Opening a PDF web file in VB.net form.

UPDATE:

This works...


    Sub PdfCheck(ByVal URL As String)
        Dim AcroApp As Acrobat.CAcroApp
        Dim PDDoc As Acrobat.CAcroPDDoc
        Dim avDoc As Acrobat.CAcroAVDoc

        AcroApp = CreateObject("AcroExch.App")
        PDDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.PDDoc")

        If PDDoc.Open(URL) Then
            AcroApp.Show()
            avDoc = PDDoc.OpenAVDoc("")
        Else
            MsgBox("Unable to open the PDF-file", vbInformation)
        End If

        avDoc = Nothing
        PDDoc = Nothing
        AcroApp = Nothing
    End Sub

But, only for a "local" file on the computer. i am looking for a way to open up a PDF from the web.

Thanks...

Anyone?

I think the best way of doing it in this case is to buffer the pdf to your local machine / server and then send the buffer to Acrobat.  I'm not sure of the code right now, but i'll have a look.

By the way, this assumes that there isn't a method for using a remote file!  I really dont know but this will help if there isn't.

Try this... it's not the best code in the world, but it should work.  You'll need to give ASPNET write access to where you want the file (In this case the dir that the aspx file is in.).  You can do the same with buffering to avoid saving the file.  It still seems unlikely that the adobe object can't access urls though.

Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim strURL As String = "http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/pdfs/docsforms.pdf"

        PdfCheck(strURL)
    End Sub

    Sub PdfCheck(ByVal strURL As String)
        Dim AcroApp As Acrobat.CAcroApp
        Dim PDDoc As Acrobat.CAcroPDDoc
        Dim avDoc As Acrobat.CAcroAVDoc
        Dim wc As New WebClient()
        Dim strLocalName As String = Server.MapPath(".") & "\" & GetFileName(strURL)

        wc.DownloadFile(strURL, strLocalName)

        AcroApp = CreateObject("AcroExch.App")
        PDDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.PDDoc")

        If PDDoc.Open(strLocalName) Then
            AcroApp.Show()
            avDoc = PDDoc.OpenAVDoc("")
        Else
            MsgBox("Unable to open the PDF-file", vbInformation)
        End If

        avDoc = Nothing
        PDDoc = Nothing
        AcroApp = Nothing
    End Sub

    Function GetFileName(ByVal URL As String) As String
        Dim strPathArray() = Split(URL, "/")

        GetFileName = strPathArray(UBound(strPathArray))
    End Function

Psychotext,

You just about have what I got so far. Good work!!! This is my code so far......



Private Sub cmdGetPdf_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cmdScanDL.Click
    Dim ThisURL As String = "http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/pdfs/docsforms.pdf"
    Dim PDFFolder As String = "c:\TempPDF\"
    Dim LocalPdfSave As String = PDFFolder &  "LocalPdf.pdf"
    Dim DeleteFiles() As String = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(PDFFolderDL)
    Dim DeleteThisFile As String

    For Each DeleteThisFile In DeleteFiles
        System.IO.File.Delete(DeleteThisFile)
    Next

    If PdfCheck(ThisURL, LocalPdfSave) Then
        MessageBox.Show("Done Importing PDF Files", "Import", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)
        ViewThisPDF(LocalPdfSave)
    Else
        MessageBox.Show("Error in Importing PDF files!!!", "ERROR", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
    End If
End Sub

Public Function PdfCheck(ByVal URL As String, ByVal localPdfFile As String) As Boolean
    Dim wc As New WebClient
    Dim LocalError As Boolean = True

    Try
        wc.DownloadFile(URL, localPdfFile)
    Catch e As Exception
        LocalError = False
    End Try

    Return LocalError
End Function

Private Sub ViewThisPDF(ByVal ViewThisNow As String)
    Dim AcroApp As Acrobat.CAcroApp
    Dim PDDoc As Acrobat.CAcroPDDoc
    Dim avDoc As Acrobat.CAcroAVDoc

    AcroApp = CreateObject("AcroExch.App")
    PDDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.PDDoc")

    If PDDoc.Open(ViewPDFNow) Then
        'PDDoc.Magnification(200)
        AcroApp.Show()
        AcroApp.Maximize(100)
        avDoc = PDDoc.OpenAVDoc("")
    Else
        MsgBox("Unable to open the PDF file", vbInformation)
    End If

    avDoc = Nothing
    PDDoc = Nothing
    AcroApp = Nothing
End Sub


What I am trying to figure out now is setting the magnification (zoom) to "200%". Any thoughts??

In this file:

http://www.pdfimage.com/pdf_ps/acroole/AcroOLE.pdf

You have to use the "AcroExch.AVPageView.ZoomTo" method to control the magnification.

Sorry, that should have read "Found in this file:"

This is exactly my problem now. I can not figure out how to implement the "AcroExch.AVPageView.ZoomTo" method in my code (from above) to control the magnification of the page after it opens. Mine you this is not a web app, this is all windows forms.



The link you sent had this in it for the “ZoomTo” method.

ZoomTo
    BOOL ZoomTo(short nType, short nScale);
    Description: Zooms to a specified magnification.
    Parameters: nType
                    Zoom type
                nScale
                    The desired zoom factor
    Return Value: true or false


Many thanks for your help so far. You’re doing great!!! In helping me.

Sorry, I dont think I'm going to be able to help on this bit because I dont have the right components.  My assumption would be that you have to instantiate the AcroExch.AVPageView object and then use the ZoomTo method on it.  (Much as you have with the PDDoc)

Do you still need assistance on this question?  I think your original question has been answered, but if you need any more help, just post.

I still can not figure out how to implement the "AcroExch.AVPageView.ZoomTo" method.

Top line should have read: (Just need to replace your sub of the same name).

Well done Psychotext!!!

No problem, was a good little challenge.