure initial configuration is complete to use this functionality.

Users can use PDF controls to navigate PDFs in CLM. Select the up and down arrows to navigate between pages or jump to a specific page by selecting the page number. Users can view PDFs in landscape mode or disable rotation lock to use portrait mode.

Content creators can use the following methods to reference a PDF in an HTML Key Message:

  • <a href = /assets/my_pdf.pdf>This works fine.</a>
  • document.location = /assets/my_pdf.pdf; // this works fine
  • document.location.href = /assets/my_pdf.pdf; // this works fine

For example, Sarah Jones displays Cholecap content to Dr. Clinton Ackerman during a meeting. The slide with safety information contains a link to a locally referenced PDF with more specific details. Sarah selects the link, which displays the PDF in an overlay on top of the presentation. When she finishes presenting the PDF, she selects Close and returns to the slide with the link.

Displaying PDFs on iPad

For iPad, a Close button displays at the top left of locally referenced PDFs to allow users to exit and return to the HTML Key Message. External links selected from PDFs in CLM presentations display in an overlay, allowing information to be shared in an Engage meeting.

Displaying PDFs on CRM Desktop (Windows)

To ensure text in PDF content displays correctly, users can disable hardware acceleration for the app. Hardware acceleration allows CRM Desktop (Windows) to perform tasks more efficiently by using the computer’s graphics card, but this can sometimes prevent content from rendering correctly.

Hardware acceleration is enabled by default in Veeva CRM on Windows Desktop unless one of the following graphics cards is detected:

  • Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Card ​
  • Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen

To manually disable hardware acceleration:

  1. Select the File menu.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Deselect the check box for Use hardware acceleration when available.
  4. Select Save.
  5. Sign out of the app and sign back in.