Download link for PDF created in CF6 using TCPDF

Hi, I want to download a PDF file that was generated in CF6 using TCPDF. As such CF6 Entry creates a different named PDF for each submitter.

Now I want to create a link to download that PDF specific to that user on their single record detail page in CC6.

I tried using the same code as downloading an Uploaded File from a CF6 form, but no luck.

Any suggestions? Thanks

It depends on what sort of controls you want to put in place, for example to make it so people would need a special code to download the file or if you want it so anyone with the right name can download the file, or if there's only one file per logged-in-user, in which case you should name the file with their user id instead of their name.
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Let's pretend you're calling it {user:id}.pdf
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Create a "download" event in your form.
In the event, have a "download" action. File path is path/to/file/{user:id}.pdf OR you could store the filename in a database when the user creates it and use {var:read_data#.model.pdf_path}
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For the link
if you're generating the link in the same form you can use <a href = "{url/full:download}">Download file here</a>
If you're generating the link on a different page or a different form use <a href="https://yoursite.com/index.php?option=com_chronoforms6&chronoform=formname&event=download">Download file here</a>
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You could also save the file name and a {uuid:} code to the database, and the link to the file would be "{url:download}&code={var:blocknamewhereyougeneratethecode}" then use {data:code} in the download event to check the database and if the code is found, download the file.

Hi,

Really appreciate your options.
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I would just make a menu link to the report as restricted access. Nothing special. I want dept heads only to access these PDF files whenever they need as some may not get the initial email attachment sent to them for every applicant.

The challenge is I won't know the file name as it is set up under TCPDF to name the file based on the persons first/last name.

so for example my CF6 form, once completed and it automatically generates a PDF file named which gets sent as an email attachment to the applicant and maybe another dept head.

eg. file name generated once application is completed: "date_firstname_lastname.pdf"

The file will always be different for each applicant, so my struggle is how to call the file name that is always changing [all files saved in /components/com_chronoforms6/chronoforms/pdf/ ]

I'm trying to understand your instructions, but not doing to well figuring this out.

So I created Create HTML view:
Content:
<p><a href="/components/com_chronoforms6/chronoforms/pdf/{user:id}">Download Completed Application</a></p>

I get a 403. I'm sure my code is not right?

My confusion is since there is no field name attached to the generated TCPDF file I don't know how to retrieve either by Functions or Views Event.

Your code is definitely not right and you might need to try reading what I wrote again. After the TCPDF action, the full path of the new file is available with {var:tcpdf#.path} if you want to save that to a database to read from later. But again if the files are generated only by logged in users then you should use the user id for the filename instead of a first and last name.

<p><a href="/components/com_chronoforms6/chronoforms/pdf/{user:id}">Download Completed Application</a></p>

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If your user id is say 437, this link would be

https://yoursite.com/components/com_chronoforms6/chronoforms/pdf/437

Which is obviously going nowhere.

Is this "report" you're talking about a CC connection?

Hi, I want to download a PDF file in CC6 that was generated in CF6 using TCPDF.
As such CF6 Entry creates a different named PDF for each submitter. Now I want to create a link to download that PDF specific to that user on their single record detail page in CC6. This PDF is saved on the server as stated at /components/com_chronoforms6/chronoforms/pdf/
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I read thorougly your instructions and since I'm not a programmer it's hard to understand all the jargon.
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Thank you. I'll try to work through this.. Again thanks for all you do.

Great so when you're saving the user details to the database, ALSO save the filepath from the TCPDF action! OR just name the PDF file {user:id}.pdf
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Then in your CC connection, have a "Download" column. In the column view use for example

Download:{view:downloadPDF}

downloadPDF is a LINK item. EVENT: download. URL: either file={var:tablename.row.model.path} OR user={var:tablename.row.model.user_id}
The download event just has {fn:download}
The download function file path will be either {path:root}/pdf/{data:file} OR {path:root}/pdf/{data:user}.pdf depending on which filename method you're going to use for the PDFs