Summary

By default, Forms installs Chromium for use in generating PDFs of a form when saving to the repository, attaching to an email, or when downloading a submitted form, diagram, report, etc. Each Forms 11 release ships with a version of Chromium it is specifically tested with and does not automatically update, a practice known as "version-pinning." This allows Laserfiche to provide a validated combination of Forms and Chromium with each release. Some organizations, for security reasons, do not allow Chromium to stay installed on server machines. The reason is usually either that Chromium is not approved browser software at the org, or that they require browser software to always be on the latest version to stay current with security updates. For those organizations, Forms 11 Update 2 or later can be configured to use either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge instead of Chromium. However, please be aware that Laserfiche does not test every Forms 11 version against every new Chrome and Edge version released. While using Chrome or Edge instead of Chromium with Forms is a supported configuration, organizations making this configuration change assume the risk that an automatic Chrome or Edge version update could introduce breaking changes or other issues for Forms PDF generation.

Update January 28, 2025:Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge 132, released in January 2025 removes the need for the hotfix described in the note from August 2024. Knowledge Base article 1014543 has been updated with instructions for how to uninstall the manual hotfix previously available for Forms 11 Update 5 and instructions for how to update Forms 12

Update August 29, 2024: Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge introduced a breaking change in version 128.x, released late August 2024. The issue is described in KB 1014543 - PDF generation fails when using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for PuppeteerExecutablePath in Forms 11 Update 2 or later. A hotfix for the issue is available only for the Laserfiche Forms 11 Update 5 Hotfix 1014514 release. A hotfix will not be released for earlier versions of Forms 11. Organizations wishing to use current versions of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge instead of Chromium for Forms PDF generation must upgrade to Forms 11 Update 5 Hotfix 1014514, and then apply Hotfix 1014543.

To use Google Chrome instead of Chromium:

1. Update the Forms PuppeteerExecutablePath value using either the FormsConfig Advanced Options page (Forms 11 Update 5+ only - recommended) or by adding/modifying it in the Forms database directly:
   • FormsConfig Advanced Options: In a browser, navigate to https://localhost/FormsConfig#/advanced (the Advanced Options tab), find PuppeteerExecutablePath, and set the option value to the executable path for Google Chrome. For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (without quotes).
• Database: Insert a PuppeteerExecutablePath option to the Forms database cf_options table and set the option value to the executable path for Google Chrome. For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe.
  • You can use the following SQL command: INSERT INTO [dbo].[cf_options] ([optionname],[optionvalue]) VALUES ('PuppeteerExecutablePath','C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe') GO
2. Select the Windows Start menu on the computer the Forms Server is installed on.
3. Search for "Services" and open Services.
4. In the Services window, select the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service, and then click Restart.
5. Recycle the FormsAppPool from Application Pools in the IIS Manager.
6. If required by organizational security policy, uninstall Chromium from the Programs and Features control panel.

To use Microsoft Edge instead of Chromium:

1. Update the Forms PuppeteerExecutablePath value using either the FormsConfig Advanced Options page (Forms 11 Update 5+ only - recommended) or by adding/modifying it in the Forms database directly:
   • FormsConfig Advanced Options: In a browser, navigate to https://localhost/FormsConfig#/advanced (the Advanced Options tab), find PuppeteerExecutablePath, and set the option value to the executable path for Microsoft Edge. For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe (without quotes).
• Database: Insert a PuppeteerExecutablePath option to the Forms database cf_options table and set the option value to the executable path for Microsoft Edge. For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe.
  • You can use the following SQL command: INSERT INTO [dbo].[cf_options] ([optionname],[optionvalue]) VALUES ('PuppeteerExecutablePath','C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe') GO
2. Select the Windows Start menu on the computer the Forms Server is installed on.
3. Search for "Services" and open Services.
4. Find the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service in the list and double-click it.
5. In the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service Properties dialog box, click the Log On tab.
6. Set the account that the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service uses to log on to a Windows user that is an administrator for the machine, and click OK.
7. In the Services window, select the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service, and then click Restart.
8. Recycle the FormsAppPool from Application Pools in the IIS Manager.
9. If required by organizational security policy, uninstall Chromium from the Programs and Features control panel.

Known issue with using Microsoft Edge as an alternative:

• Downloading an operational report, chart report, or chart snapshot as a PDF does not work when using Microsoft Edge as a Chromium alternative. (361621)

To revert to using Chromium:

1. Verify Chromium is installed. The Chromium installation directory will be either "C:\Program Files (x86)\Chromium\Application\" or "C:\Program Files\Chromium\Application\" and contain a "chrome.exe" executable. Note: The Chromium executable is called "chrome.exe".
2. Update the Forms PuppeteerExecutablePath value using either the FormsConfig Advanced Options page (Forms 11 Update 5+ only - recommended) or by modifying it in the Forms database directly:
   • FormsConfig Advanced Options: In a browser, navigate to https://localhost/FormsConfig#/advanced (the Advanced Options tab), find PuppeteerExecutablePath, and "Reset" the option value to blank/empty (restores default; recommended) or provide the executable path for Chromium. For example: C:\Program Files\Chromium\Application\chrome.exe (without quotes).
• Database: Insert a PuppeteerExecutablePath option to the Forms database cf_options table and set the option value to blank/empty (restores default; recommended) or provide the executable path for Chromium. For example: C:\Program Files\Chromium\Application\chrome.exe.
  • You can use the following SQL command: INSERT INTO [dbo].[cf_options] ([optionname],[optionvalue]) VALUES ('PuppeteerExecutablePath','C:\Program Files\Chromium\Application\chrome.exe') GO
3. Select the Windows Start menu on the computer the Forms Server is installed on.
4. Search for "Services" and open Services.
5. In the Services window, select the Laserfiche Forms Routing Service, and then click Restart.
6. Recycle the FormsAppPool from Application Pools in the IIS Manager.

Note: Chromium will be automatically installed as part of the Forms Server installation, and must be removed afterward if required by company security policies.

Related Links

PDF generation fails when using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for PuppeteerExecutablePath in Forms 11 Update 2 or later

Download Laserfiche Forms 11 Update 2

Release Notes for Laserfiche Forms 11 Update 2.

List of Changes for Laserfiche Forms 11 Update 2.