how to view a PDF file (store as blob in sql)

[Ken Tjia]

i have a pdf file store in sql table

dim pdf_data as b
connect sql routines... all ok///

and i have successfully retrieve and store it in above sample variable.

how do i show this file? just want to open it.
it is in "blob" now, how do i convert it back to pdf?
can i use sys_open(???) to view it?

just not going anywhere, appreciate if you can assist me

Thanks,

Ken tjia

[Stan Mathews]

Re: how to view a PDF file (store as blob in sql)

If I remember correctly Peter's suggestion used the .to_blob() method to convert the file for storage. Would it make sense to use .from_blob() to recreate the pdf, use sys_open() to display the newly created file, and then delete it afterwards?

Using a native table instead of a sql table....

dim bl as B
dest = ui_get_file("","PDF(*.pdf)")
bl=file.to_blob(dest)
tbl = table.open("dtest")
tbl.change_begin()
tbl.Pd = bl
tbl.change_end(.t.)
end

The above asks for the name of a pdf and stores it in a memo field.

tbl = table.open("dtest")
file.From_blob("C:\testpdf.pdf",tbl.Pd)
sys_open("C:\testpdf.pdf")
end

The above displays a pdf stored in the memo field in the first record of the table.

file.remove("C:\testpdf.pdf")

will delete the file or you can leave it and overwrite it.

Added sample using table.current() to work with the visible record on a form.

[Ken Tjia]

Re: how to view a PDF file (store as blob in sql)

Thanks Stan,

I look at the file.from _blob....
script_play_local("sql_connect_ms_logistic")
dim get_po_data as c
dim po_pdf_record_count as n = 0
sqlStatement = "SELECT count(*) FROM po_control where record_id = '"+alltrim(po_header_data44)+"'"

flagResult = cn.Execute(sqlStatement)
if flagResult = .f. then
ui_msg_box("Error, empty record",cn.CallResult.text)
cn.close()
end
end if
rs = cn.ResultSet
po_pdf_record_count = val(alltrim(str(rs.data(1))))
ui_msg_box("count",str(po_pdf_record_count))

if po_pdf_record_count = 0
cn.close()
end
end if

get_po_data = "SELECT po_pdf FROM po_control where record_id = '"+alltrim(po_header_data44)+"'"

flagResult = cn.Execute(get_po_data)

if flagResult = .f. then
ui_msg_box("Error",cn.CallResult.text)
cn.close()
end
end if

rs = cn.ResultSet

dim po_pdf as b = rs.data("po_pdf")
cn.close()

here's my variable po_pdf is already in BLOB... successfully retrieved from sql

now how do i pop it to show?

normally sys_open("xyz.pdf") can do it, but not sure how to move it from BLOB
to becoming a file again, then read? this kind of PDF file is not text/

[Stan Mathews]

Re: how to view a PDF file (store as blob in sql)

here's my variable po_pdf is already in BLOB... successfully retrieved from sql

now how do i pop it to show?

Unless there is something I don't know about, sys_open() opens a file. The .from_blob() method creates a file. See the connection?

file.from_blob("C:\test.pdf",po_pdf)

will create the file "C:\test.pdf" from the contents of the po_pdf variable.

Sys_open("C:\test.pdf") will display that file.

File.remove("C:\test.pdf") will delete that file.

[Ken Tjia]

Re: how to view a PDF file (store as blob in sql)

yes Stan,
now i know how to apply the code,
i was hoping to to write to C:\ drive
and have it print direct from Blob to view
this is ok, seems no delay at all.

I appreciate your time to educate me
thanks

ken tjia