Developers IN HERE!!!!

[tonkadawg]

Can anyone tell me if the following MIME types are supported in a Unix environment?

http://www.w3schools.com/media/media_mimeref.asp

[scottw]

as long as you have the correct software installed then it should be. Its not unix, it the application that has to handle the MIME type.

scott

[tonkadawg]

so say I save it as a word doc, Word must be installed (unix or windows version depending on client OS) in order for this to work?

[SeanCallan]

Ok. File extensions aren't even software dependant, I can write an application in JAVA to support .doc, .abc, .seanisbetterthenmatt, etc...

You don't need software installed to support it, anyone who tells you you can't use an extension without a certain software knows nothing of programming. Why do you want to write to a .doc anyway, does the file need to be supported by MSWord or OpenOffice? Document extensions aren't known for saving space, they tend to keep a lot of revision information embedded which leads to a larger size. Also remember, if you're writing a .doc so that you CAN open it in MSWord you need to use the correct format.

How's that for a 'only being awake for 20 minutes' explaination?

Why are you relying on MIME types anyways? There has to be a library for JAVA that supports Excel, pdf, Documents. I mean I know how much JAVA sucks, but I think a little googling will turn something up...

[tonkadawg]

Like we were discussing, I don't think the extension really matters much until the user needs to open the file. But since I don't have Unix experience, I need to be certain that it won't be a problem before I present it to the client.

There are several file formats that my reports must be able to be exported to. Just the nature of the project.

Using MIME, I can write the report quickly and easily to what ever file format I need. I got it to work for excel, Word, Rich Text and CSV. Unfortunately there isn't a simple library to write Excel or pdf documents. To get either, the process is quite involved and very labor intensive. By using MIME, I just change one line of code in my JSP/HTML, define the correct file extension and write the file.

[SeanCallan]

Only time I've MIME is in email and HTML. I don't know how you're implimenting this to work. Changing a line of HTML and you get a totally different file? Have you tested this yet?

It just seems like if it were this easy, everyone would support a bunch of file types..

[scottw]

You don't need software installed to support it, anyone who tells you you can't use an extension without a certain software knows nothing of programming.

haha you should read up before you make comments like this Sean with your infinite wisdom. Because you must have this installed for each type if they were to open it.

Like we were discussing, I don't think the extension really matters much until the user needs to open the file. But since I don't have Unix experience, I need to be certain that it won't be a problem before I present it to the client.

There are several file formats that my reports must be able to be exported to. Just the nature of the project.

Using MIME, I can write the report quickly and easily to what ever file format I need. I got it to work for excel, Word, Rich Text and CSV. Unfortunately there isn't a simple library to write Excel or pdf documents. To get either, the process is quite involved and very labor intensive. By using MIME, I just change one line of code in my JSP/HTML, define the correct file extension and write the file.

exactly. before you comment sean you should read what we are trying to do! Extensions dont matter until you need to use them. Basic HTML class 101 should have explained this to you. Maybe you should stick to java :smoker: and let us Unix guys that dont know what we are talking about stick to a real program language.

scott

[tonkadawg]

I opened a BufferedWriter in my servlet and told it to write a string of HTML - with that one lined changed. I can almost guarantee that this will work in PHP too. Don't forget to set the file extension correctly.

I have tested this in my J2EE environment. I know someone else who is using this in a production ASP application too. I don't know how I haven't found this out sooner, but it's easy and it works!

I don't know how you're implimenting this to work. Changing a line of HTML and you get a totally different file? Have you tested this yet?

[SeanCallan]

Well I didn't realize the user was needing to open these files, yesterday you needed pdfs converted to excel, then suddenly you want .docs.

Scott, I appreciate the concern but I'm not worried about my knowledge of programming languages I think I have it. If you wanna flop em out on the table and measure, I'll be more then glad to participate.

As for Matt's situation, I didn't realize users would be using other software to open his files. I thought he was more concerned about storage, had I known he intended to produce files for users to open outside of his environment, I might have phrased what I was saying differently. Plus you can open any file extension you want in any program, whether it displays what you want or not is another story. See in the applications I've built in C, I usually support my own file type because I prefer the users open it in my environment rather then be dependant on someone's software for mine to be fully functional.

Scott maybe you can teach me how to program sometime, I mean everytime I look at your website I realize how much I could learn from you in what not to do

[tonkadawg]

Yeah, Sean, I changed gears on you when I found out that changing the MIME values of the content type worked and gave me what I needed. Sorry for any confusion

, yesterday you needed pdfs converted to excel, then suddenly you want .docs.

[scottw]

I mean everytime I look at your website I realize how much I could learn from you in what not to do

whats wrong with zeovit.com? my other site is nothing more then a flash intro into the store. Care to explain or is it you just like to be an ass and look smart? I am assuming its the latter of my statement! b/c I have seen what you have done and let me tell you, its nothing special, for a seasoned professional such as yourself.

[SeanCallan]

You got your hands on my software? Cause I don't do design, I built backend systems for sites, so unless you were looking at code, you really didn't see anything of mine.

ZEOvit was built by the kind folks at vBulletin, I didn't know you worked for them...

As for being an ass, I was just returning the favor for the little "real programmer" comment.