Automatic PDF attachment via Email

[den1s]

I have a grid which allow you to select multiple records from a search result using checkboxes. I identify each chosen record by a TRUE result together with the current DATE.

Now when i select SUMBIT i need a PDF report generated showing the selected (checked) items and that report to be emailed to a person in the contacts table where sign-off rights is TRUE.

Is this possible? If so can someone please point me in the right direction.

I have looked at 1.14 in the web apps demo which creates the PDF and 2.3 which creates the email, but i am really stuck on how to incororate the two functions upon pressing the SUBMIT button in my grid.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Please find attached my current progress.

So to recap...

This application allows a user to identify what items should be disposed of and automatically emails the cost center manager for sign off approval.

I have a grid that allows you to select multiple records from a search result using checkboxes. I identify each chosen record by a TRUE result together with the current DATE.

The issue

Now when I select SUMBIT I need a PDF report generated showing the selected (checked) items and that report to be automatically emailed to the cost center manager in the contacts table where sign-off rights is TRUE.

Please see attached testdb.

Any help will really be appreciated.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Has anyone achieved any part of this. Any help with any part would be wonderful.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Bump!

[Steve Wood]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

This works - here is my AfterValidate code under my Submit Application dialog.

' report
dim filter as c 
dim order as c 
Filter = "Job_ID="+quote(session.job_id)
Order = "Job_id"
' EMAIL PRODUCTION
Dim filename as c 
filename = session.session_folder + chr(92) + session.customer_id + "_" + session.c + "_trustapp.pdf"
filename = report.saveas("<A href="mailto:tr_trusts@[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\tr_trust_master_set.set","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f">tr_trusts@[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\tr_trust_master_set.set","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f.)
if file.exists(filename) 
 'currentform.RedirectTarget = session.session_url + "tempreport.pdf?" +  time("hms3")
end if  
dim e_attach as c
dim e_to as c
dim e_cc as c
dim e_prof as c
dim e_body as c
dim e_subj as c
email_profile = lookup("<ADB_Path>\global_defaults",".t.","Email_profile")
e_to = lookup("<ADB_Path>\customers","Customer_ID="+quote(session.customer_ID),"Email")
e_cc = ""
e_bcc = ""
e_subj  = "New online trust app for " + session.c
e_body  = "You have submitted a trust to ATS for production. We will review and either start production, or" \
  + " call you with questions. A copy of the trust application is attached." + crlf(2) + "Internal Job_ID: " + session.job_id + crlf() + "Customer ID: " + session.customer_ID + crlf() + "Client: " + session.c
e_attach = filename
email_send(e_to,e_subj,e_body,e_attach,e_cc,e_bcc,.F.,"","")
'redirect
response.redirect("tr_submit_ok.a5w")

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Steve,

Thank you for your reply. I have run through your code and it looks like what i am looking for.

Although i am becoming a little more comfortable with xbasic, i cannot truly understand the functionality of all the code, i wonder if you could point out where in the code i will need to modify.

Also my big question is, will this work in a grid event?

Thanks again.

Denis

[Steve Wood]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

It would probably work in a grid event, but I have never seen those events as places to stick large amounts of code. You could place all of your code in the done.a5w page that you must be opening after they click submit on the grid. If you update the records with some sort of flag indicating you want to send an email to those individuals, then you can filter on this in done.a5w.

Or, if you are trying to let users choose wich record to email, then you can add a link to the grid that, when clicked, goes to an a5w page that fires off the email based on URL parameters in the link, and then returns you to the grid. I'm suggesting this without actually testing the theory, but this is how some users are including a link that Prints individual records.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Thanks for all the options Steve.

I will start from the top and see what works the best.

Starting with the code, I have taken out bits of your code to create the following.

function AfterUpdateRecords as v (Args as P, PageVariables as P)
with PageVariables

'Create session variable for filter field
dim session.request_no as c
session.request_no = Args.DataSubmitted.R1.REQUEST_NO

'Save Report to File
name = "rptassets@[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\assets.ddd"
format = "PDF"
filter = "request_no="+quote(session.request_no)
order = ""
filename = "c:\test.pdf"
report.saveas(name,format,filter,order,filename,.F.)

