pdf to hl7 message

We use the unix pdftotext utility. Then we convert the resulting text to hl7 using tcl procs, xlates, etc.

We’ve also Base64 encoded the PDF file directly into an OBX segment using the encode command in a TCL proc and put the encoded string into OBX.5.

OBX|1|ED|PDF^filename.pdf||

The other side simply needs to rehydrate the PDF by decoding the data in OBX.5.

Henry,

We have several interfaces that send a base-64 encoded .pdf encapsulated in an HL7 message to our EMR system.  This base-64 encoded .pdf file is sent in OBX:5 of an HL7 MDM^T02 message.  We don’t do the actual encoding of the .pdf file (the source systems are doing it), but it is something that you can do within a tcl proc, as Rick indicates.

Hope this helps.

Jim Cobane

Henry Ford Health

Out of interest, is there anything you can use to do the same thing with a MS Word document?

Thanks,

Dave

Hi David,

Our solution works regardless of file type.  It opens the file in binary mode and base64 encodes it.  Here’s a code snippet:

   set fi [open $fileName r]

   fconfigure $fi -translation {binary binary}

   set en64Var [encode [read $fi]]

   close $fi

Rick

Hi Rick,

 We are beginning to have to convert pdf files to text.  I have read your post about the unix pdftotext utility.  I have gone to the web to try to download but am not sure where/what I need to be able to use this utility.  We are using AIX 5.3.  Where / what do I need to download to be able to use the pdftotext converter.

the web site that I think I could use is the following —

  http://linux.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/

thanks,

Mark

Hi Max,

 I meant my last post to be for you and not Rick.  Could you please direct me to the proper web site to get the pdftotext utility for unix AIX 5.3.

thanks,

Mark

I think this is the correct url: http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/download.html

xpdf is the package.

You may need to google around if you want AIX binaries. I believe we compiled the package ourselves.