# Entry boxes transform to PDF **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [May 20, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602 "2024-05-20T04:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/1 "2024-05-20T04:00:18Z")
Sorry for the vague subject. I have a view that looks like a form, with entry boxes and whatnot, that should be filled up by user. Once all are filled up. Are we able to assemble these data into PDF file? ---
**Author:** ![Transistor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/transistor/32/3380_2.png) [@Transistor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Transistor)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 7:38am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/2 "2024-05-20T07:38:43Z")
> [@Eugene49](#): > > Sorry for the vague subject. You forgot to tag Vision or Perspective. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:37am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/3 "2024-05-20T11:37:20Z")
You would take the data collected and pass it to a report designed to look like the desired paper output. The reporting module is the only PDF generating tool in Ignition. (No need to tag for UI--this answer is true for both Vision and Perspective.) ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/4 "2024-05-20T11:57:57Z")
Perfect. Sounds like a Plan. Thank you. And have a great day. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/5 "2024-06-27T12:07:40Z")
> [@pturmel](#): > > You would take the data collected and pass it to a report designed to look like the desired paper output. The reporting module is the only PDF generating tool in Ignition. I now got my data presented on the report. Now its time to print into PDF. On the Report-\>Schedule-\>Action, you can schedule to Save As PDF on directory. Million dollar question: is there a way in Perspective to Trigger to Save the report PDF at will on the specific directory? ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/6 "2024-06-27T12:15:45Z")
> [@Eugene49](#): > > at will on the specific directory? You mean in the client computer where the browser is running? No, that would be something malware wants to do, and browsers don't allow that. The closest you can come is to use a button script that runs `system.report.execute()` to get the PDF bytes, and then calls `system.perspective.download()` to hand them to the browser. You can suggest a file name, but not a target folder. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/7 "2024-06-27T12:24:21Z")
> [@pturmel](#): > > You mean in the client computer where the browser is running? No, that would be something malware wants to do, and browsers don't allow that. I would want at least to save on Gateways Local directory. The PDF storage was meant to be a repository. Does this mean we can save it on Ignitions Local webserver: `C:\Program Files\Inductive Automation\Ignition\webserver\webapps\main` In the long run would like to save PDF on a webserver where clients can search PDF and View them. - is this something WebDev can do? No need to store PDF on client's Computer -- on PDF Viewer on Perspective, there is a download button. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/8 "2024-06-27T12:30:59Z")
Serving any files from `webapps/main` is buggy and unsupported and will get you chastised by IA (justifiably). WebDev can serve pretty much anything. I recommend you **not** serve any directory listings through it--show Perspective tables with file links. If you have the option to store these PDFs as blobs in a database, you can use my free Blob Server module to deliver to a PDF Viewer. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/9 "2024-06-27T12:37:32Z")
> [@pturmel](#): > > If you have the option to store these PDFs as blobs in a database, you can use my free Blob Server module to deliver to a PDF Viewer. I am not there yet, but love this.! ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/10 "2024-06-27T14:45:12Z")
On Second thought, I am tackling this now. You just gave me two options: Use WebDev as Repository, vs Use blob storage in Database. I am new to both, will do both for proof of concept and educational purpose. Let me research how to store blob on database. and Also research how to get started with WebDev. ---
**Author:** ![pascal.fragnoud](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pascal.fragnoud/32/24728_2.png) [@pascal.fragnoud](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pascal.fragnoud)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/11 "2024-06-27T15:07:16Z")
The last time I chose not to store the pdf itself, but the parameters for the report. Then I just called the report with those parameters and re-generated it. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/12 "2024-06-27T15:55:30Z")
Very cool! That is a great insight. Only use perspective as viewer. You are right, it is proper to start with this(parameter storing, retrieval and presentation), for this proof of concept. Since the underlying data the one drives the pdf. Printing to PDF and storing it, is just a medium for transport.. Big Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 4:18am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/13 "2024-07-27T04:18:47Z")
> [@pturmel](#): > > you can use my free Blob Server module to deliver to a PDF Viewer. Where can I download this module? I can't find it. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/14 "2024-07-27T13:25:41Z")
Here: > [@Automation Professionals' Blob Server Module](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/automation-professionals-blob-server-module/57970): > > Automation Professionals is pleased to announce an alpha release of its new Blob Server Module. Available only for Ignition v8.1, here. The Blob Server Module provides a simple way to deliver images, PDF files, or other binary content from a database to your Perspective clients or other web applications. Without needing the WebDev module. All you need is a Named Query that has appropriate security settings and returns a single row with two columns: Content, and ContentType. Modest documentati… Most recent version is in comment #46. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eugene49](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Eugene49)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/15 "2024-07-27T17:41:21Z")
I made it work.. lol.. I should try your "get data from another view" tool. Thank you! "Upload to Web Dev" - This is the alternate option. Comeon.. how do you upload to webdev mounted folder? I search the whole forum, can't find one. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/entry-boxes-transform-to-pdf/90602/16 "2024-07-27T17:52:40Z")
You just write the uploaded files bytes to the target folder. Stick information about the upload in some database or other reference so you can generate links to the files in tables or image components.