IBM Support

IBM Content Navigator Edit Client: "The document cannot be opened"

Troubleshooting


Problem

Users may experience a failure with the EDIT Client in IBM Content Navigator (ICN) When attempting to send a document as an email attachment; using the "Send Email -> As an Attachment" option. Generating this error:  
The document cannot be opened
IBM content Navigator cannot connect to the IBM Content Navigator Edit Client
Install and start the IBM content navigator Edit Client on your workstation. Then try to open the document again.
This error occurs despite Edit services functioning correctly on localhost.
 

Symptom

image-20240516150714-1image-20240516150735-2

Cause

There are two major causes for this failure:

  1. Browser Security Blocking: Modern web browsers (like Chrome and Edge) have enhanced security measures that may block insecure private network requests. This can interfere with the communication between ICN and the Edit Client.
  2. Incorrect CORS Configuration (HTTP ICN Only): If you're using an HTTP-based ICN environment, the Edit Client's Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) configuration may not be set up correctly. CORS helps regulate communication between different origins (domains, ports, protocols).

Environment

IBM Content Navigator

Diagnosing The Problem

  • Check whether the user's browser has the "Block insecure private network requests" flag enabled by accessing the browser's settings and searching for the flag
              (e.g., edge://flags/#block-insecure-private-network-requestsin Edge).
  • Determine whether your ICN environment uses HTTPS or HTTP. HTTPS connections are generally not affected by browser security restrictions.

Resolving The Problem

To resolve this problem you can apply this solution:
  1. Enable HTTPS in ICN (Recommended):
    • If possible, configure ICN to use HTTPS for communication. This is the most secure approach as it avoids browser security restrictions. Refer to IBM's documentation for detailed instructions on enabling HTTPS in your ICN environment.
  2. For HTTP ICN urls, you can disable the browser blocking behavior via these flags, set to "disabled":
   - Chrome: chrome://flags/#block-insecure-private-network-requests
   - Edge: edge://flags/#block-insecure-private-network-requests

Additional Error might occur: "IBM Content Navigator Edit client CORSSites property":

If you encounter the error "IBM Content Navigator cannot connect to the IBM Content Navigator Edit client. The IBM Content Navigator host is not valid. Check the IBM Content Navigator Edit client CORSSites property," follow the instructions outlined in the provided IBM documentation:

Document Location

Worldwide

[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB18","label":"Miscellaneous LOB"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU056","label":"Miscellaneous"},"Product":{"code":"SSEUEX","label":"IBM Content Navigator"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m3p000000LRzCAAW","label":"ICN-\u003EEdit Services"},{"code":"a8m3p000000LRzOAAW","label":"ICN-\u003EEmail \u0026 Print"}],"ARM Case Number":"TS016241985","Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"All Versions"}]

Product Synonym

IBM FileNet Content Manager; IBM Content Navigator; IBM Content Navigator Edit Client

Document Information

Modified date:
16 May 2024

UID

ibm17152866

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