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**BOB MECHLER** · 19 Feb 2009, 04:23 PM

I sent you an email just now with my questions.

Thanks,

Bob Mechler

**Rowan Hanna** · 19 Feb 2009, 04:39 PM

Thanks

Thanks Bob, we've received your message and will reply asap. Cheers.

**Bud Durland** · 19 Feb 2009, 07:51 PM

Rowan;

If I may, I'd like to suggest a "theory of operation" and "getting started" sections for the documentaiton. We purchased 2 licenses at work, but frankly, we're not going to be using is as soon as we had hoped. The functions are all well doumened, but we're not sure how to use them.

**Hans Rietveld** · 20 Feb 2009, 05:21 AM

I must agree.

I want to use the lib too.

A little "getting started" about loading, viewing and
printing a document, would be helpfull.

**Marc Giao** · 20 Feb 2009, 09:32 AM

Good deal on what appears to be an excellent PDF library but I have to agree with Bud and Hans, some simple demo code showing the ropes would be very helpful.

**Joe Byrne** · 20 Feb 2009, 10:17 AM

This is how I start most of my reports using the iSed library. Perhaps it will be of some help:

Code:

    '
    '---Add Standard Fonts---
    '
    FOR iFont& = 0 TO 10
        x& = iSEDAddStandardFont(iFont&)
    NEXT
    BoldText& = iSedAddTrueTypeFont("Arial Rounded MT Bold",1)
    '
    '---Create the new PDF file---
    '
    gRptTitle$ = "Report Heading here"                          '--GLOBAL--
    '
    DocID&= iSedNewDocument()                                 '--Start New
    dRet  = iSedSetMeasurementUnits(2)                       ' Inches
    dRet  = iSedSelectDocument(DocID&)
    dRet  = iSEDSetPageSize("Letter Portrait")               ' Landscape or Portrait
    dRet  = iSEDSetOrigin(1)                                       ' Top left corner
    
    HeaderFont& = iSEDAddStandardFont(%HeaderFont)    ' Helvetica bold
    BodyFont&   = iSEDAddStandardFont(%BodyFont)        ' Helvetica

Then in the body of the print job, something like this:

Code:

        '
        '---Print Some Stuff---
        '
        IF PrintLine& > 9 THEN
           IF PrintLine& <> 99 THEN dRet = iSEDNewPage 'dont FF for first page
           GOSUB ReportHeading
           hLeft = 0.3
           hTop  = 1.50
        END IF
        '
        '--- Get a graphic from the disk ---
        '
        PhotoID& = iSEDAddImageFromFile("../private/images/" + Photo,0)
        iSEDSelectImage(PhotoID&)
        iSEDDrawImage(hLeft, hTop-.1, Photo_Height, Photo_Width)
        iSEDDrawScaledImage(hLeft+.25, hTop-.2, .4)
        
        SavehTop! = hTop
        
        CALL iSEDSetTextColor(0, 0, 0)      'Set default colors
        dRet  = iSEDSelectFont(%BodyFont)   'Select Body font
        dRet  = iSEDSetTextSize(10)         '--and size
        dRet  = iSEDSetTextAlign(0)         '--Left Aligned on the page
        '--- 'draw' the text ---
        dRet  = iSedDRAWTEXT(hLeft + 1.3, hTop, BYCOPY LastName$)
        hTop  = hTop + .18                  '-- Drop a line
        dRet  = iSedDRAWTEXT(hLeft + 1.5, hTop, HoH_Name$ + " (" + HoH_DOB$ +")" )        
        hTop  =  hTop + .19                 '-- and another slightly higher
        IF TRIM$(Spouse_Name$) > "" THEN
           dRet  = iSedDRAWTEXT(hLeft + 1.5, hTop, Spouse_Name$ + " (" + Spouse_DOB$ +")" )
        END IF
        '--- Now 'draw' the addresses ---
        xTop! = hTop
        hTop = SaveHTop!
        FOR i& = 1 TO 3
            dRet& = iSEDDrawText(hLeft + 3.3, hTop, BYCOPY Adr$(i&))
            IF TRIM$(Adr$(i&)) > "" THEN hTop = hTop + .18 '-- Add line if address text exists
        NEXT
        dRet& = iSEDDrawText(hLeft + 3.3, hTop, Adr$(4) & ". " & Adr$(5))
        '
        hTop = hTop + .86               'Set for next 'paragraph/text block'
        PrintLine& = hTop

        
     GetNextName:  
        Rec1$ = TRM_GETNEXT(hFile&)
    LOOP

and finally, close the document:

Code:

    CALL iSedSaveToFile(BYCOPY x$)       '--Could also be 'preview'
    CALL iSedRemoveDocument(DocID&)

All in all, its pretty easy to create basic PDF documents, certainly no more difficult that DDoc (which I love too!). The neat thing is that there are SO many more options but only if you want/need them. The basics are pretty basic.

