PDF printing issues reference/best practices

Classic Servoy
1

I’ve searched the forum but haven’t found a list of PDF issues. I’m running into a number of things with PDF generation. Little things, borders not working, fields overflowing their boundaries, etc…and was wonder if anyone’s put together a list of known issues or best practices for making PDF friendly print forms.

Or, is it something specific about my setup that’s causing the problems?

Thanks!

greg.

2

yes, same here. PDF Plugin Printing is not well documented, and pretty much a trial & error process

my solution generates variable width HTML reports, that I can copy/paste into Excel, but find difficult to print directly

setting paperPrintScale on the form helps, but is not a runtime property, so a fixed number

also found that the “body” must allowBreakacrossPageBounds

also a surprise, that the smart client has no “Print” menu option

greg

3

gdurniak:
also a surprise, that the smart client has no “Print” menu option

Try to call a controller.print() in webclient, you’ll be surprised ;)

4

no, not a surprise, I know you can “call” printing

but why no menu item, for “Print”?
I have yet to see an app without one

turns out that “Print” actually is there, you just need to “Print Preview” first

and, if showPrintPreview specifies plugins.pdfoutput, with a full path & filename, then “Print” works, but is silent ( no dialog, no confirmation ). Very strange

greg

5

(cont’d)

my HTML field is set to grow horizontal & vertical, and does work, BUT if I add a Header to the form, and use the PDF Plugin, the Header does not print on every page

my print method uses:
controller.setPageFormat and controller.print, with no Dialog

Then, if I DO display the print Dialog, and select Adobe Acrobat, the header prints OK. but the print Dialog does NOT show the pre-set page size & orientation, even though it does use it properly! This is not very user friendly

yikes!

greg
Servoy 3.1.6 / Windows XP