How to upload and download pdf in mysql database on VB.NET

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I am building a vb.net app and i would like each and every user on the lan using the app to be able to upload pdf documents into the database and be able to retrieve them

What I have tried:

The logic i used was to store the file path into the database and retrieve it using a web browser but now that i am running the app on a different machine, it cant find the file since the file path is something like C:\Users\shadow\Documents\....

Posted 27-Sep-19 2:50am

whatsapp myfriend

Updated 28-Sep-19 1:42am

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F-ES Sitecore 27-Sep-19 8:56am

Either store the documents in a folder on the server with the file path held in the database and stream the pdf file to the browser. Or store the actual PDF files themselves in the database as BLOBs and again stream the file to the user on request.

Lots of examples on line for doing both methods.

whatsapp myfriend 27-Sep-19 9:10am

Can you help me with the code for storing and reading the actual pdf as Blob. I am using Mysql Server

F-ES Sitecore 27-Sep-19 9:52am

https://www.google.com/search?q=mysql+c%23+store+and+retrieve+file+in+database

You can do a vb.net search too if you want but you'll probably get less results. Just translate the c# examples into vb.net. vb.net is not a good language for beginners as it's way harder to find examples.

whatsapp myfriend 27-Sep-19 10:15am

okay

Richard Deeming 27-Sep-19 10:16am

I've removed my solution, since it was for ASP.NET, and you clarified that this is a desktop application.

As F-ES Sitecore said, you'll need to upload the files to a file share on a central server. While you might be able to refer to the files on the user's computer using a UNC path, it wouldn't work if that computer was turned off.

whatsapp myfriend 27-Sep-19 10:20am

I am having trouble retrieving the files since the file path stored on the database cannot be accessed from another computer

Richard Deeming 27-Sep-19 11:07am

Which is why you need to upload the files to a file share on a server.

whatsapp myfriend 27-Sep-19 11:32am

okay

whatsapp myfriend 27-Sep-19 12:49pm

okay i have done it but i have a problem with the file server because there is a password on it and i dont know the command to use to include the username and password so that the app will not crash because right now its is crashing

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RickZeeland · Answer 1 · 2019-09-28T01:43:00

Solution 2

You could install a (lightweight) webserver or WAMP server and put the .PDF files in the server directory. That way users can also use a browser with the link including the file name to download the .PDF file they want.
You don't need to write a web application in PHP or other messy language for that.
Here is an overview of lightweight webservers: cross-platform-lightweight-http-servers[^]
Here is an overview of webserver packages: free-and-open-source-web-server-solution-stack-packages[^]
There are even portable WAMP packages like: USBWebserver[^] ideal for testing purposes !

Another option would be to write your own webserver, see example here: An HTTP file server (130 lines of code) in VB.Net - Stack Overflow[^]

Posted 28-Sep-19 1:43am

RickZeeland

Updated 29-Sep-19 8:08am

v3

Comments

whatsapp myfriend 29-Sep-19 13:50pm

@RickZeeland I'm actually building a desktop application in vb.net

RickZeeland 29-Sep-19 14:09pm

See the update solution, added a suggestion for a file server in 130 lines of code :)

whatsapp myfriend 29-Sep-19 14:18pm

Is there a way i can send you a snapshot of what i am building so that you can see what i actually want to do. Also i would like to make a correction on what i posted earlier. its actually a network share not a file server

RickZeeland 29-Sep-19 14:21pm

Sorry, I'm not a VB.NET programmer, it would take me too much time !

whatsapp myfriend 29-Sep-19 14:24pm

okay no problem thank you for your efforts

RickZeeland 29-Sep-19 14:30pm

If you don't want to use a Client - Server construction with a separate Client and Server application, the simplest option would be to store the pdf files in the database.

whatsapp myfriend 29-Sep-19 14:35pm

i have not seen a working code on that because i would be happy if i can store them as Blob and read them back using the App