Blank webpage when trying to display a PDF when weblink clicked

[agnes.farias]

Hi! I’m trying to use this tutorial

How to embed PDF attachments into the record using the calculation field

Storing file attachments in Tape couldn’t be easier - but in the case of PDFs it can be cumbersome to open them, especially when they have multiple pages it takes various clicks to get there. This guide shows how to embed a PDF directly into the record, with many options for customisation. We use a calculation field and a rather primitive workflow automation. The result will look like this (so keep reading it’s worth it!): [Screenshot 2023-09-03 at 17.38.20] Note: This example uses no externa…

but to display a PDF that is attached to a file field on a web page when a link is clicked on a e-mail. But when I do this:

var file_url = relat_rios___consultor_field_file_url_1_formatted_value

console.log(file_url)

if (file_url && file_url.startsWith('http')) {
var_html_pdf = '<iframe src=${' + file_url + '} width="100%" height="600px"></iframe>'
} else {
'Not available.'
}

The console.log is returning nothing, i.e. it seems like my field is empty but its not… I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong but I found no situation like this in tape community.

What I’m doing is trying to return the variable html_pdf on the “display on a web page” action on my workflow… But the webpage is blank.

Could anyone help me?

[Jason]

hi @agnes.farias

this:

const file_url = document_field_files_file_url;
console.log(file_url);

let dis;

if (file_url && file_url.startsWith('http')) {
  dis = `<iframe src="${file_url}" width="100%" height="600px"></iframe>`;
} else {
  dis = 'Not available.';
}

var_pdfd = dis;

gets me the url, are you putting the correct field into your file_url variable? (I expect you are but I can’t see anything else)

However I am not sure it will do what you want anyway at least I failed to manage it either with the iFrame or:

const file_url = document_field_files_file_url;
console.log(file_url);

let dis;

if (file_url && file_url.startsWith('http')) {
  dis = `<object data=file_url type="application/pdf" width="100%" height="500px">`;
} else {
  dis = 'Not available.';
}

var_pdfd = dis;

Both ways just want to download the pdf rather than display it so not sure if the automation URL is slightly different or the ‘display on a web page’ handles it in a different way.

[agnes.farias]

@Jason

are you putting the correct field into your file_url variable? (I expect you are but I can’t see anything els

Hi Jason, thanks for the help.

In this case, I’m storing the file URL in a variable called “File URL” and I’m trying to use it to display the PDF on a web page. But even when I’m directly referring to the file URL it’s returning a empty value (although it’s not… the PDF is actually there).

[Jason]

Hi yep that is what I have done in my example and it works however if you look at the first line of your code it looks a little off:

var file_url = relat_rios___consultor_field_file_url_1_formatted_value

console.log(file_url)

I would expect the field that you are adding to end in url not formatted value

[agnes.farias]

Yep! It’s because I’m using a multiple line field to store the URL, but it doesn’t work.
Even when I mention directly the file url, doesn’t work:

Return:

[Tim]

@agnes.farias thanks for sharing your use case.

We discourage using a multi line text field to store a URL. Would it be possible to use a single line text field or a link field to store the URL as an alternative?

Could you share a quick video or a couple of screenshots that show your workflow and describe in detail what you are trying to achieve?

[agnes.farias]

Hi! It seems like my URL is too big for a single line text field. When I try to store it on a single line it says “Invalid single text value […] Max. length is 500”, that’s why I’m using multiple line text field as an alternative.

So, I’m sending an e-mail with a table containing summarized information about employees of a company to the person in charge. The last column of the table contains a button that says “Details” which should open a new window that should show the PDF with the wage report by employee.
So I have a simple workflow for when the weblink is clicked that should just run the script and display it on the web page:

This is the content of the e-mail received by the person in charge of the company:

(Employee | Reported hours | Payment Amount | Action)

And this is the PDF with the wage report, it contains a lot of detailed information about the employee like projects and taxes…

I hope that makes sense.

I don’t understand why when I mention directly the file url on the script it doesn’t show any value on the console…