'E-Mails Report as Attachment
addr = "[email protected]"
subject = "Disposal Request Submitted"
body = "msg body"
email_send(addr,subject,body,filename,"","",.T.,"HTML","","Default",.F.,.T.)
end with
end function

The problem i have so far is with the filter. I am tryig to use a session variable as the filter, but for some unknown reason am getting the following error. This does not happen if i hard code the filter result or remove the filter altogether.

500 Internal Server Error
Script Error
Error:File not found: 'c:\test.pdf'

The file does exist. However, without the filter, the file is created anyway.

[Steve Wood]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Its probably a difference in field type. session vars are charactor vars, you may need to use convert_type() function.

Also are you sure the session.request_no get populated when a record is updated?

Unless you need it outside of this function, you don't need to use a session var, just filter=Args.DataSubmitted.R1.REQUEST_NO (with possible need for convert_type() in there.

I know you are just testing, but you need several error checking statements in case the email fails, file not found (for legit reasons), etc.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Hi Steve,

I have implemented all the code in an AfterUpdateEvent and i am pleased to say is working... almost!

I am now trying to get your code to work for me (see below).

email_profile = lookup("<ADB_Path>\global_defaults",".t.","Email_profile")
e_to = lookup("<ADB_Path>\customers","Customer_ID="+quote(session.customer_ID),"Email")

I have a table that holds all the contact information called CONTACTS with 'user_id' (n), dept_no' (c) and 'email' (c) amongst the fields.
I have another table called ASSETS with 'asset_id' (n), 'manager' (l) and 'dept_no' (c) amongst the fields.

c = character l = logical n = numeric

When a user clicks on the relevent assets, each asset has a 'dept_no' assigned to it.

What i am trying to achieve within the code is

Lookup the email addresses within the contacts table where the cost center is equal to the cost center for each asset selected and email the MANAGER.
where manager is TRUE for that cost center.

How can i manipulate your code to make this work.

Thanks

Denis

[Steve Wood]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Sorry I have not responded but its kind of an involved question and it looks like the answer, and the programming, is a lot of work (looping through records, posting records to a temp table to email 'later' else your user will have to sit there while each email spawns, etc.).

I might be up to it next week or so but right now I am finishing up a program for a FEMA contractor where the deadline is that actual live hurricane in the Atlantic.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

No probs Steve. Thanks for your help so far.

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Steve,

Due to the complexity of this type of functionality, i have revised my expectations. In order to simplify this process i wish to change the functionality to allow the user to choose who the email goes to via a standard dropdown list. I have looked at this but cannot seem to create it.

In the afterupdate event of the grid i have the following code to generate a report based on the choices made.

'Save Report to File
IF eval_valid("dasset_id")= .f. then
   goto skipreport
end if

dim filter as c
dim order as c
dim aid as C
dim filename as C

aid = dasset_id.dump()
aid = remove_blank_lines(aid)
aid = *for_each(x,"asset_id = " + quote(x),aid)
filter = stritran(alltrim(aid), crlf(), " .or. ")
Order = ""

'filename = session.session_folder + "tempreport.pdf"
filename = "C:\Documents and Settings\Denis\My Documents\Alpha Reports" + chr(92) + "tempreport" + rand() + rand() + ".pdf"
filename = report.saveas("rptassets@<adb_path>\assets.ddd","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f.)
if file.exists(filename)
	currentform.RedirectTarget = session.session_url + "tempreport.pdf?" + rand_string(5) 
else
    ? "The PDF file (" + filename + ") was not created."
end if
skipreport:

Now i need to have a diaglog or grid opened so that the user can choose who to email this report to.

I have looked at some examples, but i am not sure how to populate "to:" and "filename" options.

Any help on this would be great.

Denis

[den1s]

Re: Automatic PDF attachment via Email

Steve,

No worries. I have sorted this problem out.

Thanks for the help you gave for this thread.

Denis