Display a PDF file

[GarthMc]

Hi All,

I'm attempting to display a pdf file I've written to the session directory, but I'm completely confused as to how to do this

I've crawled over all the postings about pdf but to no avail.

I've even bought the excel plugin but can't work out how to get it to work for custom downloads!

can some one please give me an idiots guide ?

thanks
garth

[GarthMc]

Re: Display a PDF file

Hi All,

after trawling through the message board I've found an approach provided various people... here is my example

It is an a5w page with nothing else but this code

<%a5
dim UplID as c
dim conn as SQL::Connection
dim args as sql::arguments
dim Sql as c
dim rtn as n
dim errv as c
dim filename as c

'debug(1)

if UplID = "" then
? "No UplID supplied..."
else


IF conn.open("::Name::servicebilling") = .f. THEN
error_generate( "Unable to connect to ServiceBilling")
END IF

conn.PortableSQLEnabled = .t.
sql = "select sourcefile_binary from sb_uploads_t where upl_id = :UplID"
args.add("UplID",alltrim(UplID))

IF conn.Execute(sql,args) = .f. THEN
error_generate( conn.CallResult.text)
END IF

delete rP
dim rP as sql::resultset = conn.ResultSet

filename = session.session_folder + "Upload.pdf"
file.From_blob(filename,rP.Data("SOURCEFILE_BINARY"))

if file.exists(filename)
response.mime_type = "application/pdf"
?file.to_blob(filename)
else
? "No document to display for upload ID : " + UplID
end if
end if

%>

[MikeC]

Re: Display a PDF file

Garth,
Thanks for providing your solution. Now when others look for an answer there is one more that can be found and makes it easier for everyone. :)

[rnoguera]

Re: Display a PDF file

There are simpler solutions:

Assign "Action Javascript - Open a Web Page" to a button or hyperlink.

Set file_path/{filename_field} as the "Page URL" for the action.

file_path: file path relative to the A5 Webroot
filename_field: db field that stores the filename

And you are done.

[cFlat7]

Re: Display a PDF file

There are simpler solutions:

Assign "Action Javascript - Open a Web Page" to a button or hyperlink.

Set file_path/{filename_field} as the "Page URL" for the action.

file_path: file path relative to the A5 Webroot
filename_field: db field that stores the filename

And you are done.

Thanks, I needed this function and got it to work as you have described...but I discovered that 'file_path' needs to be relative to the application folder that the page is running in.

Vaughn Seward

[frankbicknell]

Re: Display a PDF file

You can use the File upload / download feature pak to download a file from any file path on the server. You are prompted with Open, Save, or Cancel, To view a pdf just select open.

[rnoguera]

Re: Display a PDF file

Hi Frank,

Using "Action File Download" to open a pdf is browser dependent. Internet Explorer gives you the three options you describe. In Chrome it doesn't work since you only get "Save" or "Cancel".

There is a second difference: 1 click (Action Open Page) vs 1 click + 1 decision + 1 click (Action File Download).

And a third difference: Action Open Page opens in a browser window that you can more or less control from A5 (position, size, etc). Action File Download runs an app in the host os.

And a fourth: Action Open Page is much faster.

[frankbicknell]

Re: Display a PDF file

[QUOTE=rnoguera;557587]There is a second difference: 1 click (Action Open Page) vs 1 click + 1 decision + 1 click (Action File Download).QUOTE]

That does complicate it a bit...

I agree, but you are limited to having a file path relative to the A5 Webroot. For me, I do not want my files in the relative path.

[cFlat7]

Re: Display a PDF file

There are simpler solutions:

Assign "Action Javascript - Open a Web Page" to a button or hyperlink.

Set file_path/{filename_field} as the "Page URL" for the action.

file_path: file path relative to the A5 Webroot
filename_field: db field that stores the filename

And you are done.

I just turned on security in this app and now A5 refuses to display any of the docs, even though the page, grid, and button has security set to allow the logged on user.

Have you been able to get this to work with security turned on? Is there some setting to tell A5 to allow these docs to be displayed?

Vaughn

[cFlat7]

Re: Display a PDF file

I just turned on security in this app and now A5 refuses to display any of the docs, even though the page, grid, and button has security set to allow the logged on user.

Have you been able to get this to work with security turned on? Is there some setting to tell A5 to allow these docs to be displayed?

Vaughn

Update: I found the answer in this thread:

http://tinyurl.com/2cmlz35

"For the 'other files', go to Web Security > Page Security and add those files extensions to the File Types Always Allowed."

Vaughn