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Splitting a report into several PDF documents

edited March 2009 in General
Hi.

I have a report that prints several orders with order details.
How can I print each order into a separate pdf file, and if possible, send
each pdf as an attachment in an email?

Br
Petter Topp
RB 10.09 Ent.
D2007

Comments

  • edited March 2009
    Hi Petter,

    ReportBuilder 11 inlcudes a new feature that allows you to export each group
    as a separate PDF file. Once these groups are exported, you can then use
    one of the SMTP plugins to attach each file to an email and send them. A
    nice feature for a later release would be to automate the email process.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbWiki/Output/PDF/How_To...Separate_File_for_Each_Group

    If you can keep each order to a single page you can use the following method
    in RB 10, but has been streamlined for RB 11.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbWiki/Output/PDF/How_To...Send_Each_Page_as_a_PDF

    --
    Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited March 2009
    Thanks Nico.

    I can't keep one order on a single page, so I will have a look at RB 11, or
    simply restrict printing of the report to one order at a time.

    Br
    Petter

  • edited January 2012
    Hi Nico.

    Did you ever get to automate the email process?

    Petter

    "Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors)" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 49cce0db$1@mail.
    ...

    Hi Petter,

    ReportBuilder 11 inlcudes a new feature that allows you to export each group
    as a separate PDF file. Once these groups are exported, you can then use
    one of the SMTP plugins to attach each file to an email and send them. A
    nice feature for a later release would be to automate the email process.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbWiki/Output/PDF/How_To...Separate_File_for_Each_Group

    If you can keep each order to a single page you can use the following method
    in RB 10, but has been streamlined for RB 11.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbWiki/Output/PDF/How_To...Send_Each_Page_as_a_PDF

    --
    Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com

  • edited January 2012
    Hi Petter,

    Yes, the latest version of ReportBuilder has the ability to export and
    email each group of a report automatically.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbwiki/Output/Email/How_To...Email_Groups


    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited February 2012
    Great news Nico.

    Could you make a suggestion on how to handle/implement the following:

    1. The email adresses are available in the connected dataset, but not all
    "customers" have an email. How should I handle this?
    2. For the groups that don't have ea valid email, the report should be
    printed on paper, how could I handle this?
    3. Also if Indy or synapse is used, will I have to implement functionality
    to save history on when and what has been sent?

    Br
    Petter

    "Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors)" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f144e42@mail.
    ...

    Hi Petter,

    Yes, the latest version of ReportBuilder has the ability to export and
    email each group of a report automatically.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbwiki/Output/Email/How_To...Email_Groups


  • edited February 2012
    OH, Forgot:

    You said latest version, but your rbWiki says "Starting with ReportBuilder
    12".
    Any reason for upgrading to version 14 (I'm at 12)?

    Petter

    "Petter Topp" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f2ac57f$1@mail. ...

    Great news Nico.

    Could you make a suggestion on how to handle/implement the following:

    1. The email adresses are available in the connected dataset, but not all
    "customers" have an email. How should I handle this?
    2. For the groups that don't have ea valid email, the report should be
    printed on paper, how could I handle this?
    3. Also if Indy or synapse is used, will I have to implement functionality
    to save history on when and what has been sent?

    Br
    Petter

    "Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors)" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f144e42@mail.
    ...

    Hi Petter,

    Yes, the latest version of ReportBuilder has the ability to export and
    email each group of a report automatically.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbwiki/Output/Email/How_To...Email_Groups


  • edited February 2012
    I don't know any easy way but this is possible.
    In my application I am used FileDevice OnStartJob, OnEndJob,
    OnPageReceive, and (for ImageDevice only) OnSaveImage event handlers for
    fully customize send process.

    As example - you can add 2 Devices (Printer and File) and in OnPageReceive
    handler check email address and
    skip some pages from sending or printing.

    It works fine in 12.4.
    In RB 14 added export to html. That's can be interesting (reason) for
    upgrading.

    But in my application I used RB only for create Message List.
    Then I show this messages in Grid for User.
    User can check and fix email addresses and then make send.
    You can add print functionality (but Export result only - not origin
    report) here
    and save log if needed.





