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Help / Editors / Report editor / Principles
  • Overview
  • Printing a report created with the report editor
  • Printing a report in PDF format
  • Remarks
  • Examples
  • Printing a programmed print
  • Printing a WLanguage print in PDF format
  • Remarks
  • Examples
  • Notes and limitations
  • Remarks
  • General advice
  • Availability of controls in the reports
  • Control in RTF
  • PDF in the background of a report
  • Print in PDF/A-1b format
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Stored procedures
Overview
WINDEV, WEBDEV and WINDEV Mobile allow you to create a PDF file during a print.
This PDF file can be created:
  • WEBDEV - Server code from a report created in the report editor.
  • from a print performed with the WLanguage functions.
WEBDEV - Server code
Printing a report created with the report editor

Printing a report in PDF format

To print a report in PDF format:
  1. Create the requested report in the report editor.
  2. In the print process of the report in PDF format:
    • Configure the options for printing in PDF format with iParameterPDF. You can define:
      • the password used to open the PDF file.
      • the options for compressing images.
      • the options for the presence of bookmarks.
      • the options for protecting the PDF file. You also have the ability to define the password used to modify these protection options.
      • the use of the Unicode format.
      • WEBDEV - Server code the use of the PDF/A format (the generated version is PDF/A-1b).
    • Define the report destination with iDestination. In this case, the report must be printed in PDF format (iPDF or iGenericPDF constant).
    • Start printing the report in PDF format with iPrintReport.

Remarks

  • The order in which iDestination and iParameterPDF are used is not important.
  • WEBDEV - Server code You have the ability to sign the generated PDF file via the Signature control.
  • WEBDEV - Server code If the report must be printed in PDF/A format, you have the ability to enable the UI errors specific to this format:
    1. Open the report description (select "Report description" in the context menu).
    2. In the "Options" tab, check "Enable PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-3b export specific errors".
    3. Validate the description window of the report and save the report. The errors are displayed in the "Compilation errors" pane.

    Examples

    iDestination(iPDF)
    iPrintReport(RPT_MyPDFReport)
    iDestination(iPDF)
    // Protect the PDF file against printing
    // and against selection and copy/paste
    // No password to open the PDF file
    // Password for modifying the protection settings
    iParameterPDF(iProtectionPrinting, iProtectionSelection, "", "Protection")
    // Print the report
    iPrintReport(RPT_MyPDFReport)
    Printing a programmed print

    Printing a WLanguage print in PDF format

    To perform a WLanguage print in PDF format:
    1. Define the destination of the print and the parameters of the PDF file to generate with:
      • iDestination to define the print in PDF format (iPDF or iGenericPDF constant).
      • iParameterPDF to configure the options for printing in PDF format. You can define:
        • the password used to open the file.
        • the options for compressing images.
        • the options for the presence of bookmarks.
        • the options for protecting the PDF file. You also have the ability to define the password used to modify these protection options.
        • WEBDEV - Server code the use of the PDF/A format (the generated version is PDF/A-1b).
    2. Use the print functions to define the content of the print.
    3. Start the print job with iEndPrinting.

    Remarks

    • The order in which iDestination and iParameterPDF are used is not important.
    • WEBDEV - Server code You have the ability to sign the generated PDF file with iPrintSignature. This function must be used at the same time as the print functions.

    Examples

    // Create the PDF file
    iDestination(iPDF, "C:\Temp\MyPDF.PDF")
    // Print code
    iCreateFont(1, 16, iBold, iRoman)
    //Call to procedures used to print the content
    PrintTitle()
    PrintText()
    // End of print and close the created PDF file
    iEndPrinting()
    WEBDEV - Server code
    // Protect the PDF against printing
    // and against selection and copy/paste
    // No password for opening the PDF file
    // Password for modifying the protection settings
    iParameterPDF(iProtectionPrinting, iProtectionSelection, "", "Protection")
    // Create the PDF file
    iDestination(iPDF, "C:\Temp\MyPDF.PDF")
    // Print code
    iCreateFont(1, 16, iBold, iRoman)
    //Call to procedures used to print the content
    PrintTitle()
    PrintText()
    // End of print and close the created PDF file
    iEndPrinting()
    Notes and limitations
    WEBDEV - Server code

    Remarks

    Several functions specific to the management of PDF files are also available. For more details, see PDF file management functions.

    General advice

    For a better rendering, use TrueType or OpenType fonts.
    Caution: the OpenType fonts are not incorporated in the generated PDF. These fonts must be installed on the user computer to get a correct rendering.

    Availability of controls in the reports

    The following controls are not available:
    • Linux RTF control
    • Linux Signature control
    • Linux Gantt Chart control
    • Linux Pivot Table control
    • Linux HTML control
    • Chart control: Only the Chart controls created from version 17 are available.

    Control in RTF

    General limitations:
    • The static control in RTF format may be truncated during a page break.
    • The arrays found in an RTF control are not printed.
    • The images used in the RTF controls are not printed.
    iParameter associated with the "RTFWINDOWS=NO" parameter or with the iRTFWithImagesAndTables constant is used to properly print the tables and images found in RTF controls.
    Linux The RTF controls and the RTF options are not available.
    Linux

    PDF in the background of a report

    A PDF cannot be used in background image of the report.
    WEBDEV - Server code

    Print in PDF/A-1b format

    • The transparency of images is not supported:
      • If the image contains a transparent background in its format, the image will be drawn on a white background.
      • If the "Transparent magenta" color is used, the image rendering may differ in the generated PDF.
    • The "Opentype" fonts are not supported because the "Opentype" fonts cannot be incorporated in the generated PDF.
    • All fonts use must be incorporated in the generated PDF and they must contain all displayed characters.
      • In Windows, if characters are missing, the substitution font used is "Arial Unicode ms".
      • In Linux, if characters are missing, an error is displayed.
    Tip: How to find out whether the print in PDF/1-1b format is correct?
    • If the print is performed from a report, you have the ability to enable the GUI errors specific to this format ("Options" tab in the description window of the report, "Enable the errors specific to the PDF/A-1b export" option).
    • During a dynamic audit, the errors specific to the PDF/A-1b management are detected and displayed.
    Minimum version required
    • Version 9
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    Last update: 05/02/2023

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