Add Image Into Runtime Generated PDF From a Database

Content: I will explain how to add an image into a runtime generated PDF from a database functionality with the help of Visual Studio Ultimate 2015 Preview using Windows Form Application but you can also do this into the Website.

Briefly, I will do something like:

1. Create a table for stored images in binary format on the basis of roll numbers.
   
   
2. Get the image from the database on the basis of a specific roll number.
   
   
3. Generate the runtime PDF using ITextSharp.

   Note: I will use the "iTextSharp.dll" as a PDF generator library. You can download it from:
   Links:
   

   • itextsharp
   • iTextSharp

   You can find it in the attached file in the "bin\Debug" folder of this article.
   

4. Add the image into the PDF.

To learn more about Point 1, Click here.

I am assuming I have a table named "TestImage" that stores the data like:



Now I will start the article from Point 2.

Step 1

Create a Windows Forms application named "WindowsFormsApplication1".



Right-click on "References" in the Solution Explorer and click on "Add Reference".



Use the following sub-steps in the "Reference Manager".

1. Click on the Browse tab on the left side.
2. Click on the Browse button at the bottom.
3. Select the "iTextSharp.dll" from the system.
4. Click on the Add button.

Finally it will look like:



Now click on the "OK" button and see the "Solution Explorer" where the "iTextSharp.dll" reference has been added.



Step 2

1. Add the following 2 namespaces to the top of the ".cs" file:
   
   1. using System.Data.SqlClient;
      
2. Create a method in ".cs" file that will return the image in the format of a byte array.
   
   1. private byte[] GetImage(string Roll_no)
   2. {
   3. string sConn = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["con"].ToString();
   4. SqlConnection objConn = new SqlConnection(sConn);
   5. objConn.Open();
   6. string sTSQL = "select img from TestImage where Roll_no='" + Roll_no + "'";
   7. SqlCommand objCmd = new SqlCommand(sTSQL, objConn);
   8. objCmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
   9. object result = objCmd.ExecuteScalar();
   10. objConn.Close();
   11. return (byte[])result;
   12. }