[NF] Export to PDF/FDF

[M Jarvis]

Yep, still alive and kickin'....

I'm working up a proof-of-concept thing to add to our report writing
engine, that being the ability to export our text based reports into a PDF.
I know how to do the FDF creation part of this (thanks again Ted) but I
seem to be coming up short in a couple of areas.

I am using LibreOffice to create my PDF template file, and not sure if the
problem lives in there or not. I add a textbox control to a document, save
as PDF, and later the FDF merge works just fine. BUT if the text starts
getting any longer than what fits into the textbox as I've laid it out in
the PDF, scroll bars appear and the textbox doesn't expand. I'm not saying
it *should* do so automatically, but I can't figure out how to do that or
even if it's possible.

Or, is there some other control available to LibreOffice I might try using
that lets me FDF merge in files of large size?

In a perfect world there wouldn't be any control visible to the user at
all, just the text of the report.

Some of our reports can be several thousand pages for Year-End stuff and
all that...

Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.

TIA,
--
Matt Jarvis
Eugene, Oregon USA


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[M Jarvis]

Yep, still alive and kickin'....

I'm working up a proof-of-concept thing to add to our report writing
engine, that being the ability to export our text based reports into a PDF.
I know how to do the FDF creation part of this (thanks again Ted) but I
seem to be coming up short in a couple of areas.

I am using LibreOffice to create my PDF template file, and not sure if the
problem lives in there or not. I add a textbox control to a document, save
as PDF, and later the FDF merge works just fine. BUT if the text starts
getting any longer than what fits into the textbox as I've laid it out in
the PDF, scroll bars appear and the textbox doesn't expand. I'm not saying
it *should* do so automatically, but I can't figure out how to do that or
even if it's possible.

Or, is there some other control available to LibreOffice I might try using
that lets me FDF merge in files of large size?

In a perfect world there wouldn't be any control visible to the user at
all, just the text of the report.

Some of our reports can be several thousand pages for Year-End stuff and
all that...

Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.

TIA,
--
Matt Jarvis
Eugene, Oregon USA


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[Laurie Alvey]

If you're using VFP tables or cursors, FoxyPreviewer lets you export
seamlessly to PDF.

Laurie

Post by M Jarvis
Yep, still alive and kickin'....
I'm working up a proof-of-concept thing to add to our report writing
engine, that being the ability to export our text based reports into a PDF.
I know how to do the FDF creation part of this (thanks again Ted) but I
seem to be coming up short in a couple of areas.
I am using LibreOffice to create my PDF template file, and not sure if the
problem lives in there or not. I add a textbox control to a document, save
as PDF, and later the FDF merge works just fine. BUT if the text starts
getting any longer than what fits into the textbox as I've laid it out in
the PDF, scroll bars appear and the textbox doesn't expand. I'm not saying
it *should* do so automatically, but I can't figure out how to do that or
even if it's possible.
Or, is there some other control available to LibreOffice I might try using
that lets me FDF merge in files of large size?
In a perfect world there wouldn't be any control visible to the user at
all, just the text of the report.
Some of our reports can be several thousand pages for Year-End stuff and
all that...
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.
TIA,
--
Matt Jarvis
Eugene, Oregon USA
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[excessive quoting removed by server]

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[Koen Piller]

Hi,
I would also go for FoxyPreviewer, would not be able to construct an app
without this class. You can export to virtualy anything: Word, Excel,PDF,
RTF and print a normal report, with not more than one (1) mouseclick.
Forget about anything else, the more FP is free and 100% VFP.
Regards,
Koen

Post by Laurie Alvey
If you're using VFP tables or cursors, FoxyPreviewer lets you export
seamlessly to PDF.
Laurie

Post by M Jarvis
Yep, still alive and kickin'....
I'm working up a proof-of-concept thing to add to our report writing
engine, that being the ability to export our text based reports into a

PDF.

