[FX.php List] On processing page for file update

[David Ness]

I have a fx.php solution that generates PDF¹s using the PHP class fpdf (
http://www.fpdf.org/ ). I use php to give the file a name based on a
FileMaker variable (let¹s say, invoice_number, for example). I never store
the file in a FileMaker container field, not as a file nor as a reference. I
simple have fpdf save the pdf file into a specific folder on the server. I
do, however, provide a button on my FileMaker Œinvoice¹ layout that opens
the pdf file using the ³Open URL² function, providing the full path to the
file (not necessarily a URL, but a windows path I believe works also). Be
aware of any security issues, as if you display the url, it would be easy
for a user to Œguess¹ other valid Œinvoice¹ numbers. I actually generate a
random filename for each Œinvoice¹ and use that, rather than a simple
Œinvoice¹ number, and store that in a field in the FileMaker record to
overcome that concern. This works great for me. YMMV.

- David Ness


On 11/12/06 10:58 PM, "Edward L. Ford" <elford at cs.bu.edu> wrote:

> I'm working on a very similar problem concerning uploading PDF files into
> FileMaker.  I haven't had much time lately to work on my solution to it, but I
> figure now is a good time to ask some lingering questions on it:
>  
> 
> As I understand it, there are 2 ways to store the PDF in a FileMaker
> container.  The first involves the file itself sitting inside the FileMaker
> database, so that each PDF inflates the size of the database.  Considering the
> size of my project, the database size could get out of hand pretty quick.
> 
> The second method is to have FileMaker store a reference to the PDF, and then
> FileMaker stashes the PDF somewhere on the server's file system.  Does this
> sound correct?
> 
> The second method is the one I want to pursue, but I haven't figured out where
> FileMaker stores the PDF files.  My server is Windows hosted, so can anyone
> tell me where the references point to?
> 
> Another consideration I'm unsure about (due to my own time limitations) is
> concerning access levels -- do I need administrative access to the server
> software in order to manage externally referenced PDF files, or can I handle
> that without having to bug the server admins?
> 
> Thanks to anyone who can help,
> --Ed
> 
> On Nov 11, 2006, at 8:24 PM, FHASELTINE at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> Dale thank you for the suggestions.
>>  
>>  Temporarily while I am trying just to see if it works on my computer MAC OS
>> 10.4 I did what you suggested.   I opened the permissions, so that Others
>> could read and write.
>>  
>>  I do understand it is not a long term solution and I will reinstall the
>> permissions when I get it. I removed the $name = saraj from the coding. 
>> Again it did not seem to upload the file. 
>>  //<?php
>>  
>> //move_uploaded_file($_FILES['127.0.0.1/posting']['tmp_name'],"localhost/post
>> ing");?>
>>  
>>  Florence Haseltine
>>  AIM: Fhaseltine
>>  fhaseltine at aol.com
>>  240-476-7837
>>  
>> _______________________________________________
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>>  
> 
> 
> 
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