Writing multiple BLOB (PDF) records into one PDF file

Question

I currently have a procedure that writes an individual BLOB pdf row and outputs it to a PDF file, however I would like to write multiple BLOB rows into one PDF.
Oracle version:10g R2.
Does anyone know whether it is possible to do this?
Here is my code, I was hoping to use a cursor FOR LOOP to read the BLOB records. The BLOB records do successfully load into a new PDF file, however when you open it the PDF only the first page is viewable. I am assuming the issue is to do with the PDF format rather than writing the data out to the file. I.e. the Page numbers etc.., incorrect formatting of the PDF?
declare
-- Test statements here
b BLOB;
amount BINARY_INTEGER;
file_handle UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
l_pos INTEGER := 1;
l_blob_len INTEGER;
l_buffer RAW (32767);
l_amount BINARY_INTEGER := 32767;
file_name_ VARCHAR2(200);
pattern_id_ VARCHAR2(200) := '5555555';
pdf_path_ VARCHAR2(200) := 'PDF_OUT';
cursor get_blob_recs is
select pdf from mds_remote_pdf_tmp;
BEGIN
file_name_ := to_char(pattern_id_)||'.PDF';
file_handle := UTL_FILE.FOPEN(pdf_path_,file_name_,'wb');
FOR rec_ IN get_blob_recs LOOP
l_blob_len := DBMS_LOB.getlength (rec_.pdf);
l_pos := 1;
WHILE l_pos < l_blob_len
LOOP
DBMS_LOB.READ (rec_.pdf, l_amount, l_pos, l_buffer);
UTL_FILE.put_raw (file_handle, l_buffer, FALSE);
l_pos := l_pos + l_amount;
END LOOP;
END LOOP;
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(file_handle);
end;
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
David.

Answer 1

I guessed there was more to a PDF file format than just amending the BLOB objects!. I think I'll have to create a function with an IN param containing the PDF file list, and invoke a Java class to merge the PDFs in the OS.
My requirement is to record the history of when a hand written form was completed. E.g. a user might complete half a document one day, and the rest of the document another day, therefore I want one PDF with two pages of the same form at different stages of completion. These forms are currently being created as two separate PDFs, and the problem is I am restricted to displaying only one PDF!
Thank you.
David.
Edited by: david.massey on Jan 26, 2011 8:16 AM