Display a binary PDF file from a database in ASP 3

[towser]

I have an ASP application that calls a VB component, requesting a PDF from a back end DOC1 application. The PDF is passed back to the ASP as binary within a variable of type VARIANT.

How can I then display this binary data as a PDF document?

I've used the response object to do this before, but that was always using a physical PDF that exists on a server somewhere. This time however it's just in memory in a variable.

Thanks folks.

 

[Sheco]

It is a byte array stored in a variant.

Does this not work?
Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream"
Response.AddHeader "Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=MyDoc.pdf"
Response.BinaryWrite MyByteArray

 

[towser]

Thanks Sheco.

All I know is when I response.write the variable suposedly containing the PDF it just displays a load of ????% etc.

I will try your code and get back to you.

 

[Sheco]

Well a byte can hold a number from 0 to 255 but regular ASCII text only occupies the space below 127 so you've got non-character byte data being evaluated as text.

Hmm.. thats not so clear, thy this from MSDN:
-------------------------------
The BinaryWrite method writes the specified information to the current HTTP output without any character conversion. This method is useful for writing nonstring information, such as binary data required by a custom application.


Parameters
The data to write to the HTTP output. This parameter is of type VT_ARRAY | VT_UI1, which is a variant array of unsigned one-byte characters.

Return Values
This method has no return values.

 

[towser]

Sheco that works a treat mate, you are a star.

The only thing that I know my users will probably complain about is the windows file download alert prompt !! But I bet you can't control that in the response object settings.

Cheers Again.

 

[towser]

Even though that works, I'd rather the PDF open within IE rather than fully opening Acrobat, is that possible ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Sheco]

Probably...

The first thing I'd try would be changing the ContentType to "application/pdf

 

[NoCoolHandle]

Sheco that works a treat mate, you are a star.

You do it by clicking "Thank Sheco for this valuable post"

 

[scorpio66]

Towser,

If you add the following to what you are outputting:

Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "inline; filename=filename.PDF");

it should open up in the browser. As well, if they try to save the PDF they will get a meaningful name (you can set that to whatever you want).

Also, I always set the ContentEncoding to Unicode (although to be fair, this is in ASP.NET) using

Response.ContentEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.Unicode;

Hope this is useful.

Chaz