Save report as PDF in specific folder

[Chuck Bytes]

I don't like posting a repeated subject matter. I've read through many postings regarding similar cases but didn't find a solution to my issue. I did however learn a lot about Printing PDF's.

I have used the Genie and tried to write it myself, but the code is returning an error that file cannot be created.

I just want to save a report in PDF format on a network drive. I thought what I wrote was ok but file cannot be created.

The Report Name is "BOM Print"
The report path is
S:\PM Team

The record to print is current only
The file name should be the value in the field (Site_ID) followed by a space and "BOM" with the extention PDF

"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf
resulting in
S:\PM Team\ONTOR0101 BOM.PDF

Does anyone see something obviously wrong with this script below.
'Print a report, label, letter, form or browse layout. You can specify which records to print.

record_number = current_record_number()
query.filter = "recno() = " + record_number
query.order = ""



:Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+"\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+\" \"+\"BOM\"+\".pdf",.T.)

[Clunes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

My guess is the path name is not acceptable. have you reviewed the script in the interactive viewer. I would also try putting the site ID into a variable and replace in you script eg:

Dim sitevar as c

sitevar = :topparent:Site_Id.value 'Check syntax in object explorer
sitevar = alltrim(sitevar)

Then replace the path with "S:\PM Team\\" + var->sitevar + " BOM.pdf"

[MikeC]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

:Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"\"S:\PM  Team\"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+chr(92)+\"BOM.pdf\"",.T.)

EDIT LATER:
May need/want to use Mark's variable substitution as well--makes it easier to read and write if nothing else.

:Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"\"S:\PM  Team\"+chr(92)+sitevar+chr(92)+\"BOM.pdf\"",.T.)

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

The interactive window is the best place I've found to construct such expressions when I run into trouble.

site_id.value = "my test"

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+"\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+\" \"+\"BOM\"+\".pdf"
= S:\PM Team\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf

? "S:\PM Team"
= "S:\PM Team"

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)
= [COLOR="Red"]"S:\PM Team\"[/COLOR]

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+[COLOR="red"]"\"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)
= "S:\PM Team\my test"

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+[COLOR="red"]\" \"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "
= "S:\PM Team\my test "

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+[COLOR="red"]\"BOM\"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"
= "S:\PM Team\my test BOM"

? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf"
= "S:\PM Team\my test BOM.pdf"

[Chuck Bytes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

The interactive window is the best place I've found to construct such expressions when I run into trouble.

site_id.value = "my test"
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+"\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+\" \"+\"BOM\"+\".pdf"
= S:\PM Team\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf
 
? "S:\PM Team"
= "S:\PM Team"
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)
= [COLOR=red]"S:\PM Team\"[/COLOR]
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+[COLOR=red]"\"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)
= "S:\PM Team\my test"
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+[COLOR=red]\" \"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "
= "S:\PM Team\my test "
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+[COLOR=red]\"BOM\"[/COLOR]
ERROR: Expected value
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"
= "S:\PM Team\my test BOM"
 
? "S:\PM Team"+chr(92)+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf"
= "S:\PM Team\my test BOM.pdf"

That's great, man I've got a lot to learn.....

[Chuck Bytes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

I can't get it, I can't solve this issue. Everything looks right but the file will not create on target location.

If I use the geunie and name the file, it works without an issue, but I need to have the file name based on a value in the field or it will overwrite the last entry. I tried interactive but failed to recognize the issue.


I would like to take one last stab at this, if it doesn't work I'll just ask users to manually rename the file based on the value in the field.
I really appreciate your help folks and am reluctant to keep posting on this subject.

Here is the command that works, followed by the command that I'm trying to implement.

Using the Script Genie I choose - Attached is a pictorial

1. Category Reports - Action Print a Layout
2. Settings Tab: Select Layout Type - Report Highlighting the report I wish to print
3. Options Tab: Print Method - Save File As - Adobe PDF File format
4. Filename: using the open directory, I specify click through the drives and folders stopping at the destination. At the bottom of the screen the filename is blank and I type the name of the file "BOM.pdf" and hit enter. (Can't click open)
5. The path is entered properly in the script and I click Next and 'No Additional Selection Criteria'
6. Next and finish closes the session and it works fine.

