TCPDF, Linux and .DAT !

[slightlyeskew]

Hey all!

I was hoping someone might be able to help me figure this out...

I'm running a script that uses the TCPDF package to create a PDF file on my linux virtual box, specifically on Ubuntu. When the PDF is created it shows up in linux as a .pdf and under properties it lists the file as a pdf document (pdf/applciation). Under the document tab in linux, the file is listed as being type PDF 1.7 . The script is designed to take the created PDF and attach it in a mail and is then sent to windows systems. However when the file is sent to windows machines, it shows up as a ".dat" file. If you right click and open with adobe reader it opens fine, however I'd like it to show up as a ".pdf" when its sent to those machines. Does anyone have a work around for me? Thanks so much.

-slight

[dagon]

show us the mail script

[slightlyeskew]

Hey here's the part of the script I'm running now. It is the part that creates the file. When I manually attach the file through my mail account (gmail) and send it and download it into a windows machine it appears as a .dat file. However when opened with adobe reader 9.1 (or whatever the current version is) it looks exactly the same. So the mail aspect of the script hasn't even been utilized yet in relation to the problem.

the script:

<?php
//THIS WORKS!
require_once('../config/lang/eng.php');
require_once('../tcpdf.php');
require_once 'MDB2.php';
$db = MDB2::connect('mysql://root:');
if (MDB2::isError($db)) { die("Can't connect: " . $db->getMessage()); }
$id = 1;
$firstLastNames = $db->query("SELECT First_Name,Last_Name,Email_Address FROM ShareholderNames WHERE ShareholderID = $id");
$nameArray = $firstLastNames->fetchAll();

$first = $nameArray[0][0];$last = $nameArray[0][1];$email = $nameArray[0][2];
$to = '';
class MYPDF extends TCPDF {
    public function Header() {
	$this->SetFont('helvetica', '', 8);
	$image_file = '.jpg';
        $this->Image($image_file,'','','','','JPG', '', 'T', false, 300, 'L', false, false, 0, false, false, false);
	$this->Multicell(0,6,'October 11th, 2010',0,'R',0,1,'','',true);
			    }
    public function Footer() {
        $this->SetY(-15);
        $this->SetFont('helvetica', 'I', 8);
        $this->Cell(0, 10, 'Page '.$this->getAliasNumPage().'/'.$this->getAliasNbPages(), 0, false, 'C', 0, '', 0, false, 'T', 'M');
    }
}
$pdf = new MYPDF(PDF_PAGE_ORIENTATION, PDF_UNIT, PDF_PAGE_FORMAT, true, 'UTF-8', false);
$pdf->setLanguageArray($l);
$pdf->SetHeaderData(PDF_HEADER_LOGO, PDF_HEADER_LOGO_WIDTH, PDF_HEADER_TITLE, PDF_HEADER_STRING);
$pdf->setHeaderFont(Array(PDF_FONT_NAME_MAIN, '', PDF_FONT_SIZE_MAIN));
$pdf->setFooterFont(Array(PDF_FONT_NAME_DATA, '', PDF_FONT_SIZE_DATA));
$pdf->SetDefaultMonospacedFont(PDF_FONT_MONOSPACED);
$pdf->SetMargins(PDF_MARGIN_LEFT, PDF_MARGIN_TOP, PDF_MARGIN_RIGHT);
$pdf->SetHeaderMargin(PDF_MARGIN_HEADER);
$pdf->SetFooterMargin(PDF_MARGIN_FOOTER);
$pdf->SetAutoPageBreak(TRUE, PDF_MARGIN_BOTTOM);
$pdf->setImageScale(PDF_IMAGE_SCALE_RATIO);
$pdf->AddPage('L', 'A4');
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 8);
$pdf->writeHTMLCell($w=60, $h=12, $x='', $y='22','', $border=0, $ln=1, 	$fill=0, $reseth=true, $align='', $autopadding=true);        

