Generating PDF files on the fly is tricky. While you can use Acrobat
Distiller to create an ASCII-based PDF file, the ASCII version is EXTREMELY
bulky. The binary, compressed version is really the only way to go.
We've had better success generating PostScript or RTF, and then converting
that to PDF, or generating FDF (forms data format) and merging that into PDF
on the fly. The FDF concept is elegant, but very limited, as you can't allow
for differing document lengths.
There are also pre-built products out there like Miramo by DataZone
(www.datazone.com) that let you do extremely complex dynamic generation, but
you're typically looking at $10k+ just to buy the software...
Ian Lurie
www.portentinteractive.com
www.pdfconnect.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Howie Hamlin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 6:34 AM
To: CF-Talk
Subject: Re: Dynamic PDF
Nope, not true - a PDF file uses compression. More info at:
http://www.wotsit.org/download.asp?f=pdfspec
Regards,
Howie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "CF-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Dynamic PDF
> >
> >All,
> >Is there a way to create PDFs on the fly? My users get a results set
> >from a query and I would like to give them a dynamic way to print it.
> >
> >Any thoughts on how it can be done?
>
> A PDF file is really text inside, if you just need to change a few
> parts of the file, like their name + account number or something,
> but the rest of the document stays the same, you can create the PDF
> and then open it and do a search and replace for your place holder
> (like --NAME-HERE--). This works best if there is nothing else on
> the same line after the text you are replacing, the different sizes
> of replacement strings may mess up what comes later. Example:
>
> Joe Smith Other Stuff
> Cathly Brunagamnecktie Other Stuff (not lined up....)
>
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