Can I use Java to Do This?

[scripter73]

Hi,

I'm still very, very new to Java, but can I do the following?
So far, all I've heard is "No".

- Write a DLL (or any app, etc.) to grab a server image (TIFF)
- Call a 3rd party image converter (converts TIFF -> PDF)
- Either:
1) Save the .PDF back on my server OR
2) Deploy it to my web application

Any help pointing me in the right direction is very much appreciated.
If you could also tell me what tools I need to use, etc., that would
be great. I'd prefer not using VB and my web application's written
in ASP.

Thanks,
scripter73

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.

 

[palbano]

>> all I've heard is "No".

Based on the limited requirements in your post that would be completely possible.

There must be something in your remaining requirements or I am missing when reading your post that makes people say "No".

>> If you could also tell me what tools I need to use

Well you need the Java SDK at a minimum. Also i suggest using an IDE but you don't have to have one. Notepad is all that some people use.

-pete

 

[scripter73]

Hi Pete!

Great! There's hope. Here's what I have:

- an ASP application that goes out and retrieves TIFF images (the type of TIFF retrieved is based on certain user-specific selection criteria)
- when you click on those TIFF images, a TIFF viewer appears.

The problem is I don't want my users having to download a TIFF viewer, so I want to show the user the TIFF images in a PDF format.

Oh, I already have the Java SDK downloaded. I run my programs from the command line currently, but I don't mind learning how to do more. Would I use Java Servlets? What's the difference between this and writing an API.

Someone told me in order to accomplish what I want I would have to write an ISAPI DLL (?) to fetch the document, then call the program to perform the conversion, and restore it to my web page.

Any ideas are appreciated. I'm sorry if I'm vague. It's because I'm not familiar with what technologies I can use to perform my task. I primarily use ASP, Javascript, and Cold Fusion.

Thanks,
scripter73
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.

 

[palbano]

>> goes out and retrieves TIFF images
That is a completely ambiguous statement and imparts no meaningful information regarding your requirements

>> I want to show the user the TIFF images in a PDF format.
That requires direct knowledge of the PDF format or a 3rd party library/tool which supports your requirements.

>> an ASP application
Why are you asking questions about Java when you have an ASP application?

-pete

 

[scripter73]

Hi palbano,

In an effort to keep things as simple as possible, I may have been too vague. I submitted another thread previously, which may give you more insight. thread232-504499.

I already have an image converter in mind called TIFF Pilot from

http://www.aquaforest.com.

If I could at least start off by calling any 3rd party application, that would be a milestone reached.

The reason I am posting on the Java forum is because I am familiar with Java and I know Java (servlets, applets, etc.) is very portable and can let me accomplish many tasks without having my users download extra software. I have already asked this same question on ASP sites/forums and haven't received favorable results. Now, I'm trying my hand at Java. My ASP application has done primarily what I want it to do - store TIFF images to my server. Now I'm wondering if I can call some sort of Java program from within that application and let Java take over the work.

I hope my previous thread sheds some more light, though.

Thanks.
scripter73

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.

 

[palbano]

>> TIFF Pilot from

http://www.aquaforest.com

After a brief look at that web site your question in this thread is confusing. The product states it is for IIS so I don’t see why you are asking us if it will work. They claim that it does. That’s all we can know.

If you have purchased it you should have all sorts of documentation from that company including example code depicting how to use it.

-pete

 

[jwenting]

Can you write DLLs in Java? -> No
Can you call a 3rd party image converter? -> If it's a Java class of course. Otherwise it would need some way of communicating with your Java, in your context HTTP would be logical.
Can Java save PDF? -> Yes, there are PDF libraries for Java.

And Java can of course be used for webapps. Check out Servlets and JSP.
If you have a Javabean to convert TIFF into JPEG you can use that to create a JPEG image that you can display using a servlet.