$pdf->writeHTMLCell($w=35, $h=10, $x='', $y='29','PH: 850-914-0002', $border=0, $ln=1, 	$fill=0, $reseth=true, $align='', $autopadding=true);
$first = '';
$last = '';
$name = $last.', '.$first;
$id = '1';
$shareholderID = 'Shareholder ID: '.$id;
$detailedReport = 'Detailed Report';
$summaryReport = 'Summary Report';
$testLine = 'Test';
$pdf->SetFillColor(255);
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', 'B', 10, '', true);
$pdf->Multicell(0,6,"\n",0,'L',0,1,'','',true);
$pdf->writeHTMLCell($w=0, $h=0, $x='', $y='35',$name, $border=0, $ln=1, $fill=0, $reseth=true, $align='', $autopadding=true);
$pdf->writeHTMLCell($w=0, $h=0, $x='', $y='', $shareholderID, $border=0, $ln=1, $fill = 0, $resth=true, $align='', $autopadding=true);

$pdf->Multicell(30,0,"\n".$detailedReport,0,'L',0,1,'','',true);
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 10, '', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12, 'Selling Certificate',1,'C',0,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12, 'Buying Certificate',1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(32,12, 'Seller',1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(32,12, 'Buyer',1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(27,12, 'Share Price',1,'L',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(35,12, 'Number of Shares',1,'L',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12, 'Transaction Date',1,'L',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(52,12, 'Transaction Notes',1,'L',1,1,'','', true);

$currentPrice = $db->queryOne("SELECT Share_Price FROM TransactionHistory ORDER BY Transaction_Date DESC LIMIT 1");//check

$uberPull = $db->query("SELECT TransactionID, Source_Shareholder, Destination_Shareholder, Source_Certificate, Destination_Certificate,Transaction_Date,Share_Price, Number_Of_Shares,Transaction_Notes FROM TransactionHistory WHERE Destination_Shareholder = $id OR Source_Shareholder = $id ORDER BY TransactionID");

$uberArray = $uberPull->fetchAll();$numberofUber = count($uberArray);
$nameArray[0]['Total Shares'] = 0;$totalShares = $nameArray[0]['Total Shares'];
$uberCounter1 = 0;$summaryArrayCounter = 0;$detailedArrayCounter = 0;$uberCounter2 = 0;
while($uberCounter2 < $numberofUber)
{
$detSourceHolder = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][1];$detDestHolder = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][2];$detSourceCert = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][3];$detDestCert = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][4];$detTransDate = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][5];$detSharePrice = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][6];$detNumOfShares = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][7]; $detTransPrice = $detSharePrice * $detNumOfShares;$detTransNotes = $uberArray[$uberCounter2][8];
$detTransPrice = number_format($detTransPrice,2);$detSharePrice = number_format($detSharePrice,2);$detNumOfShares = number_format($detNumOfShares);
if($detSourceHolder == 0){$detSourceHolder = 'Treasury';}
if($detSourceCert == 0){$detSourceCert = 'Treasury Cert';}
if($detDestHolder == 0){$detDestHolder = 'Treasury';}
if($detDestCert == 0){$detDestCert = 'Treasury Cert';}
if($detDestHolder == $id){$detDestHolder = $last.', '.$first;}
if($detSourceHolder == $id){$detSourceHolder = $last.', '.$first;}
if($detSourceHolder == 99999){$detSourceHolder = 'Unissued';}
if($detDestHolder == 4){$detDestHolder = 'Rushe, Randall';}

$pdf->Multicell(30,12, $detSourceCert,1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12, $detDestCert,1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(32,12, $detSourceHolder,1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(32,12, $detDestHolder,1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(27,12, $detSharePrice,1,'R',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(35,12, $detNumOfShares,1,'R',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12, $detTransDate,1,'C',1,0,'','', true);
$pdf->Multicell(52,12, $detTransNotes,1,'L',1,1,'','', true);
$uberCounter2++;
}
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', 'B', 10, '', true);
$pdf->Multicell(40,0,"\n".$summaryReport."\n",0,'L',1,1,'','',true);
$pdf->SetFont('helvetica', '', 10, '', true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'Active Certificates',1,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'Number of Shares',1,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'Current Value',1,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'Current Price',1,'L',1,1,'','',true);

