Has anyone ever done this? (paste graph, no VFE)

I've got a Templating (5.5.2) application where users would love to be able to paste a graph into a field INSTEAD of having to import a graph JPG/GIF into TeamSite then using the BROWSER to navigate to it (which they will resist having to do STRENUOUSLY). I don't want to use VFE -- if it could actually do this -- to capture and store the graph because there will be up to sixteen separate graphs in a template and the resulting DCR would be huge.

What I'd like to do is:
1. Provide a button on the template that user can click to initiate capture of a graph.
2. When the user clicks the button a container window pops up into which the user can paste the graph.
3. When the use clicks a "Save" button in the popup graph capture window...
3a. the graphic is saved in the TeamSite file system with a system generated name
3b. a field for storing the name of a graph file is populated with the file name as if a user BROWSEd to it
3c. the graph capture window closes

This all has to work without any additional software being installed on the user's PC.

The thing that's holding me up here is finding/figuring out what to use to capture the graph.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or guidance!

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Migrateduser

Where would they be capturing the graph FROM?

I'm having difficulty imagining a way to do this that wouldn't be just as much of a hassle as a separate import and browse. You could maybe create a callout that had an ActiveX control or java applet that would do both in one operation, but it seems like you would still end up with about the same number of mouseclicks to get it done.

citizen

The graphs are in a PDF.
1. The user will be in a Acrobat reader to do a select/copy to get a graph into the clipboard.
2. Then, they select the Templating window and click the "Capture" button next to the applicable field. (two clicks)
3. The capture window pops up and the user pastes the graph into it. (two clicks or one click + Ctlr-V)
4. After the user clicks "Save" in the capture window, the graph is saved in the TeamSite file system with an automatically generated name. (one click)
5. This file name then becomes the value of the "Graph Filename" field associated with the "Capture" button. (no clicks)

Why do you think the above is as cumbersome as:
1. The user will be in a Acrobat reader to do a select/copy to get a graph into the clipboard.
2. The user pastes the graph into some desktop application. (clicks to get the app up and running)
3. The user saves the file, giving it a meaningful name. (clicks and typing)
4. The user imports the file into TeamSite into an intelligently selected location (a bunch of clicks)
5. The user selects the template and clicks the BROWSER button next to a "Graph Filename" field and navigates to the location where the file was imported (lots of clicks)

Thanks!

Migrateduser

2. The user pastes the graph into some desktop application. (clicks to get the app up and running)

Is that the holy grail? I'm having a hard time imagining this, too, and I'm wondering what they would paste the image TO.

Dave

Current Environment(s):
(1) TS 6.1 SP1 on W2K3
(2) TS 6.1 SP1 on W2K
(3) TS 5.5.2 SP2 on Win2K

Migrateduser

OK - if you have an algorithm that will work for the autogeneration, then it probably isn't too cumbersome on the user. The basic paradigm then would be a callout that would display an activex control like webpic (http://www.softuarium.com/item.php?id=40) that they could paste the image into. Then it would handle automatically naming the file, placing it in an appropriate location and returning the path to that to the DCT. You will, of course, have to have an external task in your workflow to automatically attach all those files when you submit the DCR or the generated page. Let us know which activex control or java applet you settle on.

citizen

The Windows Paint accessory app works fine as something to paste into if the user were doing this the hard way.

citizen

Thanks for the suggestion. Webpic, however, is a problem because: a) it costs money, b) it has to be installed on the user's PC.

Dwayne

I don't think that there's any way to avoid b) it has to be installed on the user's PC. There aren't any "standard" HTML form elements that can accept image data from the clipboard - only text. That means that some piece of software, beyond the user's browser, has to get involved. The closest you could come to it would be some sort of Java applet. It's still "installed" (downloaded) on the user's PC, but it's transparent enough that it's normally not a problem.

Of couse, having said that, I don't know of any Java applets that will do what you're asking for, either. Meaning that you'll probably have to roll your own.

--

Current project: TS 5.5.2/6.1 W2K

Migrateduser

Right - which is the case with WebPic as well (if I read their docs correctly) - the only difference is whether you prefer java or activex. It's exactly the same way VFE works. I don't get the bit about using Paint - I don't know of anyway to trigger a desktop app from a web page and to grab the values out of it - in fact, preventing that sort of thing is the whole purpose of the java "sandbox".

gzevin

I'm wondering what they would paste the image TO.

e.g., to a callout window that has IFRAME in it. easy.

Greg Zevin, Ph.D. Comp. Sc.
Independent Interwoven Consultant/Architect
Sydney, AU

Migrateduser

No, you're missing my point. Dwayne explains it well -- current HTML standards do not accomplish this without 3rd party apps.

Dave

Current Environment(s):
(1) TS 6.1 SP1 on W2K3
(2) TS 6.1 SP1 on W2K
(3) TS 5.5.2 SP2 on Win2K