    On Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:26:28 +0300, Petter Topp
  • edited February 2012
    I don't know any easy way to do this, but this is possible.
    I do something like this in my application.
    I used Device events (OnStartJob, OnEndJob, OnPageReceive and
    TppImageDevice.OnSaveImage) for do this.

    For your task you can as example do next:
    1. Add 2 devices (Printer and PDF) and used PrintToDevices method.
    2. Check Email address in OnPageReceive event handler and skip printing
    or sending here.

    But in my application I used RB only for create messages list.
    Then I show them in my form where user can check and fix email addresses,
    preview pdf export.
    In this case user see what will be sended.
    You can add print (but for export result - not for origin report) and save
    log functionality here.

    It works fine in RB 12
    In RB 14 was added export to html. This was the main reason for upgrading
    for my.


    On Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:26:28 +0300, Petter Topp
  • edited February 2012
    Hi Petter,

    1. If the recipients field is blank, no email will be sent. A file
    however will be generated if the DeleteFile property is set to False.

    2. This would be something you need to handle manually. You could
    possibly keep track of the email address-less groups and print those
    after the emails have been sent.

    3. Also something that would need to be handled manually. You can use
    the various events available to get this information.
    Group.OnGetEmailSettings.

    All of these features are available in RB 12. I do however recommend
    that you consider upgrading to RB 14 for all of the new and useful
    features it provides.

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited February 2012
    Thanks for the info, will try to get this working....

    Petter

    "Petter Topp" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f2ac708$1@mail. ...

    OH, Forgot:

    You said latest version, but your rbWiki says "Starting with ReportBuilder
    12".
    Any reason for upgrading to version 14 (I'm at 12)?

    Petter

    "Petter Topp" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f2ac57f$1@mail. ...

    Great news Nico.

    Could you make a suggestion on how to handle/implement the following:

    1. The email adresses are available in the connected dataset, but not all
    "customers" have an email. How should I handle this?
    2. For the groups that don't have ea valid email, the report should be
    printed on paper, how could I handle this?
    3. Also if Indy or synapse is used, will I have to implement functionality
    to save history on when and what has been sent?

    Br
    Petter

    "Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors)" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f144e42@mail.
    ...

    Hi Petter,

    Yes, the latest version of ReportBuilder has the ability to export and
    email each group of a report automatically.

    http://www.digital-metaphors.com/rbwiki/Output/Email/How_To...Email_Groups


  • edited February 2012
    Hi Nico.

    Regarding what to email/print..

    Consider the following:
    The report generated for print/email contains both print/email invoices for
    the customers.
    When printing to paper can Report builder based on a boolean value EMAIL of
    the dataset just print the reports where the EMAIL is false or can this
    only be accomplished by filtering the dataset?
    Can RAP be used to handle this functionality?

    Petter


    "Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors)" skrev i nyhetsmeldingen: 4f2c0dad$1@mail.
    ...

    Hi Petter,

    1. If the recipients field is blank, no email will be sent. A file
    however will be generated if the DeleteFile property is set to False.

    2. This would be something you need to handle manually. You could
    possibly keep track of the email address-less groups and print those
    after the emails have been sent.

    3. Also something that would need to be handled manually. You can use
    the various events available to get this information.
    Group.OnGetEmailSettings.

    All of these features are available in RB 12. I do however recommend
    that you consider upgrading to RB 14 for all of the new and useful
    features it provides.

  • edited February 2012
    You want to print on two different devices.
    Report print method create only one device.

    For do this you have to:
    variant 1:
    Create 2 devices (or second device) manually.
    Used device events for decide - is Page Requested or skipped.

    variant 2:
    Calls Print 2 times. First one for printer. Second for email.
    Used device events for decide - is Page Requested or skipped.

    variant 3:
    Export all reports in .pdf files.
    Manually send result .pdf files on printer or by email.


    On Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:34:06 +0300, Petter Topp
  • edited February 2012
    Hi Petter,

    Dima is absolutely correct.

    Emailing and printing are separate functions of ReportBuilder and cannot
    be combined into a single step. I would recommend completely separating
    the two.

    First email the report or reports that need or can be emailed. Then
    print the reports that are also needed no paper.

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
This discussion has been closed.