Java Development

[appodictic]

Hello all,

I have been tasked with writing an application that downloads and opens PDF on a blackberry. I have the downloading part solved. How does one go about determing if the target device can view a PDF? Then how do you switch applications to the PDF viewer to view the file? Or can you the PDF inside your own application with some build in object?

Thank you,

[BBDeveloper]

Check these threads.

http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim/board/message?board.id=java_dev&message.id=42861&query.id=19...

http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim/board/message?board.id=java_dev&message.id=44201&query.id=19...

[appodictic]

Yes,

I have read these. (and many like them) It seems odd to me since the blackberry devices have a PDF viewer , but there are no hooks into it like the API like the hooks for the browser. For example from C/C++ i can say System.exec( "open my.pdf" ); Once I download a PDF how can I launch another application and open it. Even if i download a third part PDF browser same problem, how do i launch that program from my code and open the pdf? It seems like the other option is to find some open source Java toolkit.

Seems so crazy that a blackberry can view a PDF and you cant just reuse that in any way.

[BBDeveloper]

If you get the pdf viewer application module name you could try launching it from your application. Check ApplicationManager class.

[appodictic]

So ok here is a funny thing

When viewing the pdf like this:

    BrowserSession browser = Browser.getDefaultSession();
                    browser.displayPage(url);
                    browser.showBrowser();

There are no pictures. but when I send the same PDF to my mailbox the blackberry opens its with images.

Can I get the browser to render PDF like the "Open attachment does"

I have looked at the application manager,

What is the name of the application that opens the PDF from the mail client?

What is the Module and how can I pass the URL/FileName of the document I wish to open?

[ydaraishy]

I believe that's because attachment rendering is done server-side; there's nothing on the client that explicitly does this, I think.

[appodictic]

ydaraishy...I am starting to agree with you. When I open a PDF through email I see the traffic moving back and forth. This leads me to believe that a sever based application is doing conversion and sending JPEG's to the device.

BbDeveloper, I would like to try your solution however, I am looking in the ApplicationManager class.

1) what can I do to list all the applications on the device.
--or
2) What is the name of the application that opens PDF

--and--

3)Whar arguments would I have to send to open a file already downloaded to the device.

Thank you