Can you access pdf files through the Data Store?

[PLadd]

In our organization, when a user clicks on a pipe in a web app, the resulting popup includes a link to an as-built map.  The web app is Organization level access with Integrated Windows Authentication.  The as-built maps (pdf files) are in a virtual directory with Windows Authentication in IIS.  Using this workflow, the user must first login to the web app and then again login to view the as-built pdf.

Is there some way for me to use the data store to overcome this double login? 

I've added the folder of pdf files to a new Data Store and shared to Organization.  I granted the local arcgis user access to the folder.  I also removed the IIS windows authentication in case that was still tripping things up.

Seems like this should be an easy setup.  Any suggestions?

[Logan_Stevens]

Hello! It seems like you're looking to register a folder with ArcGIS Enterprise through Content > New Item > Data Store. When creating a new folder connection in ArcGIS Enterprise, make sure that ArcGIS Server has the right permissions to access it before proceeding with registration. After that, you can publish the data in the folder using ArcGIS Pro. This process is relevant if you intend to publish the data in the folder as a registered service in ArcGIS Enterprise.

However, I think you might be interested in creating a folder connection within the enterprise portal to view and link to PDFs available in your organization. Unfortunately, this isn't possible in the same way I described above (at least to my knowledge.)

Have you thought about uploading your PDFs directly to the enterprise portal? You could create a dedicated folder within your content in the organization and upload your PDFs there. After that, you can share these PDFs with your organization and link to the items themselves. Since the PDFs would live in your enterprise portal, your organization members shouldn't have to sign in again to view them. It's not a perfect solution, but that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw your question. I hope this helps!

[PLadd]

Thanks @Logan_Stevens  for the suggestion to add the PDFs directly to Enterprise Portal. Unfortunately, we have thousands of files, so for a variety of reasons to do with files in Portal, this solution wouldn't work for us.

[MuneerMajid]

Webify your folder with the PDF's via a Virtual Directory on the IIS where your Web Adaptor is installed. You will have URLs in the form https://<your_portal_url>/<Pdfs_folder_virtual_directory>/Map1.pdf

You could provide these links on the popup and they should just launch on a new tab without any login challenge. You can control authorization at the IIS level and it should behave like a SSO experience. 

[PLadd]

@MuneerMajid  your solution intrigues me as a possible solution but I think I need a little more direction. 

In IIS, (IIS > Sites > Default Web Site > portal) I added a Virtual Directory called “Vault” to "portal".   This Virtual Directory pointed to a folder with PDF files on my E:\ drive but I got the web adaptor error shown in image below.  Then I repointed the Virtual Directory to a new PDF folder under the “content” folder of the portal configuration (this could be problematic when the next Enterprise update is done).  But it didn’t work either.  For testing purposes, Anonymous Authentication = Enabled, Windows Authentication = disabled.

In both of these instances, I then went to https://domain.bla/portal/vault/filename.pdf.  That’s when I got the error message.

Can you identify what it is I’m doing wrong?  Thanks.

[MuneerMajid]

Hi @PLadd - You shouldnt create the virtual directory inside your web adaptor or touch/change anything with it.

You would want to create this virtual directory under your website root such that your pdf folder directory https://domain.bla/vault/fielname.pdf