Programming with dBASE - How do you create PDF report output?

Author

How do you create PDF report output?

Graham Monk

2006-12-11, 12:12 am

Can any one advise me on the best way to generate a pdf file without going
via a print dialog, the Report Output property does not provide and option.
So is there a programmable way to do it with the bit of freely distributable
code or low cost to users at least.

Cheers,
Graham

Robert Bravery

2006-12-11, 7:14 pm

Hi,
Most conversions to PDf happen via a printer driver, either free or paid
for.
Having it go through a print dialog gives users the choice, which could also
be other PDF drivers, fax drivers or other bitmap type drivers.
But, if you are certain of a particular driver being available to the user
at all times ( as you or you application is not responsble for uninstalling
such drivers), then you can hard code the report to use a particular driver.
Other than that, most RAW PDF conversion are pretty expensive. THerefor you
and youre client would have to justify the cost.
If you are going the printer driver route (this is the easiets and sometimes
the cheapest) then you can insert this into you report, substituting the
correct info according to your needs
with (this.printer)
printerSource = 2 // Specific
duplex = 1 // None
orientation = 1 // Portrait
printerName = "PDF995"
paperSource = 15
paperSize = 9
resolution = 0 // Default
color = 2 // Color
trueTypeFonts = 3 // Substitute
endwith
The two things to notice is printersource = 2, which is a specific driver,
and then the printername which is the installed printer driver name.
This code is streamed byt the desgner, you can choose the report properties,
click on printer object and then printername, choose the printername.

Robert

"Graham Monk" < graham@astutesoftwar
e.com> wrote in message
news:eYKR2DOHHHA.1332@news-server...
> Can any one advise me on the best way to generate a pdf file without going
> via a print dialog, the Report Output property does not provide and
option.
> So is there a programmable way to do it with the bit of freely
distributable
> code or low cost to users at least.
>
> Cheers,
> Graham
>
>

Graham Monk

2006-12-11, 7:14 pm

Hi Robert,

Many thanks for your reply.

Graham.

"Robert Bravery" <me@u.com> wrote in message
news:gh90ZfTHHHA.2036@news-server...
> Hi,
> Most conversions to PDf happen via a printer driver, either free or paid
> for.
> Having it go through a print dialog gives users the choice, which could
also
> be other PDF drivers, fax drivers or other bitmap type drivers.
> But, if you are certain of a particular driver being available to the user
> at all times ( as you or you application is not responsble for
uninstalling
> such drivers), then you can hard code the report to use a particular
driver.
> Other than that, most RAW PDF conversion are pretty expensive. THerefor
you
> and youre client would have to justify the cost.
> If you are going the printer driver route (this is the easiets and
sometimes
> the cheapest) then you can insert this into you report, substituting the
> correct info according to your needs
> with (this.printer)
> printerSource = 2 // Specific
> duplex = 1 // None
> orientation = 1 // Portrait
> printerName = "PDF995"
> paperSource = 15
> paperSize = 9
> resolution = 0 // Default
> color = 2 // Color
> trueTypeFonts = 3 // Substitute
> endwith
> The two things to notice is printersource = 2, which is a specific driver,
> and then the printername which is the installed printer driver name.
> This code is streamed byt the desgner, you can choose the report
properties,
> click on printer object and then printername, choose the printername.
>
> Robert
>
>
> "Graham Monk" < graham@astutesoftwar
e.com> wrote in message
> news:eYKR2DOHHHA.1332@news-server...
going[color=darkred]

> option.
> distributable
>
>

Jan Hoelterling

2006-12-12, 7:13 pm

Hi Graham,

you may have picked up on it in Robert's post - the driver "of choice" for
many of us here is PDF995 (www.pdf995.com). Cheap, reliable, fast. Very
happy with it.

Jan

Graham Monk

2006-12-13, 7:12 pm

Hi Jan,

Thanks, I have just installed it and made significant changes to preview.wfm
to support pdf printing instead of html with save & restore of pdf995.ini
settgings. It all seems to work well.

Cheers,
Graham

"Jan Hoelterling" <jan@hoelterling.com> wrote in message
news:ip%23KudgHHHA.1140@news-server...
> Hi Graham,
>
> you may have picked up on it in Robert's post - the driver "of choice" for
> many of us here is PDF995 (www.pdf995.com). Cheap, reliable, fast. Very
> happy with it.
>
> Jan
>
>

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