topic Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data? in SAS Visual Analytics

How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

semone — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:21:51 GMT

I have a table with some thousands of records. Each record has a PDF that is stored as binary data. Is there a native way to display these PDF's in VA? I am thinking of a model in which I would have a Table showing TITLE, TYPE, etc. and then a column with the file itself available for selecting and opening.

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

jakarman — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:47:01 GMT

SAS-VA is running Linux (A type of many Unix OS).

To view a pdf you need to be able to download that to your device that has a pdf reader installed.

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

Quentin — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 14:12:34 GMT

Hi,

I haven't played with VA. In the stored process web app, if you have a pdf file on the server, you can stream it back to a user's browser by using a data _null_ step that writes to _webout. Then the browser will pop up a file download box:

Perhaps something like that could be done in VA?

--Q.

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

Nascif_SAS — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 15:31:25 GMT

VA doesn't support binary files like PDFs natively, but it can create data-driven URLs that you can leverage to display your PDFs.

I would keep the PDF files in a separate table, accessible by a stored process - or even as static files in a directory visible to your web browser.

Then on the table you will load in VA, instead of the PDF content store a corresponding unique name.

You can then use that unique name to create data-driven links in your report, that when clicked by the user will call the stored process that retrieves the file (as described by @Quentin) or directly download them as a static file.

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

Quentin — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:53:41 GMT

Thanks for jumping in Glad to hear my time learning stored processes won't have been wasted if we some day get a VA setup. : )

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

Nascif_SAS — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:57:12 GMT

Not at all @Quentin. We are looking for ways to leverage stored processes even more in VA. Suggestions and ideas are welcome!

Re: How might I display a PDF in VA that is stored as binary data?

semone — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 19:06:47 GMT

Thanks for the pointers folks. I'll get back if I have anything else, but I think I'm certainly at a point where I can make some trouble getting started.