Report -> Snapshot -> PDF -> Attach To PDF

[kris.scorup]

Here is my project:

I have a number of reports that are generated and sent via FAX or
EMAIL (depending on the recipient and their preference) to numerous
companies. Some of the reports need to be accompanied by photos stored
on the hard disk.

E-mail is not a problem, as I can attach several files to a single e-
mail before sending. This entire process is automated via VBA code.

Faxing is the problem, as the FAXCOMEXLib only sends one file at a
time. In the case where no photo is needed, I can skip the conversion
to PDF and fax the .SNP file directly to the company. Our fax printer
converts the multiple page .SNP into a single multi-page TIFF for
faxing. What I am wanting to do is to append the photos (when desired)
to the report at some point prior to faxing.

The code I am using to create PDF files (for e-mail) is from
http://www.lebans.com/reporttopdf.htm. I know that the PDF format
accepts attachments. The library used by Lebans is dynapdf.dll, and
according to DynaPDF's API they have an "AttachFile" function.

Here's the questions: Does anyone know if a fax printer will resolve
attachments in a PDF file as additional pages (If not, then this
approach won't work)? What are some options of attaching images to an
existing PDF file? Can anyone suggest another alternative to faxing
mixed-media to a single source - I realize that I "could" send
multiple faxes to the same company, but dislike the option as the
number of images is arbitrary.

Thank you in advance,

Kris

 

[Stephen Lebans]

I can't see why you don't simply add the photos as required to your main
report. THen you can print directly to your Fax app.
--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
Please respond only to the newsgroups so everyone can benefit.

 

[krissco]

Thanks for the reply.

I have thought about embedding the images in the report, but haven't
come up with a solution I particularly like.

The stumbling block in my mind is what controls to place on the
report.

Each record I want to submit to a company is one page. Sometimes,
multiple records are sent to the same company in the same fax (one
page for each). There may or may not be images associated with a
record. One record can have many images.

How would I design the report so that:
1. It has support for an arbitrary number of images
2. If there are no images, the record is contained on one page
3. If there are images, each image is contained within its own page.

My code iterates through companies, filters the report for each, opens
the report and exports a snapshot, closes the report, creates the fax
document from the snapshot, sends the fax document to the fax server,
loop.

If embedding the images is possible, then the code need not change.

-Kris

 

[Stephen Lebans]

What is the max number of Images for each record/page?
--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
Please respond only to the newsgroups so everyone can benefit.

 

[krissco]

Theoretically, unlimited. Realisically, 10.

-Kris

 

[Stephen Lebans]

Well, you could create an "Image" report that oyu would insert as a
Subreport. Create ten individual sections/groupings and place a single Image
control in each section. In the Format event of each section you would set
the Picture property of the control oris empty, set the control's Visible
prop to No. Not an entirely elgeant solution but it would work with very
little programming required.

--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
Please respond only to the newsgroups so everyone can benefit.