Crystal Reports - Link to external pdf file names and embed into report - Possible?

[cwarner]

I need to link an account number in a Crystal Report to an account number that is part of an external pdf file name and embed each pdf file into the report.

Is this possible to do in Crystal Reports? And, if so, how?

Thanks for any help!!

[cwarner · Accepted solution]

Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions!

I found a solution that worked for me by using 3rd party software, Visual Cut.

In my Crystal report, I created a formula field that concatenated my field names to create paths to my pdfs. Using a variable, I was able to create a csv list within my report that takes the first pdf on the list and appends the next pdf to it.

Then utilizing Visual Cut, I was able to export (burst) combined pdfs containing the information I needed.

Also, thanks to Ido Millet at Visual Cut for his assistance in creating the report logic and formulas to make this work!

[former_member11696]

Hi Cheryl,

This could be a huge security issue but try this...

Insert an OLE Object and browse to one of the PDF files and Link it:

and insert it into your report.

Now right click on the object and select Format Graphic,

Select the Hyper link tab and select File and click on the Link:

Now click the X+2 ( formula editor ) button and add something like this:

"d:\document" + "123" + ".pdf"

"123" being the account number.

See if that works for you

Don

[cwarner]

Thanks, Don.

I tried it, and it pulls the first page only of the first pdf and repeats that on all pages.

Upon further investigation, we did discover that these pdfs (which come from an outside source) have some password protection preventing editing but not preventing reading. Not sure if this would prevent correct embedding of all files/pages, but could be possible.

Otherwise, if there are further suggestions, that would be appreciated!

[jeanm33]

HI Cheryl

I Followed your instruction to print the pdf but each time I only have the page of the pdf file that I indicated in the 'CREATE FROM FILE' Field when i inserted the OLE Object despite the correct incrementation of the formula

Have you an idea

[ido_millet]

Using a free file-watcher utility, the creation of the PDF file by the production manager can also trigger the Visual CUT process. So this should be doable.

[former_member611771]

Hi there,

Yes, It must be on demand. As soon as the production manager generates the PDF, it will be printed. So I don't have "time" to generate the files on a schedule.

But really thanks for the help and sugestion.

[former_member611771]

Hi Cheryl,

Yes I saw that. But I was hoping that this can now be made entirely on Crystal.

How is the process of using the Visual Cut software? The user must generate the initial PDF and then must open it on Visual Cut that generates the second PDF with all the PDF needed? Right?

For some of my users that is going to generate a lot of troubles in the process (my guess).

Thank you for the help

[cwarner]

Yes, if this is to be an "on-demand" report for an end user, they will need to have the PDF already created, then run Visual Cut.

In my case, I run this report automatically through a Scheduled Task every morning, so the end user never interacts with it.

My PDFs are also automatically generated, sitting in a folder, waiting for the Visual Cut task to utilize them.

Maybe others have suggestions that could help you, if this solution doesn't fit your situation.

[former_member611771]

Hi all, sorry for dig up such an old post. I'm struggling with this too.

I'm making a report for some production order that need to add the specification draw to the report of the order. Usually this is made by print the order page and after the specification draw. I want to save up some time and make the report of the order print all.

For this I need that the report appends the draw page (or pages).

I already have the path the PDF file. And I did add the OLE object to the report with the hyperlink to the path.

The problem here is that the preview of the PDF is always from the first I add as OLE object to the report. Anyone figured this out? Or can I have a better or different approach to the problem?

Be safe, and thanks in advance

[cwarner]

Hi Joni,

Yes, I had the same issue with the same PDF repeating, using the OLE object method. (See my response to Don, earlier in this thread.)

As previously stated in my official answer, Ido Millet was extremely helpful with his software "Visual Cut". I paid for an hour of his consultation time, and it was well worth it!

In my Crystal report, I created a formula field that concatenated my field names to create paths to my pdfs. Using a variable, I was able to create a csv list within my report that takes the first pdf on the list and appends the next pdf to it.

Then utilizing Visual Cut, I was able to export (burst) combined pdfs containing the information I needed.

Hope this is helpful.

Cheryl

[former_member292966]

Hi Cheryl,

If you are embedding the PDF into a report to see the document, only the first page will open. If you want to see the entire document then you can double-click on the PDF in the report and it should open in your PDF viewer. Crystal won't display multiple pages from a PDF document.

Thanks,

Brian

[former_member11696]

Hi Cheryl,

And you are updating the account number each time correct? You may want to put the account number into a database field, as a test to see if that works.

Typically what happens id you link to a file it only loads the file when the report is loaded, it does not refresh each one unless it is linked to a database field.

So the formula would look something like this:

"d:\document" + {DB.AccountNumber} + ".pdf"

That may work for you...

Don