How to upload PDF file to server

Question

I am trying to upload PDF file to my server. I am able to upload images decoding using bitmap. I am reusing the same code but I need to upload PDF from a user on my Android app.

private void chooseFile(int type2) {
    //System.out.println(type2);
    Intent intent = new Intent();
    //intent.setType("application/pdf");
    intent.setType("image/*");
    intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
    startActivityForResult(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Select Picture"),type2 );
}

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, @Nullable Intent data) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);

    //  System.out.println(data);
    if ((requestCode == 1 || requestCode == 2 || requestCode == 3 || requestCode == 4 || requestCode == 5 || requestCode == 6 || requestCode == 7 || requestCode == 8) && resultCode == RESULT_OK && data != null && data.getData() != null) {
         Uri filePath = data.getData();
        try {
            bitmap = MediaStore.Images.Media.getBitmap(getContentResolver(), filePath);
            // profile_image.setImageBitmap(bitmap);
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        if (requestCode == 1) {
            String userString = getStringImage(bitmap , 1);
            RequestQueue requestQueue = Volley.newRequestQueue(CashFlowActivity.this);
            String url = C.url+"cashflow_upload.php";
            StringRequest stringRequest = new StringRequest(Request.Method.POST, url, new Response.Listener<String>() {
                @Override
                public void onResponse(String response) {
                    //System.out.println(response);
                        // Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), response, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    p1 = "user_file/u_image/"+userID+"/extract.pdf";
                }
            }, new Response.ErrorListener() {
                @Override
                public void onErrorResponse(VolleyError error) {
                    Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Error while uploading image", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                }
            }){
                @Override
                protected Map<String, String> getParams() throws AuthFailureError {
                    Map<String, String> params = new HashMap<>();
                    params.put("userId", userID);
                    params.put("extractImage",userString);
                return params;
                }
            };

            requestQueue.add(stringRequest);

I am not getting a direct method to upload PDF through Android app associated with PHP, MySQL. I did some changes here and there I am able to get a PDF file on my server but the PDF itself is empty or contains the string of location of the file.

public String getStringImage(Bitmap bitmap, int type) {

    ByteArrayOutputStream byteArrayOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
    bitmap.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.JPEG, 100, byteArrayOutputStream);

    byte[] imageByteArray = byteArrayOutputStream.toByteArray();
    String encodeImage = Base64.encodeToString(imageByteArray, Base64.DEFAULT);

    imageByteArray = Base64.decode(encodeImage, Base64.DEFAULT);
    Bitmap decodeImage = BitmapFactory.decodeByteArray(imageByteArray, 0, imageByteArray.length);
    if (type == 1) {
        extractPhoto.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 2) {
        bankPhoto.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 3) {
        itrPhoto.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 4) {
        bankPhoto1.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 5) {
        itrPhoto1.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 6) {
        bankPhoto2.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 7) {
        itrPhoto2.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    } else if (type == 8) {
        bankPhoto3.setImageBitmap(decodeImage);
    }
    return encodeImage;
}

I am able to upload images decoding using bitmap. That is the wrong approach as why would you first convert a file to a bitmap? Upload the bytes of the file directly. Then it does not matter what kind of file you upload. You are ready for all files then. — blackapps
getStringImage(bitmap,..... What is that function doing? Post the code too please. In your post. — blackapps
@blackapps But how should I upload directly what function should I write? see the getStringImage function in the edit — Neel Patel
Your function compresses a bitmap to a jpg. And the jpg is finally in byte[] imageByteArray. After that you base64 encode byte[] imageByteArray and you have a string (which contains a base64 encoded jpg file) which you upload. Now how did you get that bitmap? You made that bitmap from a choosen image file. — blackapps
Do away with the bitmap. Load the bytes of the choosen file directly in byte[] imageByteArray. Then encode and so on. — blackapps

Gaurav Hulmukh Gaurav Hulmukh · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-20T15:48:59

You can use this Function:

public String getStringPdf (Uri filepath){
    InputStream inputStream = null;
    ByteArrayOutputStream byteArrayOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
    try {
       inputStream =  getContentResolver().openInputStream(filepath);

        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        byteArrayOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();

        int bytesRead;
        while ((bytesRead = inputStream.read(buffer)) != -1) {
            byteArrayOutputStream.write(buffer, 0, bytesRead);
        }
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    } finally {
        if (inputStream != null) {
            try {
                inputStream.close();
            } catch (IOException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
        }
    }

    byte[] pdfByteArray = byteArrayOutputStream.toByteArray();

    return Base64.encodeToString(pdfByteArray, Base64.DEFAULT);
}

Thanks to blackapps for guiding correct method.

How to upload PDF file to server

1 Answers