When I view in XBasic it provides the command which I slightly alter (ok, Cheat) by changing the path name to the following

"S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf)

After saving I reopen to see what Alpha did with that info. This is the command and path Alpha created from my changes.

:Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"\"S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files"+chr(92)+"\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+\" \"+\"BOM\"+\".pdf",.T.)

Altered I took out the backslashes based on Stan's evaluation through interactive screen but the same event error occurs. :Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files"+chr(92)+" "+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf",.T.)

Thought it looked ok but the error message I get is telling me that file cannot be created. I tried many different variations without success.

[Clunes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

The only thing I can add is that in your example, I don't see where you pickup the site id variable. It may be that your step from report may have lost sight of the site ID field. can I suggest like my earlier post you set a variable with the site id. Add a new step one that sets a 'Shared' variable base on the field. Then use this variable in your final opening step.

[Clunes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

:Report.SaveAs("BOM Print","PDF",query.filter,query.order,"S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files"+chr(92)+" "+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf",.T.)

I also think the +" "+"BOM"+".pdf" is not needed. All you need is +" BOM.pdf"

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

Not sure you can have a space as the first character of a file name. With a simple substitution your expression evaluates to

Site_Id.value = "abc"

? "S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files"+chr(92)+" "+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf"
= "S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files\ abc BOM.pdf"

which is tring to save the file as

abc BOM.pdf -with the leading space.

Edit: Apparently you can save a file with a leading space. Looking further.

Is it possible that the contents of site_id.value would constitute an illegal filename? Do you get the same errror if you substitute

remspecial(alltrim(Site_Id.value))

Is it possible the logged on user doesn't have write access to that folder?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

After a bit of testing I think I have to agree with Mark. The error seems to indicate that the file

'S:"S:\Project Management Team\Installation Files\"+alltrim(Site_Id.value)+" "+"BOM"+".pdf"

can't be created. Note the extra 'S: at the first of the "filename" and the lack of the substitution of the site_id.value.

Did you convert the action script to in line xbasic and save the changes? Is the button on a form where the site_id is shown and the object name is site_id?

Attachment is a scrrenshot of an error I was able to generate. Note the difference in the message although the error is the same.

[jkletrovets]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

Below is some sample code I use to do the exact thing your wanting to do.

DIM tblqt as P
tblqt = table.current()

'Set the filter to only print the current record
record_number = current_record_number()
query.filter = "recno() = " + record_number
query.order = ""


DIM vemailfilename as C
'First Create the File Name from the table data
vemailfilename = alltrim(tblqt.quotenumf)+".pdf"
'Now save the path to the entire file from the gvapplicationpath variable below with the Word Quote in front of the actual quote number
vemailfilename = alltrim(gvapplicationpath)+"Quote"+vemailfilename

'Now Save the report
report.SaveAs("WoQuote_Svc","PDF",query.filter,query.order,vemailfilename)

The code above works for me. I know the differences are subtle and I do not have any spaces in either my directory string or filename. But, the above is taken out of a working app. I have seen things in the past where it seems to work more smoothly if you create your data string and assign it to a variable versus using the constructs directly in the function. I know it should not make a difference, but I know I have seen it.

Just a thought.....


Regards,

Jeff

[Chuck Bytes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

interesting that several of the responses address the space issue. In fact I do need a space between Site_ID and the text "BOM"

The final file save name should read as follows

ONTOR0140 BOM.pdf

I did check write privlidges and would that not be confirmed because when I use the script without the Site_ID it saves without issue.

BOM.pdf

I think I have to go back to Mark's point about creating a variable.
I am successful in opening a document using the same concept and the same field

Open Document Site_ID + " " +BOM.pdf

No time tonight gents, but I will continue with this taking into account all the GREAT responses I recieved this evening and will update once I've found a solution.

[Clunes]

Re: Save report as PDF in specific folder

I get the impression that you are only viewing the xbasic script and then editing the path in the Action script where you create the report view. Have you tried coverting the script to xbasic altogether and then editing with the result?

If I am correct then where or at what point do you get the site id value from?