HTML to PDF .... Ideas Please !!

[ToddWW]

I am currently using the following code to convert an HTML document to PDF.

theFile = "myhtml.html"
pdfFile = "myhtml.pdf"

objWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")
objWord.DisplayAlerts = .F.  
objWord.Visible = .F.
objWord.Documents.Open(theFile)
objWord.ActiveDocument.PrintOut(0,0,0,pdfFile)
objWord.Quit
objWord = .null.

I am using a 3rd party PDF printer driver that is set as the default printer. The code above works great as it completes the entire process behind the scenes. However it requires that I have MS Word installed on the machine. Since all I am in need of is converting HTML, I am looking for a way to do this without using MS Word. I can automate InternetExplorer in a similar fashion but I am not aware of a method to print using the InternetExplorer object. Isn't there an easier way to simply convert an HTML document to PDF using FoxPro code ?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Todd

 

[ToddWW]

I found a fairly simple way to do this using the code below. Most of this was taken from faq184-3503 which shows how to automate IE's Print Preview. The FAQ is worth looking at as it exposes all of the execWB constants, options, etc..

I just tweaked it a little to automate Printing for my unique need. I have stumbled upon one final problem with this and I opened that post up in VFP - Automation, Mail & 3rd Party Svcs thread1251-963292

Nonetheless, here is a pretty clean example of automating IE to print in VFP.

oBrowser=CREATEOBJECT("InternetExplorer.Application")
oBrowser.Visible = .T.

theTarget="[URL unfurl="true"]www.tek-tips.com"[/URL]
oBrowser.Navigate(theTarget)
DO WHILE oBrowser.ReadyState != 4
	&& WAIT FOR DOWNLOAD
ENDDO 
DO WHILE oBrowser.queryStatusWB(6) != 3
	&& WAIT UNTIL READY TO PRINT
ENDDO
oBrowser.ExecWB(6,2) && PRINT WITH NO PROMPT
oBrowser.Quit

I'm currently having problems with VFP quitting IE before the printing is done sending the doc to the printer driver which I am currently looking for a solution. If you have any ideas there, please see thread1251-963292

Thanks

ToddWW

 

[ToddWW]

I found another option.

http://www.abcpdf.com

is a great tool that does not require a PDF printer driver and can be used with any software that supports ActiveX. I use it now in both Active Server Pages as well as VFP 7.0 and I love it. And it's thread safe so it won't crash under IIS.

ToddWW

 

[baltman]

Automatic MS Office to PDF Module faq184-4349

Can be easily updated to use IE to print HTM/HTML to PS.

Brian

 

[baltman]

Here's a snip from my app.

Brian

DECLARE INTEGER FindWindow IN user32; 
    STRING lpClassName,; 
    STRING lpWindowName 
*
*
* snip
*
*
*
WAIT WINDOW NOWAIT "Please Standby. Converting "+PSFile
WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
loWeb = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
	 WITH loWeb 
	 .Height = -1
     .Visible = .t.
     .Navigate(FULLPATH(InFile))

     WaitonIE()
     
     WshShell.AppActivate("Internet Explorer 6")
	 .ExecWB(6, 2, 0, 0)
	
	 lnStart=SECONDS()
	 lnCompleteWindow=0

	  DO WHILE lnCompleteWindow=0 and SECONDS()-lnStart<120 &&2 min timeout
	    lnCompleteWindow= FindWindow(0, "Print to File")
	  ENDDO
	
	 WshShell.AppActivate("Print to File")
	 WshShell.SendKeys ["%f%l&PSFile{ENTER}"]
	 .Quit 
     ENDWITH
loWeb=.null.
WshShell=.null.
WAIT clear 
[code]