sbornstein2
asked on
.Net - web service sending Binary PDF files, basic question
Hello all,
I need to send via a web service from a provider PDF files in binary format. This may be a stupid question but do I create these files in binary format somehow and then they are stored in the database table or does the actual PDF file have to live in a file directory on the server etc. Is there any software I need to use to handle this? Right now I have an access database that the report exists as a access based report not PDF right now. So trying to figure out what I am going to need to gear up for to create these files in a loop to a table and or directory.
Thanks for any information so I have my ducks in a row.
I need to send via a web service from a provider PDF files in binary format. This may be a stupid question but do I create these files in binary format somehow and then they are stored in the database table or does the actual PDF file have to live in a file directory on the server etc. Is there any software I need to use to handle this? Right now I have an access database that the report exists as a access based report not PDF right now. So trying to figure out what I am going to need to gear up for to create these files in a loop to a table and or directory.
Thanks for any information so I have my ducks in a row.
ASKER
okay but what I am wondering is if a web service accepts a binary file, do I have to actually physically create the PDF document or is there away to just store the binary format?
ASKER
do I need something specific in my .Net application to create it as a stream or something to the web service if the client is telling me they accept the PDF in binary format?
This is what they said they accept:
bytDocument As Byte() – Actual binary PDF document. (ex: File.ReadAllBytes)
This is what they said they accept:
bytDocument As Byte() – Actual binary PDF document. (ex: File.ReadAllBytes)
All you need is a Byte array, which you can get by reading a file with ReadAllBytes, or by other methods....how are you proposing to GENERATE the .PDF file in the first place?
ASKER
Good question jensfiederer, I think I may have ABCPdf or something I can use on the client. So I see what your saying maybe loop and create the PDF files and then when passing it I can use the read into a byte array and then pass it along as a binary stream I guess if that makes sense.
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ASKER
great thank you.
However, storing the filename in the database and keeping the file in a directory is a common way to handle this - keep in mind you need to keep them in synch, though.