while($uberCounter1 < $numberofUber)
{//this is for summary
//looping through each transactionID
$destCert = $uberArray[$uberCounter1][4];$destHolder = $uberArray[$uberCounter1][2];$numOfShares = $uberArray[$uberCounter1][7];
$sharePrice = $uberArray[$uberCounter1][6];$transDate = $uberArray[$uberCounter1][5];//this works...
	if($destHolder == $id)//so wont do treasury or whatever else.
	{
	$innerUber = 0;
		while($innerUber < $numberofUber)
		{
			$innerSource = $uberArray[$innerUber][3];
			if($destCert == $innerSource)//need to fix for treasury.
			{
			//not active cert
			break;
			}
			$summaryFinalTest = $innerUber + 1;
			if(($destCert != $innerSource) && ($summaryFinalTest == $numberofUber) && ($destCert != 685) && ($destCert != 686))//first half checks to see if last entry;
			{
			//active cert			
			$summaryArray[$summaryArrayCounter]['Share_Price'] = $sharePrice;//purchase price I believe
			$summaryArray[$summaryArrayCounter]['CertID'] = $destCert;
			$summaryArray[$summaryArrayCounter]['NumOfShares'] = $numOfShares;
			$summaryArrayCounter++;
			}
		$innerUber++;
		}
		}
	$uberCounter1++;
	}
$numberofSummary = count($summaryArray);$loopCounter = 0;
while($loopCounter < $numberofSummary)
{
$summaryOutstandingShares += $summaryArray[$loopCounter]['NumOfShares']; 
	if(($numberofSummary - 1) == $loopCounter)
	{
	$summaryTotalValue = $summaryOutstandingShares * $currentPrice;
	}
$loopCounter++;
}
$loopCounter = 0;$summaryTotalValue = number_format($summaryTotalValue,2);$summaryOutstandingShares = number_format($summaryOutstandingShares);

while($loopCounter < $numberofSummary)
{
$activeCert = $summaryArray[$loopCounter]['CertID'];$activeShares = $summaryArray[$loopCounter]['NumOfShares'];
$activeValue = $currentPrice * $activeShares;$activeValue = number_format($activeValue,2);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,$activeCert,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,$activeShares,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'$'.$activeValue,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'$'.$currentPrice,0,'L',1,1,'','',true);		
$loopCounter++;
}
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"\n",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,1,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"\n",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"Total Shares",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"Total Value",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,1,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,$summaryOutstandingShares,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,'$'.$summaryTotalValue,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
$pdf->Multicell(30,12,"",0,'L',1,1,'','',true);
$statement = <<< test
test;
$pdf->Multicell(0,0,"\n".$statement,0,'L',1,0,'','',true);
//$pdf->SetProtection($permissions=array('print', 'copy'), $user_pass=, $owner_pass=null, $mode=0, $pubkeys=null);
$pdf->Output('Buddy Test', 'F');

I was hoping it was just some setting I could configure inside the php.ini file on my linux box. Although I've gained a lot of knowledge since finding phpbuilder I'm still quite the newb 🙂 . I was hoping it'd be something super simple. As always, your help is greatly appreciated!

-slight

[dagon]

is the file name be changed by gmail?

[slightlyeskew]

Thanks for your time thus far dagon.

So interestingly enough, when I download the file from my email account back into my linux virtual box, although the actual name of the file has not changed, the download dialog box displays that I am about to download a BIN file, instead of PDF. So DAT when I download into windows, and BIN when I download back into linux. However, when I right click the downloaded file in linux, the file type says pdf. I'm befuddled. Thanks again for your time.

-slight

[slightlyeskew]

Anybody else that's familiar with Linux PDFs being transferred to Windows via a mail client have any idea on this? Thanks for your time!

-slight

[cretaceous]

I'm not sure if this is relevant but Windows Outlook mail Server (or however they call it) is known to mangle attachments and send them as '.dat'
If you then change the extension back it may open ok

• and FWIW I send PDFs using FPDF and a mail class without issues

I only know about the dat issue because a client emailed me things via Outlook server and they turned up as dat

[johanafm]

I believe this is the general outlook or perhaps even microsoft way of sending attachments. It appears that the outlook mail client also does or at least can treat attachments this way.

