Write binary stream to browser using PHP

Question

Background

Trying to stream a PDF report written using iReport through PHP to the browser. The general problem is: how do you write binary data to the browser using PHP?

Working Code

header('Cache-Control: no-cache private');
header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment, filename=climate-report.pdf');
header('Content-Type: application/pdf');
header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');

$path = realpath( "." ) . "/output.pdf";

$em = java('net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JasperExportManager');
$result = $em->exportReportToPdf($pm);
header('Content-Length: ' . strlen( $result ) );

$fh = fopen( $path, 'w' );
fwrite( $fh, $result );
fclose( $fh );

readfile( $path );

Non-working Code

header('Cache-Control: no-cache private');
header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment, filename=climate-report.pdf');
header('Content-Type: application/pdf');
header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');

$path = realpath( "." ) . "/output.pdf";

$em = java('net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JasperExportManager');
$result = $em->exportReportToPdf($pm);
header('Content-Length: ' . strlen( $result ) );

echo $result;

Question

How can I take out the middle step of writing to the file and write directly to the browser so that the PDF is not corrupted?

Update

PDF file sizes:

Working: 594778 bytes
Non-working: 1059365 bytes

Thank you!

Does adding all the headers that you cut out from the first work? — Casey Chu
– Casey Chu, Commented May 8, 2010 at 4:58
@Casey: The headers have always been the same in both cases. See the revised problem. — Dave Jarvis
– Dave Jarvis, Commented May 8, 2010 at 5:10
Ahh that's climate report! No worry, that's normal. They're always buggy ;) — Your Common Sense
– Your Common Sense, Commented May 8, 2010 at 5:30
We echo binary data all the time so that can't be your problem. Where did you get the PDF file sizes, from "Content-Length"? — ZZ Coder
– ZZ Coder, Commented May 8, 2010 at 12:53

Dave Jarvis · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-10 18:21:47Z

2

I've previously experienced problems writing from Java because it'll use UTF-16. The function outputPDF from http://zeronine.org/lab/index.php uses java_set_file_encoding("ISO-8859-1");. Thus:

  java_set_file_encoding("ISO-8859-1");

  $em = java('net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JasperExportManager');
  $result = $em->exportReportToPdf($pm);

  header('Content-Length: ' . strlen( $result ) );

  echo $result;

edited May 10, 2010 at 18:21

Dave Jarvis

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answered May 8, 2010 at 15:40

Paolo

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3 Comments

Paolo Over a year ago

You're right. Sorry I didn't try it. in Any case, I did try your code with a PDF red via file_get_contents and echo works without a problem. The only thing that rings a bell here is (I think) the mix of Java and PHP. I've previously experienced problems writing from Java because it'll use UTF-16 thus inserting a lot of noise/air in the string. Perhaps, writing to a file eliminates this encoding and this explains the differences in sizes and why it doesn't work if you do it directly. I don't have a PHP-Java bridge installes so sorry I can't provide more insights.

Paolo Over a year ago

Hey... actually googling around I think this may be it. CHeck this out: php.net/manual/es/function.pdf-utf16-to-utf8.php

Paolo Over a year ago

Even more (sorry... keep finding good stuff in Google once you have a clue of what to look for): Check this: zeronine.org/lab/index.php/Using_Jasper_report_with_PHP Particularly the function called outputPDF. It uses java_set_file_encoding("ISO-8859-1"); and then some additional magic :) Hope this helps

cherouvim · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-08 05:02:47Z

0

You just write the output. Make sure that:

correct headers have been set
no other character have been accidentally printed before or after the binary (this includes whitespace).

answered May 8, 2010 at 5:02

cherouvim

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2 Comments

Dave Jarvis Over a year ago

The headers look correct to me. No other characters have been written.

Bram Schoenmakers Over a year ago

And be aware of accidental newlines. This happens with newlines after ?> in include files.

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