Powerbuilder 10.x PDF Question

[DSect]

Hello,

I'm a .NET programmer helping someone with PDF creation in PB 10.

We ran into a roadblock using the GhostScript technique of PDF writing as we are not allowed to have kernel-mode drivers on our server (it is not an option on this production server ie because of company policy).

I don't quite understand what the common techniques of PDF writing are for PowerBuilder.

In .NET I have a 3 (or more) options to make PDFs:

1. Crystal Reports
2. Create a form to display data and then FILE >> PRINT it to a PDF distiller / printer driver
3. Use iText (a text renderer -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IText)

and construct a document (like making an HTML page or a CR report by hand) and then stream the byte array to the browser.

Option #3 is my favorite because it lightweight and self-contained.

What are the options for PDFing in PowerBuilder?

Are there text renderers similar to iText (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IText)

that can be used with PowerBuilder?

Is it customary to print from a DataWindow when creating PDFs in PB? It seems clunky and odd that you cannot simply create a report in memory and then output it somehow? Can you?

I'm sorry if I am not aiming my questions correctly. I have practically no experience with PowerBuilder and researching this issue has been less than fruitful.

Thank you and let me know if ou have any other questions.

Thanks!

 

[thekl0wn]

You should still be able to print your datawindow to a distiller/PDF printer driver... You just have to change the printer it's being sent to.