Linking to a .pdf file

[Bitman]

Hi,

I am wondering if it is possible to add a link to a .pdf or a photo.

I realise that you can add ole objects but i would rather not go down that route as i would like the size of my database to stay roughly the same.

[Stan Mathews]

Details.....

Hi,

I am wondering if it is possible to add a link to a .pdf or a photo.

I realise that you can add ole objects but i would rather not go down that route as i would like the size of my database to stay roughly the same.

What do you mean by "add a link"? What should the link do?

Scroll to the bottom of this page to see "Similar Threads" and you may get the answer you want.

[Bitman]

Linking to a .pdf or photo

I have created a collection system and I want to be able to view Photos and pdf files that are held else where on my computer by clicking on the file name that is stored in a field on my collection form. I would like to have a window pop up and display the pdf file that is in the field but i do not want the .pdf or photo to be stored or embedded within the database. Is this possible?

[Stan Mathews]

"Similar threads" as suggested

I have created a collection system and I want to be able to view Photos and pdf files that are held else where on my computer by clicking on the file name that is stored in a field on my collection form. I would like to have a window pop up and display the pdf file that is in the field but i do not want the .pdf or photo to be stored or embedded within the database. Is this possible?

The sys_open() function will open the named file with the default application for that file type. You could have onarrive event code for the field on your collection form. Code would be

sys_open(pdffilefieldobjectname.text)

or for a form field object named "pd" holding the pdf filename

sys_open(pd.text)

the field must hold the name and extension (.pdf) and if the pdf files are stored outside the database directory it must include the path.

[Stephen Ferranti]

Re: "Similar threads" as suggested

Stan I know you wrote this long ago but it sounds just like the function i am looking for. I would like to see if there is a way to use the part_number field in the sys_open formula so i don't have to enter the entire path in every record. I could click the button and it would open the file in part_number. I'm thinking something like this" sys_open(C;\user\myname\documents\prints\("part_number").pdf.text). that way i would only have to enter the part number into the field and the button would work on all the records with the same code. Is this possible?

Thanks

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

On a form where the part number is a form object and the object name of that object is part_number. Assuming part_number is a character type.


sys_open("C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+part_number.value+".pdf")

[Stephen Ferranti]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

i get an error file "0" does not exist. i attached a screen shot of the form and the edited code Thanks screen shot alpha form.png

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

What is shown in the part_number field on the form if you view the record? What data type (character or numeric)?

Where did the \A123 portion of your code derive? Is that a directory under prints?

[Stephen Ferranti]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

it is a character field. it contains just a number ie:400308. the \a123 is a directory under prints. if this works i will move all the prints into just the prints
directory so i can use a single code to retrieve them.

Thanks

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

sys_open("C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+part_number.value+".pdf")

This should be the code in an inline xbasic action script element, not an expression for an Open non Alpha file element.

If you want to use the Open non Alpha file and supply an expression leave off the sys_open()

Plain

"C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+part_number.value+".pdf"

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

If you are having trouble assembling the file name in the sys_open command, why not create a variable and then just do a sys_open(variable_name)

We capture employee Photos and signatures and then store them in separate folders. When we open up the employee screen, it shows us the image and signature.
we use this code in an on_fetch of the records on a form.

pict1=image->image   'image is the field containing the pointer to the photo and signature
	sigfile = "g:\images"+chr(92)+ut(image->image)+"s.jpg"
	oldfile = "G:\IMAGES"+chr(92)+trim(pict1)+".jpg"
	if .not. file.exists(oldfile)
		oldfile ="G:\IMAGES\avail.jpg"
	end if
	if .not. file.exists(sigfile)
		sigfile ="G:\IMAGES\blank.jpg"
	end if
topparent:Bitmap1.bitmap.filename = oldfile
topparent:Bitmap2.bitmap.filename = sigfile

I just tested sys_open(oldfile) and it brought up the photo editor with a picture.

You could also be having trouble with the field itself. you may want to do an alltrim(Part_number) if the field itself is larger than the actual part_number file name.

[Stephen Ferranti]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

i can get it to work but i need to make the field the exact size of the part number or else it looks for 400308 .pdf and thats not found. Toms suggestion of an alltrim might work here. where would i put it?

Thanks again for this assistance. this should really help me out

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

Toms suggestion of an alltrim might work here. where would i put it?

Wherever you reference the part_number.

"C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(part_number.value)+".pdf"
"C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(tablename->part_number)+".pdf"
"C:\user\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(part_number)+".pdf"

or whatever.

[Stephen Ferranti]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

Thanks for the help. it works great. I ended up with this at the final code. "C:\users\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(print_location)+alltrim(part_number.value)+".PDF" I added a field called print location and in that field i put the directory under prints that the print is located in. Such as GE or Ford. the only way i could get this to work was to put a \ after the name in the field since i couldn't figure how to add that to the coding but its not a issue. if there is a way to do so it would be cleaner but i can live with the \

Thanks again to both of you for all you assistance

Steve Ferranti

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Linking to a .pdf file

"C:\users\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(print_location)+"\\"+alltrim(part_number.value)+".PDF"
or
"C:\users\myname\documents\prints\\"+alltrim(print_location)+chr(92)+alltrim(part_number.value)+".PDF"

See the documentation for backslash.