Post by M Jarvis
I know how to do the FDF creation part of this (thanks again Ted) but I
seem to be coming up short in a couple of areas.
I am using LibreOffice to create my PDF template file, and not sure if

the

Post by M Jarvis
problem lives in there or not. I add a textbox control to a document,

save

Post by M Jarvis
as PDF, and later the FDF merge works just fine. BUT if the text starts
getting any longer than what fits into the textbox as I've laid it out in
the PDF, scroll bars appear and the textbox doesn't expand. I'm not

saying

Post by M Jarvis
it *should* do so automatically, but I can't figure out how to do that or
even if it's possible.
Or, is there some other control available to LibreOffice I might try

using

Post by M Jarvis
that lets me FDF merge in files of large size?
In a perfect world there wouldn't be any control visible to the user at
all, just the text of the report.
Some of our reports can be several thousand pages for Year-End stuff and
all that...
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.
TIA,
--
Matt Jarvis
Eugene, Oregon USA
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text/plain (text body -- kept)
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[excessive quoting removed by server]

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[John Weller]

+1

John Weller
01380 723235
07976 393631

-----Original Message-----
Koen Piller
Sent: 04 January 2018 11:04
Subject: Re: [NF] Export to PDF/FDF
Hi,
I would also go for FoxyPreviewer, would not be able to construct an app
without this class. You can export to virtualy anything: Word, Excel,PDF,

RTF

and print a normal report, with not more than one (1) mouseclick.
Forget about anything else, the more FP is free and 100% VFP.
Regards,
Koen

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[Ted Roche]

Post by M Jarvis
I'm working up a proof-of-concept thing to add to our report writing
engine, that being the ability to export our text based reports into a PDF.
I know how to do the FDF creation part of this (thanks again Ted) but I
seem to be coming up short in a couple of areas.

Glad to help.

Post by M Jarvis
I am using LibreOffice to create my PDF template file, and not sure if the
problem lives in there or not. I add a textbox control to a document, save
as PDF, and later the FDF merge works just fine.

Are you using pdftk to do the PDF-FDF merge? If so, there are a couple
of commands starting with "dump" that can tell you a little bit more
about what pdftk is seeing in the document, perhaps a clue.

Post by M Jarvis
BUT if the text starts
getting any longer than what fits into the textbox as I've laid it out in
the PDF, scroll bars appear and the textbox doesn't expand. I'm not saying
it *should* do so automatically, but I can't figure out how to do that or
even if it's possible.
Or, is there some other control available to LibreOffice I might try using
that lets me FDF merge in files of large size?

The student has exceeded the teacher :) My customers use CutePDFPro
for all of the PDFs they need to turn into data-fillable ones.

Post by M Jarvis
In a perfect world there wouldn't be any control visible to the user at
all, just the text of the report.

In LibreOffice, with the textbox control selected, you can right-mouse
click over an existing textbox, select "Control" and get a property
page where you tell it to be multi-line and turn off the scroll bars,
but I don't see an option to "rubber-band" the length

Post by M Jarvis
Some of our reports can be several thousand pages for Year-End stuff and
all that...
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.

Don't you hate it when you're backed into a corner, but you can't use
the tool that would solve the problem?

--
Ted Roche & Associates, LLC
http://www.tedroche.com

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[M Jarvis]

Post by Ted Roche

Post by M Jarvis
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.

Don't you hate it when you're backed into a corner, but you can't use
the tool that would solve the problem?

Sorry for the delayed response... I appreciate the help from all...

I was doing some more research and came across a technique that supposedly
did what I wanted, but it requires $$$ for the tool(s) to do it and for
this proof-of-concept phase I doubt that the powers that be are going to
pony up. I guess I'll wait until they want it bad enough right? Of course,
by then it will be an 'emergency' to get it done... gosh just once it would
be nice to plan this stuff out in advance wouldn't it?

If someone wants to give it a shot, here are some links that describe the
technique/process:

https://blogs.uoregon.edu/developments/2010/12/29/pdf-making-text-fields-grow-to-accommodate-text/

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/450522

https://itstillworks.com/increase-pdf-form-character-limit-5814921.html
--
Matt Jarvis
Eugene, Oregon USA


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[Gene Wirchenko]

At 15:37 2018-01-03, M Jarvis <***@gmail.com> wrote:

[snip]

Post by M Jarvis
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't
an option at this time.

Why not? Do you have an arm tied behind your back, too?

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko



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[Michael Oke, II]

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Sounds like the client has his arms tied.

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Post by Gene Wirchenko
[snip]
Installing any software such as CutePDF or other to help drive this isn't

Post by M Jarvis
an option at this time.

Why not? Do you have an arm tied behind your back, too?
Sincerely,
Gene Wirchenko

[excessive quoting removed by server]

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