Laravel - Simple Print Document Example

DocumentController.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers\External;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Http\Controllers\Controller;

class DocumentController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Create a new controller instance.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->middleware(['auth', 'verified']);
    }

    /**
     * Print document, to view or download.
     * 
     * This function will be used, based on assumption if the 
     * document is stored as a blob entry and with 
     * mimetype, mime and additional file information.
     * 
     * Of course, this is the 'quick and dirty' approach.
     * 
     * @param int $key
     * @param string $file
     * @param string $fileName
     * @param string $fileType
     * @echo $file
     * @return \Illuminate\Http\RedirectResponse
     */
    public function printDocument($key, $file, $fileName, $fileType)
    {
        if ($fileType == "PDF") {
            $fileType = "application/pdf";
        }
        if ($fileType == "DOC") {
            $fileType = "application/msword";
        }
        if ($fileType == "PNG") {
            $fileType = "image/png";
        }
        if ($fileType == "JPG" || $fileType == "JPEG") {
            $fileType = "image/jpeg";
        }
        
        // catch empty or null
        // TODO provide a better return statement, below is definitely not fun
        if (empty($file) || is_null($file)) {
            return back();
        }

        $file = base64_encode($file);
        $file = base64_decode($file);

        header('Content-Type: ' . $fileType);
        header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=' . $fileName);

        // used as self::printDocument($key, $file, $fileName, $fileType);
        echo $file;
    }
}