Why have several attachments, each containing one file, when you could bundle them all together and call them .dat?

As long as there is only one actual attachment, the rename strategy should work. But iirc, if you have several attachments, they will still appear as one single .dat attachment to any non-MS mail client.

So the solution would be to not pass things through microsoft outlook, wether it's client or server. And it's not like there's a lack of alternatives.

[slightlyeskew]

I guess I should be a bit more precise on what I'm doing.

I'm sending out one email at a time, with one attachment at a time, to people who will freak out if they see a file that ends in ".dat"

I'm not going through outlook currently, but through gmail, (not ported into outlook). Do you think that it has to do with not having a copy of acrobat installed in my linux build? (I looked through the packages and didn't seen a acrobat reader anywhere).

Any other suggestions as to how to fix this behavior would be appreciated. Cretaceous I"ll try out the FPDF and see how it goes. Thanks for your time thus far.

-slight

[johanafm]

Yes, but does the email, send from gmail, ever pass through an outlook server along the way?

And no, you do not need any specific application to be installed for filenames to be preserved (assuming both email servers and clients behave as they should). The only thing you get by installing a pdf reader for example, is the ability to actually open pdf files. But you should always see the file as name.pdf and have the ability to save it. This is the domain of the email client, and independent of other applications.

[slightlyeskew]

Thanks for the responses johan.

I initially ran into this problem while testing the components of the complete script.

Step by step of what I went through:

1) created pdf file using TCPDF from script I posted
2) checked to make sure it was pdf file that was created, and not .dat
3) manually (using firefox) went to my gmail account and attached the pdf from to the mail, then sent it to myself.

The above steps were done inside ubuntu hosted on virtual box

4) on the same computer, now in windows, I opened my email account (through google chrome) and downloaded the attachment.
5) voila! presto changeo, the file is now .dat

I'm perplexed, completely! As always, any help is much appreciated and thanks again for your time.

-slight

[johanafm]

The thing is that this is beyond your control. Try sending the email + attachment to a gmail account, and open that in a browser on windows. The attachment should appear as filename.pdf.

Assuming the email does not pass through some weirdo MS email server, it's the email client you're using that screws things up. You could try sending the email to the same account as where it failed before, but use another email client. It's a long time since I used anything but gmail on a windows machine, but I believe Thunderbird should work properly.

[cretaceous]

I reckon this might be to do with you runing a linux virtual install on a windows box

As Johan said both the Outlook mail client and Exchange server can sometimes change the extension to dat

so if you have several things that may be causing it, it could be difficult to track down

[slightlyeskew]

Hey all,

Although I haven't tried the FPDF yet, I suspect that this will not solve the problem. I'm leaning more to cretaceous' answer in that something screwy is going on because I'm using virtual box (although the reason for such wacky behavior completely escapes me).

Johan:

The thing is that this is beyond your control. Try sending the email + attachment to a gmail account, and open that in a browser on windows. The attachment should appear as filename.pdf.

Unfortunately I did do this, I sent an email to myself (manually attaching the PDF to an email inside linux, using a gmail account opened inside firefox, and then mailing the email to myself and opening it in gmail inside windows, using google chrome, the file does not show up as PDF.) I don't think that using thunderbird would work, because it would still be downloading the mail from the gmail account...if gmail is the reason its turning into ".dat" I wouldn't be bypassing it...but I dunno.

When I use gmail to send myself a PDF from inside windows, the PDF does not change i.e. it remains filename.pdf .

Additionally, and more interestingly, when I open this same mail containing the .pdf attachment inside the linux virtual box, it is STILL a pdf. And on top of that, inside linux, if I forward the mail back to myself, and open in windows, it is still a pdf.

Does that help anyone deduce the problem? Thanks so much for the time guys!

-slight

[cretaceous]

TCPDF is built around FDF or one is branched off the other, so I don't think that will make any difference