Displaying .PDF file in Report as though a data-bound image

  • Hi All,

    We have a requirement to add to a report some .pdf documents, which are stored in our database as binary files (BLOBs). I see that I can add an image to the report with a database source, but is it possible to display a .pdf file in the same way, as though it were an image (there is no MIME type corresponding to image/pdf of course). The only possible solutions I have found so far involve a lot of coding work is Visual Studio and frankly are beyond my ken. I am just hoping that there is a way to simply add a .pdf embedded in the report in some way that I have missed..?

    I can also access the .pdf files through a hyperlink that is also stored in the database, but the user will not be able to click the hyperlink as the report will be printed before it is handed to the end user. I don't know if this helps.

    Any suggestions most welcome!

    Thanks,

    Mark

  • Hi Mark,

    AFAIK, you cannot embed an PDF right into a RDL report. The only solution I see is that you convert the PDF to an image file and then embed such image into the report. To convert the PDF to image, you have two options, #1 you create a kind of service in .NET using some tool or #2 use an online service. Sadly, I cannot recommend any so just google a bit on this topic and try them by yourself. Regards,

    LeoZ

    Tools for SSRS, ASP.NET & PHP
    Barcode CRI for SSRS[/url]

  • Cheers LeoZ,

    That is exactly the unhappy conclusion that I came to - I just hoped I was wrong as I am not very experienced with SSRS. I think I will have leave this one!

    Thanks for the feedback.

    Mark

  • Hi,

    I had a similar requirement from a customer when I was involved in an archiving project. The task was to archive old PDF files in a SQL database. The customer wanted SSRS to be able to search for the correct PDF. After finding it, it was OK to open the PDF through a new browser window which displayed the PDF. I wrote a small webservice for this project which I call (URL) from inside SSRS. The webservice sends me back the correct PDF and displays it in a separate browser window.

    Hope this helps...

  • I haven't tried this, but it might work...

    What about using the actions on a text box to open a URL to the PDF?

  • Unfortunately, I cannot use a URL like that in this case, as the report will be printed out and given to a medical escort when they drop in at work on their way to catch a flight (the report contains lots of medical information, but the Medical History sheets etc filled out by the general practitioner of the patient have to be printed out separately by the users at the moment and sometimes they forget).

    The suggested solution was that all relevant documents (which are stored as .PDFs) should appear as part of the report, so that the users only have to produce one document. They already have a link to the documents, but presumably just don't click it sometimes!

    obviously, people realise that there are missing documents, but getting everything back in place wastes time and money.

    Otherwise... Nice idea and thanks for it!

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