C++/VB - Saving as PDF?

Asked By David Webber

08-Feb-10 01:17 PM

Do there exist routines to save a document as a PDF file?

I know there are pseudo-printers around which you can install so that when
you 'print' to it it produces a PDF file, but I had in mind library code
that would give you a CDC or hDC, let you draw on it, and then deposit the
result in a PDF file.   Does such exist?

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

08-Feb-10 02:28 PM

n
e
ist.htm

MFC doesnt have anything builtin for this. I have heard of people
using pdflib but its not free:

http://www.pdflib.com/en/products/pdflib-family/pdflib/

--
Ajay

08-Feb-10 03:58 PM

Thanks.  I have bookmarked it, but unfortunately it looks expensive and either
it is just me or the terms of the licence are far from clear :-(

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

08-Feb-10 05:13 PM

ither
ist.htm

I also came across this one: http://www.novapdf.com/

I have no idea how good it is (trial is free) but its considerably
cheaper ($50) than pdflib. Worth a look.

--
Ajay

08-Feb-10 05:29 PM

It seems there are several open-source PDF libraries, that you may adapt to
the context of Win32/MFC.

For example, OpenOffice (an open-source kind of clone of Office 2003) can
save as PDF - you could consider its code.

There is also another open-source Python library called ReportLab:

http://www.reportlab.com/software/opensource/

HTH,
Giovanni

09-Feb-10 05:22 AM

Hey, that is not fair, the thing existed long before 2003 ;-).

Goran.

09-Feb-10 05:36 AM

I meant: the GUI of OpenOffice is similar to the Office 2003's one and not
to the new one of Office 2007.

Giovanni

09-Feb-10 07:35 AM

We use pdflib too and it is really good. I think the price is fair and there
is also a "pdflib-lite"-version with slightly reduced functionality when you
create open-source-software.


MFC doesnt have anything builtin for this. I have heard of people
using pdflib but its not free:

http://www.pdflib.com/en/products/pdflib-family/pdflib/

--
Ajay

09-Feb-10 02:12 PM

What I am looking for is a library I can build into software I am selling (ie
it is not open source), so that anyone using my software can save his work as
a PDF file.   I do not mind paying for it, but I'd be put off if royalties
were involved.

Given the recommendation here, I have contacted the pdflib people to get the
licensing terms learn in my mind.   Thanks Everyone.

Wenn noetig kann ich es auch auf Deutsch benutzen :-)

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

09-Feb-10 02:24 PM

This looks like one of the ones the user installs as a "printer" so that any
application can "print" to this "printer" to create a PDF file.

I have used a similar one - pdfFactoryPro - which is also very good.   But in
either case, each user of my software would have to buy and install the
product to enable them to save PDF files with my software (and lots of other
programs).    Now that Microsoft Word can just "Save as PDF" with no 3rd
party software, the temptation for people to buy such a program is less, and
I am starting to think that a "Save As PDF" on my own menu - with all
components integrated with the program (well maybe a DLL installed with it)
would be a good idea.   OK this would only work from my program, but then I
would not add $50 to the price :-)

I do not want to have to learn all there is to know about PDF format - but a
suitably priced library which I could link (statically of dynamically) with
my software would be ideal.

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

09-Feb-10 02:57 PM

That's 'clear' in my mind.   Damned spilchoqueur!

Dave

--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

09-Feb-10 04:33 PM

Well, if this kind of software is still an option you have PDFCreator
which is free and open source, sadly in VB :-P

http://www.pdfforge.org/pdfcreator




Regards

--
Cholo Lennon
Bs.As.
ARG

09-Feb-10 09:22 PM

If you ever used Google Docs, it allows you to save/download PDF
documents.  I recall being curious to see what software they used, so
I imported a text file, saved and downloaded a pdf and viewed it with
the Adobe reader.  In the FILE | Document Properties | Summary, I saw
it used PrinceXML.com

http://www.princexml.com

If this is for commercial operations, the professional version is
strategically priced to be below the normal petty cash limit
(generally $500) before you might have to get more signatures to
purchase. :)

This is something I am going to re-look at in the near future for an
update of our Report Generator tool.  What we did in 2003 for this
reporting tool. which can output in various formats, was look for the
PDF writer installation and just use that.

Do a google search for:

adobe PDF writer redistribution
or
free adobe acrobat writer

There are many vendors.  What I remember the last time I did this, was
the common among they free versions is that they burned in
keen with that but that might mean extra dollars hide/disable this
burning with a paid version.  I mention this because I scratched my
head wondering why Google Docs PDF downloads have the burned in vendor
name.  For most corporations considering to use Google Docs as SaaS,
that would not be something desirable.  Did Google have a "Free
version"? What package/version do they have?  I do not know if you paid
for Google Docs, if the use a different PDF writer.

Just things to consider.

--
HLS

10-Feb-10 02:19 AM

f-4a7d-845d-29692171d2f9@z26g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
t

How about libharu?
http://libharu.sourceforge.net/index.html

Seems like it is free for commercial use as well, and that it does not
force your app to be GPL or anything

10-Feb-10 08:17 AM

Just had a reply from PDFLIB:  the licence which would allow me to include
their PDF generation as an integral part of my software would cost Euro
10,000.-.

I am sure Microsoft could afford it, but for a small family business selling
very specialist music notation software to home users for not much more than
Euro 100.-  a throw, it is just so far beyond affordable as to be almost
unimaginable :-(

Ah well.

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

10-Feb-10 11:43 AM

In the category of software printers, you may have a look at
http://www.docu-track.com/product/pdf-xchange-drivers-api.
It does require the user (or your setup program) to install their
printer, but it is royalty free (up to 100K client installs).

Liviu

10-Feb-10 03:00 PM

Thanks!  That one looks extremely promising!

Dave
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

10-Feb-10 06:39 PM

Dave,

I worked with a chap who produces PDF "glossies" for a UK insurance
company. He uses Bullzip http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

It can be used in any Windows program. It is free for personal and
commercial use up to 10 users.

For more users it is called bioPDF http://www.biopdf.com/ and it costs
$1,499 for a redistribution license.

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd                  www.NPSL1.com

Neural network applications, help and support.

13-Feb-10 07:15 AM

Thanks Steve,

I'd need a redistribution licence.   This is a bit less that  Eur 10,000 <g>
but still enough to convince me to look for other options first, but I have
made a note!

Dave
--
David Webber
Mozart Music Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion and support see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm

15-Feb-10 02:16 PM

We use VeryPDF, but it is pricey.  Works really well though.

You can also get the developer's kit from Adobe, but you have to jump
through a lot of  hoops.

Tom