RE: Decoding PDF data from a web service

Pretty slick... it can be done in a few lines of code:

  dcl-s  encoded_clob   sqltype(CLOB:1000000) ccsid(*utf8);

  encoded_clob_data = json.data.node.packingSlipPdfData;

  pdfFile = '/myfolder/packslips/mypackslip.pdf';

  Exec Sql
    Call IFS_WRITE_BINARY(
        path_name => :pdfFile,
        line      => base64_decode(:encoded_clob),
        overwrite => 'REPLACE'
        );

Not sure what the overhead will be (this will run a few hundred times a day).  But it works great!



-----Original Message-----
From: RPG400-L <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Gross
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 2:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Decoding PDF data from a web service

Greg,

seems like something simple - but I don't have access to a machine right now.

I can try over the weekend, and send you a resolution.

Regards,
Daniel


> Am 13.03.2026 um 18:45 schrieb Greg Wilburn <[email protected]>:
>
> Daniel,
>
> Thanks... actually, I tried that first (using AI example) to decode and write to the IFS.  I got an SQLSTATE of 22501 and gave up.
>
> I tried your code below... it gives a SQL precompile error:
> SQL0303: Position 32 Variable DECODED_CLOB not compatible or value too long.
>
> I have it defined exactly as below (I'm on v7r5)
>
> TIA,
> Greg
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RPG400-L <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Gross
> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 12:39 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Decoding PDF data from a web service
>
> Hi Greg,
>
> I know I sound like a broken record here on the mailing list - but have you tried it with SQL? If the string gets decoded by the online decoder, it might be possible, that there is a problem with the decoding procedure.
>
> As the strings are quite large, you will average to use CLOBs, as SQL only supports VARCHAR up to a length of 32739 bytes.
>
> So it might be an an idea to try:
>
>   dcl-s encoded_clob sqltype(clob:1000000) ccsid(*utf8) inz;
>   dcl-s decoded_clob sqltype(clob:1000000) ccsid(*utf8) inz;
>
>   encoded_clob_data = json.data.node.packingSlipPdfData;
>   encoded_clob_len = %len(json.data.node.packingSlipPdfData);
>
>   exec sql set :decoded_clob = base64_decode(:encoded_clob);
>
>   base64decoded = %subst(decoded_clob_data:1:decoded_clob_len);
>
> Or you can even use SQL to write the decoded data directly to your IFS file.
>
> HTH
> Daniel
>
>
>> Am 13.03.2026 um 17:19 schrieb Greg Wilburn <[email protected]>:
>>
>> I have done this quite a few times before, so I'm not sure why I'm struggling so much with this...
>>
>> I'm getting a json document from a server that contains a base64 encoded string representing a packing slip... I'm able to copy the data from the webservice response file (JSON) on the IFS, and paste that into an online decoder.  That works.
>>
>> But when I try to do he same in my program, I'm getting an error:
>> " Unable to decode character at position 1. (Char=x'4A') "
>>
>> Using the online decoder, indicating UTF8, it will decode.  Using the same decoder, selecting autodetect, it decodes differently indicating windows 1252?
>>
>> Just wondering if anyone can spot any glaring errors in my code.  I've been looking at it all morning.  UGH.
>>
>> // definitions
>>
>> dcl-s  base64encoded  varchar(1000000) ccsid(*utf8) inz;
>> dcl-s  base64decoded  char(1000000) inz;
>> dcl-s  fd             int(10);
>>
>> dcl-s  pdfFile        varchar(128) inz;
>> dcl-s  pdfData        varchar(1000000) ccsid(*utf8) inz;
>>
>>
>> // Decode Packslip Data
>> base64Encoded = json.data.node.packingSlipPdfData;
>> len = base64_decode( %addr(base64Encoded:*data)
>>                    : %len(%trim(base64Encoded))
>>                    : %addr(base64Decoded)
>>                    : %size(base64Decoded)
>>                    );
>> pdfData = %subst(base64decoded:1:len);
>> pdfFile = fldr + '/packslips/' + inCom + '_' + inOrd + '.pdf';
>>
>> flag = o_wronly + o_creat + o_ccsid + o_excl;
>> mode = s_irusr + s_iwusr + s_iroth + s_iwoth;
>> fd = open(pdfFile:flag:mode:1208:0);           // PDF is UTF8
>> rc = write( fd
>>           : %addr(pdfData:*data)
>>           : %len(pdfData));
>>
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