Picture Attribute

Question

Hello Ryan,

In the version that will follow Adaxes 2014.1, we are going to completely rework the look and feel of Adaxes Web interface. In that version, we are going to provide some basic functionality for editing uploaded pictures, and resizing picture is among the features that we are going to introduce.

For now, it is possible to use a PowerShell script for this purpose. You can add a certain field on the Web interface that will be used to input the image file name. For this purpose, you can use one of Adaxes virtual properties that can store string (text) values. Such properties are not stored in Active Directory, but can be used as any other property of AD objects. A Business Rule triggered after updating a user will read the file at the specified file path and process the image to fit within the limitations, then save the image to the Picture property.

As for the actual resizing, there are multiple ways how this can be implemented in PowerShell code. For example, you can use some sort of an image processing tool, like ImageMagick, for example, and pass the picture to the tool from command line. Alternatively, it is possible to use a PowerShell module for this purpose, for example, the PSImageTools from the Windows 7 Resource Kit. Also, it is possible to use the native .Net functions to manipulate the image, however it'll take longer to develop the script.

If such a solution is OK with you, we will help you with a script.

commented Mar 7, 2014 by Support (216k points)

Hello Ryan,

Can you give me some more specifics on how to use a virtual text property for this? Will I need to type a unc path to the photo and have the user store the photo somewhere the adaxes service has permissions to read, or would it be possible to get an open file dialog and browse for the file that way?

There won't be a file dialog to select a file, users will have to type in or paste a path to the file with the picture. The file needs to be saved on a certain share that can be accessed from the computer where Adaxes is installed.

I'm thinking the PSImageTools module would be easiest. Would you be able to give me instructions on how to load that module onto the Adaxes server (server is running Windows 2012 R2 if that matters). If you could help with a script that would be wonderful!

Yes, of course we will help you. Will an option with a text field be sufficient?

commented Mar 10, 2014 by Support (216k points)

1 Answer

Best answer

Hello Ryan,

The script is ready. To be able to use it with Adaxes, you'll need to create a Business Rule. For example, to set a picture after a user is created, you'll need to create a Business Rule that runs the script after creating a user. For more details, see Run PowerShell Script after Creating a User.

The script reads the file path from the CustomAttributeText1 property. To allow users specify the file path in the Web interface, you need to add it to the forms for creating or editing a user. For information on how to do this, see step 6 in the following tutorial: http://www.adaxes.com/tutorials_WebInte ... diting.htm.

In the script, $programPath specifies the full path to the Convert.exe executable that will do the actual resizing. It is a part of the ImageMagick suite and must be installed on the same computer where Adaxes service is installed.

The script:

$programPath = "C:\Program Files\ImageMagick\Convert.exe" # TODO: modify me

try
{
    $filePath = $Context.TargetObject.Get("adm-CustomAttributeText1")
}
catch
{
    return # The property is empty
}

# Try read the user photo
try
{
    $thumbnailPhotoBytes = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($filePath)
}
catch
{
    $Context.LogMessage("Error reading file: " + $_.Exception.Message, "Error")
    return
}

# Write the photo to a temporary file
$tmpFilePath = [System.IO.Path]::GetTempFileName()
[System.IO.File]::WriteAllBytes($tmpFilePath, $thumbnailPhotoBytes)

# Launch an external program to resize the photo
& $programPath "$tmpFilePath" -resize 80x80^ "$tmpFilePath" 

# Wait 5 seconds
Start-Sleep -Seconds 5

# Read the modified file
$thumbnailPhotoBytes = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($tmpFilePath)

# Set the modified photo to user properties
$Context.TargetObject.Put("thumbnailPhoto", $thumbnailPhotoBytes)

# Delete the temporary file
[System.IO.File]::Delete($tmpFilePath)

# Clear CustomAttribute
$Context.TargetObject.Put("adm-CustomAttributeText1", $NULL)

# Save changes
$Context.TargetObject.SetInfo()

Picture Attribute

Please log in or register to add a comment.

Please log in or register to answer this question.

1 Answer

Please log in or register to add a comment.

Related questions