How do I get a PDF in different folder

[tdorg]

I have a directory under my alpha files called part dwgs that contains PDF files. Sometimes I can get the button to open the PDF file and other times it says it does not exist. Is there a code to direct the button to a specific folder?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

I have a directory under my alpha files called part dwgs that contains PDF files. Sometimes I can get the button to open the PDF file and other times it says it does not exist. Is there a code to direct the button to a specific folder?

What button?

[MikeC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Hi Tommy,

I usually create a variable and place it on a form... then choose the "File Select" or Folder Select" Smart field for the Control Type that you can set from the Setup tab of the field's properties.

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

I have attached a backup of my application. Don't hammer me too bad on it.
I am trying to learn but need to get this function working. In the Program & Drawing search form I want to push a button and have it open the drawing listed in the drawing field. I only have one right now. It is tied to my program number and populates when I enter the program no. in this case 3312. I currently have it where it will open a Windows file explorer and want me to select the file but not been able to get it to open consistently just using the open method.

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

MikeC,
I got your method to kind of work but it replaces the drawing name in the drawing field. I need the drawing name to come from the table and be able to print that drawing by pressing the button next to the field.

[MikeC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Hi Tommy,
I tried to open the Program & Drawing...form but something is either corrupted or possibly due to my using version 8 (unlikely in this case).

Did you test your sample?? IF so and it works then I'm at a loss...Without the sample I am still not exactly sure of what you want to do...with it am sure a solution can be given.

Maybe someone else will have better luck.

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

So you could not even open the form? I downloaded the same backup on my laptop and works fine.

[MikeC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Tommy,

could not even open the form

correct....not even in design mode.

So really cannot even guess much as to how to help...maybe, and a real long shot, is the sample I've attached may be of some use.

It uses an embedded browse with buttons that will play mp3 on one form or videos on a different one. You first have to navigate to a mp3 or video file and "set" it so that that the path is then included in the table (browse). Again just a thought that this may be similar to what you are trying to do--the activex can be used for pdf as well (different activex object).

[NoeticCC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Opens fine in V9 - one thing that stands out to me is that you seem to have two different path variables, and the one you use doesn't have the forward slash after the folder name:

[B]var->path2 = ""[/B]

t5 = ""

t5 = a_db_current_path

[B]var->Path = t5[/B]

prmpt_title = "Select PDF Document"

prmpt_filter = "*.pdf"

prmpt_default = [B]var->path[/B]

(What is t5?)

Anyway if I generate the dialog using the Xbasic genie I get (assuming the folder is called PDFs):

'Prompt for a filename and store result in a variable called 'var_file'.
dim prmpt_title as c 
dim prmpt_filter as c 
dim prmpt_default as c 
dim prmpt_flag as c 

prmpt_title = "Select File"
prmpt_filter = "(*.pdf)"
prmpt_default = A5.GET_PATH()+chr(92)+"PDFs"+chr(92)

DIM SHARED var_file AS C

var_file = ui_get_file( a5_eval_expression(prmpt_title,local_variables()),prmpt_filter,prmpt_default,"X")

I added the

a5.get_path() + chr(92)

before the folder to make sure this is always pointing at the right directory. This seems to be working fine for me...

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Noetic, Thanks for the help. I have used Alpha in the past but never had to get into any real programming like now. Have not used it since 4.5 was first released. Can I change your code and make it open the file listed in a field called drawing?

[NoeticCC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Noetic, Thanks for the help. I have used Alpha in the past but never had to get into any real programming like now. Have not used it since 4.5 was first released. Can I change your code and make it open the file listed in a field called drawing?

You should be able to use the Xbasic genie to do this, this is code I adapted from the "Open a non-Alpha 5 file" option. When you say "another folder", where is the folder in relation to the Alpha5 directory? If the folder is ALWAYS in the same place, just hard-code the path and add the filename at the end.

DIM filename as c 
filename = 	a5_eval_expression("=Drawing",local_variables())
filename = a5.Get_Path()+chr(92) +"files" + chr(92) + filename

if file.exists(filename) then 
	sys_open(filename)
else
	ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File '"+filename+"' does not exist.",ui_stop_symbol)
end if

[Bill Griffin]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Tommy,

You may want to look at the PDF Viewer Supercontrol which allows you to embed the pdf right into the form. so when you navigate to the drawing, it is there, no opening of the pdf.

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Eureka I finally got it working. Thanks so much for all the help folks.
One other ?. My Xbasic manual is from 4.5. Would I benefit from buying the version 8 book or is it pretty much the same book?

[NoeticCC]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

Eureka I finally got it working. Thanks so much for all the help folks.
One other ?. My Xbasic manual is from 4.5. Would I benefit from buying the version 8 book or is it pretty much the same book?

The download/PDF is only about $20 so go for it - the online help files have a lot of information though, and if I were you I'd try the Xbasic genies first because a lot of the time they have a solution ready :)

[tdorg]

Re: How do I get a PDF in different folder

I actually kept trying to use the genie as you did and edit the code and it would not let me save my changes. What is the best way to do that?