**RyanCross** · 20 Feb 2009, 11:12 AM

How fast is the raster rendering? I would like to display PDF pages on screen in my OpenGL based software. I would have to have it render it to a raster and then load that as a texture.

**Rowan Hanna** · 21 Feb 2009, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by Bud Durland View Post

Rowan;

If I may, I'd like to suggest a "theory of operation" and "getting started" sections for the documentaiton. We purchased 2 licenses at work, but frankly, we're not going to be using is as soon as we had hoped. The functions are all well doumened, but we're not sure how to use them.

Hi Bud,

We're planning (and currently working on) samples and tutorials for the new version of Quick PDF Library. This will include a new getting started guide which will explain how to begin using the library in a variety of different languages.

We're also working on some sample applications that will demonstrate some of the functionality of the library to new users who aren't 100% familiar with the ins-and-outs of PDF.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of functionality are you interested in adding to your applications? Perhaps we can provide you with some early samples to get you started.

**Rowan Hanna** · 21 Feb 2009, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by Hans Rietveld View Post

I must agree.

I want to use the lib too.

A little "getting started" about loading, viewing and
printing a document, would be helpfull.

Hi Hans,

I'll try to make sure we include some example code for loading, view and printing documents using PowerBASIC. We will be adding a knowledge base shortly as well that will include more examples.

Thanks for your patience.

**Rowan Hanna** · 21 Feb 2009, 12:27 AM

Originally posted by Marc Giao View Post

Good deal on what appears to be an excellent PDF library but I have to agree with Bud and Hans, some simple demo code showing the ropes would be very helpful.

Hi Marc,

Understood -- we'll include some sample code to help get new users started. Are there any particular functions that you would like to see sample code for?

**Rowan Hanna** · 21 Feb 2009, 12:33 AM

Originally posted by RyanCross View Post

How fast is the raster rendering? I would like to display PDF pages on screen in my OpenGL based software. I would have to have it render it to a raster and then load that as a texture.

Hi Ryan,

The rendering speed will be unique to each file. PDFs come in all shapes and sizes, so it's very difficult to provide a figure that would be accurate. Would it be possible for you to send us some of your PDFs as examples that we could test with?

You can email them to rowan.hanna (at) debenu.com if you're able to share them.

**Marc Giao** · 21 Feb 2009, 11:29 AM

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the code snippet, just what the doc

ordered, it gives me a slightly better idea on how the library is used. I also have ddoc and second your comment... Well spent money.

I know there are quite a few Quick PDF (iSEDQuickPDF) users on this forum, hopefully they realize what a great opportunity it is to have Rowan Hanna on the forum and chime in with snippets, questions and suggestions.

**Bud Durland** · 21 Feb 2009, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by Rowan Hanna View Post

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of functionality are you interested in adding to your applications? Perhaps we can provide you with some early samples to get you started.

At work, I have several applications that create reports -- sales orders, statements, shipping documents. Right now I use DDOC to print to a "PDF Creator" printer. This works well enough, but there are sometimes glitches -- timing issues waiting for the PDF file to be created, sometimes the recipient cannot read the PDF file, etc. Since most of these are created by automated processes, there's no need for the preview functionality of DDOC. I'd like to be able to simple create & ship a more "proper" PDF file.

So, something like the example code that Joe posted would be ideal, showing how to create a document in memory, place text, lines and simple graphics, add pages, go back and add proper page numbers ("page x of y"), close & save the document.

It looks like this is going to be a very cool addition to my toolbox once I get it all figured out.

**RyanCross** · 21 Feb 2009, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by Rowan Hanna View Post

Hi Ryan,

The rendering speed will be unique to each file. PDFs come in all shapes and sizes, so it's very difficult to provide a figure that would be accurate. Would it be possible for you to send us some of your PDFs as examples that we could test with?

You can email them to rowan.hanna (at) debenu.com if you're able to share them.

I don't have any PDFs made since there's no way for me to display them in a OpenGL app.

It seems you can render on a per page basis. How long does it take to render a page?

**Hans Rietveld** · 23 Feb 2009, 04:48 AM

Hi everybody.

Using the iSEDQuickPDF as COM server.
It is a little bit faster (I think) and it is easier to use.

