Method to generate pdf from access+vb6 or just sql 2005? - sql-server-2005

The setup:
Multiple computers using an adp file to access a sql 2005 database. Most don't have a pdf distiller. An access form (plain form, not crystal) is created that needs to be saved as a pdf.
The only way I can think of is send a request from access to the sql server for a web page. Something like:
"http://sqlserver/generatepdf.php?id=123"
I'm trying to avoid the web page 'middle man'. Is there a way to generate the pdf in T-SQL? Anyone have any other ideas. I'm not looking for code, just methdology ideas.
Thank you

Save the form as a report, then use Access MVP Stephen Lebans free A2000ReportToPDF utility to convert it to a pdf file.
http://www.lebans.com/reporttopdf.htm
If they have Access 2007 they can download and install the free Microsoft Office 2007 Add-in to save documents as PDF or XPS.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4D951911-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en

Microsoft's ReportViewer client can generate pdfs natively.
It works inside of web pages and windows forms/wpf apps. You can programmatically trigger the export as well. The only downside is that you'll need to basically redo your form as a report.

I must admit that I did not get it: you want to export an Access form and its data into a PDF file? Your form is basically graphics, not text, nor report. Do you mean that you want this form to be included as (for example) a .png file inside a PDF file or do you want it to be a full PDF file inheriting objects from the original form and allowing things such as text search and so on?

Related

what format is most reliable for saving a history file from an application?

Good Afternoon,
I am in the process of developing in vb.net a simple “cheque printing” application which will allow users to fill in a few text boxes with the values that will be printed on a cheque.
When they hit the print button, the values will be sent to the printer, but I also want the values they input in the text boxes saved to a file, so like a history file of all the cheques that were created.
I am thinking to use either an access database or an excel spreadsheet as my history file, but I am not quite sure on which would be best.
Please note that in my environment storing this information in a SQL database is not an option and also this file will most likely be stored/accessed from the network.
The history file needs to be:
1.Stable (cannot corrupt easy)
2.Reliable
3.Easily exportable in case we need to export the information to one of our in-house systems.
4.editable from the application I am developing
Kindly advise,
A
XML. Save the data to DataTable object and then use the .WriteXML method to save it as an xml file. I'd advise creating a strongly-typed DataTable class for this, so that the XML can be exported with a reliable schema and imported easily.
If you are using different fonts, you could use a .rtf (rich text format) which will save the format of the text that you send to print... it is a universal file format, you can open it with open office, ms office, or any office suite you have...
Access will be best choice,
it's relational database and can make a form from this file to do what are you looking for without VB or any code.
Also you can access this file from network.
for more detail about setting for this file go to this link
http://goo.gl/bOfGp6
and you will find more options complete your work.
I would use a MySQL server. It's free.
XML is also good, but I hate sharing folders...

saving data from an online table/CSV to sql database

I am looking into creating an sql database that extracts data from a web page. The webpage displays the data in either a table or CSV list.
The address of the page is
Online table/CSV
I am not entirely sure how to do this. I thought maybe to save the page as a text file then import it but I cannot save it. Am I missing something is there an easy way of doing this?
Apologies I should say that I will use the data in a asp.net application using VB in Visual Studio 2010. The SQL will will be SQL Server 2012.
EDIT - ok so I was informed to run the page in compatibility mode and the CSV will save which I have confirmed. I therefore need to be able to open the page using a vb console app and perform a save as. I have tried using the webclient control and I can create a file but it downloads the html of the page as well. How do I save the contents of the webpage as a csv or text file?

stream varbinary PDF file from SQL 2005 to browser using ASP

I have a commercial program that stores PDF files to SQL 2005. I would like to be able to search for (I have that part) and then display the PDF file in a browser. It's the 'display the PDF file' that I'm having trouble with. I am using HTTP/ASP and would prefer to continue that way. I don't know anything about ASP.NET, so that would not be helpful to me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
The best option here is to implement a HttpHandler that fetches the binary data from your database and outputs it to the response stream. This is the most efficient method available in ASP.Net.
There are many questions about HttpHandlers on SO, so implementing one should be easy: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/httphandler
One thing you should be aware of is that you should set the correct content type so that the browser recognices the pdf document.

How can we create a PDF based on SQL data?

i just wondered if any users could advise me what to google for, as im wanting to create a pdf after a user has submitted a vbscript form.
The form contains data which goes into a MYSQL database and once the user has submitted i would like to use the data to create a PDF.
I would probably be calling this from the vbscript, so i wondered how can i create the PDF from vbscript? Would i have to make an external call to some other program/website or something? Do we need Adobe Acrobat Professional and could it be installed on our server to allow us to systematically create PDFs on the fly?
You are looking for a PDF com component.
There are many of these around - anything that works with classic ASP will work.
This is one I used int the past - AspPDF.
we also use PDFCreator which is installed on the server and works like a printer. The output is a PDF.

Render PDF in SSRS 2008 with digital signature block

We are using SSRS 2008 to render pdf reports for our users. They would like the capability to digitally sign these reports. Is there anyway to add a digital signature block to a pdf file using SSRS 2008?
If by Digital Signature, you are referring to assigning a security certificate to the PDF file, then no, the Render method of the ReportViewer control will definitely not be able to accomplish this.
One idea would be to generate the PDF file as you are currently doing, then open the PDF file programatically and sign it. Basically, a two step process.
Unfortunately, you will need to find some libraries that will support this operation, or write your own.