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A
ASAappraisers
Participant
June 29, 2016
Question

How can I retrieve a PDF form from code?

  • June 29, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 2038 views

I'm having trouble retrieving a PDF from my database using code. I've tried the different ways to no avail. Searching on the web also provides very little help as no one seems to have ever experienced what I'm experiencing.

From code I'm using a Binarywrite("blob") to get my PDF. My method is similar to this post here Convert Binary data to PDF file in C# and VB.Net. This code works if the PDF is just a PDF file. However, once it's prepared as a form PDF, it becomes corrupt.


I should clarify that it's not the original PDF that's corrupt, but rather how it's being written by the BinaryWrite. I know this because if I access my PDF using a client to access the DB, the PDF opens; this means that the blob is correct in the DB. It would appear that the BinaryWrite is not creating the PDF Form properly and hence, I get a corrupt file.

What is the best way for me to get this form from the DB without the form portion of it breaking? Am I missing a parameter or something? or should I not use BinaryWrite? or am I in need of a header value?

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 30, 2016

Compare the retrieved PDF with the PDF in the database.

A
ASAappraisersAuthor
Participant
June 30, 2016

Compare in what sense? the file size appears to be equal. I cannot open it so I cannot compare any further than that. Is there another tool that can do a better comparison?

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
June 30, 2016

I think your best approach is to forget, for now, that this is a PDF, and not try to open the PDF files in a PDF viewer. Instead, consider the job of the database: to preserve the exact bytes in a binary file. This would be its job for a PDF, a JPEG, an MP3, anything. PDF forms contain a few extra things over a regular PDF, but nothing radically different. That could be a red herring.

So, compare those binary bytes. It is trivial to write a program to read binary files, byte by byte and compare for equality. By reporting what you find - looking inside the files - you may find clues to the nature of the damage, which could lead to a solution.

Really, this is a question for forums related to the DBMS you are using. If you cannot preserve binary data, you have a deeper problem than PDF.  (If on the other hand you find the files are actually identical you have a different mystery).

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