First extract the iSED.DLL from the iSQP0511AX zip file and store it in the
system map. (system32) and register the dll.

Use the Pb com browser to create the interface and store it as iSED.inc
somewhere in the path.

Here is some code to show how it is done.

Code:

#COMPILER PBCC 5, PBWIN 9  ' Version 9 and 5 only
#COMPILE EXE
#DIM ALL

' Build includefile with the Pb com browser
#INCLUDE  "iSED.inc"

FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG

    LOCAL test    AS LONG
    LOCAL myfile  AS STRING
    LOCAL myww    AS STRING
    LOCAL xx      AS VARIANT
  
    ' create object
    LOCAL iquickpdf AS Int_IQuickPDF
    LET iquickpdf = NEWCOM CLSID GUID$("{0BD8488D-4D9A-43BB-9F0A-3667DE28AFBC}")

    ' Is object valid
    IF ISFALSE ISOBJECT(iQuickPDF) THEN
        MSGBOX "Unable to open or start Ised.dll!"
        EXIT FUNCTION
    END IF

    ' Insert licensekey
    myww = UCODE$("insert licensekey string here")         ' Insert lincence number between the quotes
    iquickpdf.UnlockKey(myww)
    ' Check for unlocked
    test = iquickpdf.UnlockEd
    MSGBOX STR$(test) & "    (0 = locked)"

    ' Load a pdf file
    myfile = UCODE$("XXXXX.PDF")                            ' Insert the name of a PDF file, available in the path
    iquickpdf.LoadFromFile(myfile)
    test = iquickpdf.PageCount
    MSGBOX STR$(test) & " pages"

    ' Select first page
    iquickpdf.SelectPage(1)
    ' Set render quality (1 to 100)
    iquickpdf.SetJPEGQuality(100)               ' 1 to 100

    ' select output file
    myfile = UCODE$("TEST1.JPG")
    ' render the first page
    iquickpdf.RenderDocumentToFile(300, 1, 1, 1, myfile)

    OPEN "mypic.jpg" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
       PRINT #1, VARIANT$(xx)
    CLOSE #1

END FUNCTION

**Ingo Schmoekel** · 23 Feb 2009, 09:43 AM

QuickPDF ... help and samples

Hi All!

At
http://www.quickpdf.org/forum/
you can find samples and help since four years now ;-)

Cheers, Ingo

**Walter Schütz** · 24 Feb 2009, 09:35 AM

Hi Rowan

I think you might take the manual of ChartDirector by Advanced Software Engineering Limited as a reference. Starting with the basics it is quite easy to generate soon sophisticated charts using the manual.

While I feel it will not be possible to document all 500+ calls right from the beginning this detailed, I think it is the correct way to go...

I would expect there to be at least two nontrivial samples like a
- typical bill (with barcode, logo and using several fonttypes and sizes (e.g. small font for serial numbers) and a
- contract with a few paragraphs and a pagebreak

Please pay in particular attention to explain more why (and not how) you do it in a certain way - how can be understood studying the samples...

Walter

**Rowan Hanna** · 26 Feb 2009, 05:57 PM

Thanks for the tip

Originally posted by Walter Schütz View Post

Hi Rowan

I think you might take the manual of ChartDirector by Advanced Software Engineering Limited as a reference. Starting with the basics it is quite easy to generate soon sophisticated charts using the manual.

While I feel it will not be possible to document all 500+ calls right from the beginning this detailed, I think it is the correct way to go...

I would expect there to be at least two nontrivial samples like a
- typical bill (with barcode, logo and using several fonttypes and sizes (e.g. small font for serial numbers) and a
- contract with a few paragraphs and a pagebreak

Please pay in particular attention to explain more why (and not how) you do it in a certain way - how can be understood studying the samples...

Walter

Thanks for the tip Walter. I have downloaded the help manual for ChartDirector. You're right, they tend to focus more on the why than just a pure function guide and do a very good job.

We have a pretty comprehensive function reference, but we need to add a more comprehensive getting started/help manual to provide new users with a little more direction when they first start using our library.

By the way -- we'll be releasing a public beta version of 7.12 in the next couple of days. The beta will include a few more samples, but it won't include the comprehensive new documentation that we have planned just yet.

**Marc Giao** · 1 Mar 2009, 12:30 PM

Good news,

The promised 7.12 beta 1 is out:

http://www.quickpdflibrary.com/blog/

Announcement

Quick PDF Library (formerly iSEDQuickPDF) discount for PowerBASIC users

Quick PDF Library (formerly iSEDQuickPDF) discount for PowerBASIC users

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