PDF Printer

[Howard Kaikow]

Opinions on PrimoPDF (http://www.primopdf.com/)?

[BlueZannetti]

Used it a bit in the past. Better than nothing, free.

Blue

[Hairy Coo]

Its OK

[Howard Kaikow]

Actually, I just used PrimoPDF for the 1st time and found a real programming error.

I've reported the problem to NitoPDF folkes, but PrimoPDF seems to be from activePDF which provides NO technical support.

The bug is a basic programming botch, i.e. an error gets raised if the path or filename includes a space.

I am also concerned that the PrimoPDF User Manual states that PrimPD only allows for Append or Overwrite if a PDF filename already exists. If that's true, then that's really bad design.

I'd avoid PrimoPDF, and makes me wonder what NitroPDF does when printing.

[BlueZannetti]

{QUOTE-> The bug is a basic programming botch, i.e. an error gets raised if the path or filename includes a space. <-QUOTE}I have examples from Primo still on my system - with spaces in the filename and path - and never recall encountering this problem.

Blue

[LenC]

I use eDocPrinter PDF Pro (not free) and I've been very pleased with it. It has nice capabilities such as appending and overlaying - so it allows me to assemble some big complex proposals into a single document.

I've never had a problem with it.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> I have examples from Primo still on my system - with spaces in the filename and path - and never recall encountering this problem.

Blue <-QUOTE}

I'm using Windows 2000.

Problem is reproducible.

For example:

1. Put somefile in D:\kaikow, say, whatever.html.
2. Print with PrimoPDF, no problem.
3. Rename the file as, e.g., "what ever.html".
4. Error messages result from printing with PrimoPDF. Note that the file does print.

With the info below, the PrimoPDF folkes should be able to figure this out.

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.IO.IOException: The directory is not empty.

at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
at System.IO.Directory.DeleteHelper(String fullPath, String userPath, Boolean recursive)
at System.IO.Directory.Delete(String fullPath, String userPath, Boolean recursive)
at PrimoPDF.PrimoPDF.Qf0E(Object , FormClosedEventArgs )
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnFormClosed(FormClosedEventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmClose(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
MC
Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
ŒŽ†’‹›‡‰—Œ•Œ–—�ˆ�ŒŒ
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
License
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
PrimoPDF
Assembly Version: 4.0.2.4
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Runtime.Remoting
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
APPDFConv
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
APDB
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/mscorlib/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Data
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC_32/System.Data/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.mshtml
Assembly Version: 7.0.3300.0
Win32 Version: 7.0.3300.0
CodeBase: file:///J:/WINNT/assembly/GAC/Microsoft.mshtml/7.0.3300.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.mshtml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE->
I am also concerned that the PrimoPDF User Manual states that PrimPD only allows for Append or Overwrite if a PDF filename already exists. If that's true, then that's really bad design.
<-QUOTE}

Although the options give only a coice of defaulting to Append or Overwrite, at run-time, a warning message is issuede if attempt to use extant file name.

Documentation could be better.

[HAN]

I've used Primo but I guess I've never had a file name with spaces in it...

I now use BullZip. http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php
You have to manually install the Ghostscript first but other PDF printers often require this too. BullZip offers more than most other freebie PDF printers (user selectable limited security, watermarks, etc.) Plus it's legit for both personal and commercial (in a small office environment) use.

[majoMo]

Can someone else give advice about a pdf printer that convert a .doc, e.g., in .pdf - with the links activated in the .pdf document.

Free, of course...

[Pedro]

Besides Bullzip, try PDFCreator (http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/).

[majoMo]

Thanks Pedro, I'l try Bullzip.

[HAN]

majoMo: I just make a URL link to Google in Word, printed it to PDF via BullZip and then opened it in PDF-XChange. The URL was fully functional and opened in Firefox (my default browser.)

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> I've used Primo but I guess I've never had a file name with spaces in it... <-QUOTE}

I do a lot of file system API programming.
PrimoPDF's implementor's had to really screw up on this one.
Could be limited to Win 2000, depends on how they deal with filenames.


{QUOTE-> I now use BullZip. http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php
You have to manually install the Ghostscript first but other PDF printers often require this too. BullZip offers more than most other freebie PDF printers (user selectable limited security, watermarks, etc.) Plus it's legit for both personal and commercial (in a small office environment) use. <-QUOTE}

I looked at BullZip. Do not like that it is dependent on Ghostscript. Too many cooks and all that rot.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Can someone else give advice about a pdf printer that convert a .doc, e.g., in .pdf - with the links activated in the .pdf document.

Free, of course... <-QUOTE}

My fearless forecast is that U R not going to find a quality product that is free.

ABBYY Transformer seems to be well thought of.
MIght also look at Nuance's Scansoft PDF Professional Converter 5. I have version 4, do not recall what it does with the links.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Besides Bullzip, try PDFCreator (http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/). <-QUOTE}


I tried PDFCreator, but the developer's are offerring a bountty to help fix a bug when running in Vista. Since Vista is my target, I'll take a pass fer now.

[Arup]

Bull Zip features..........

Print to PDF from almost any Windows program.
Runs on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/XP x64/2003/2003 x64/Vista/Vista x64/2008.
Supports 64-bit operating systems.
Direct output to the same file each time or prompt for destination.
Control if the printer should ask if you want to see the resulting PDF document.
Control output and prompts programmatically.
Setup can run unattended.
Graphical user interface.
Password protect PDF documents.
128/40 bit encryption.
Quality settings (screen, printer, ebook, prepress).
Set document properties.
Watermark text, size, rotation, and transparency.
Superimpose/background documents.
Appending/prepending documents.
User interface control.
Command line interface to all settings.
COM/ActiveX interface for programmatic control.
Support for Citrix MetaFrame
Support for Windows Terminal Server

Can't be beat.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Actually, I just used PrimoPDF for the 1st time and found a real programming error.

I've reported the problem to NitoPDF folkes, but PrimoPDF seems to be from activePDF which provides NO technical support.

The bug is a basic programming botch, i.e. an error gets raised if the path or filename includes a space.

I am also concerned that the PrimoPDF User Manual states that PrimPD only allows for Append or Overwrite if a PDF filename already exists. If that's true, then that's really bad design.

I'd avoid PrimoPDF, and makes me wonder what NitroPDF does when printing. <-QUOTE}

NiroPDF does not suffer from the above problem.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Bull Zip features..........

Print to PDF from almost any Windows program.
Runs on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/XP x64/2003/2003 x64/Vista/Vista x64/2008.
Supports 64-bit operating systems.
Direct output to the same file each time or prompt for destination.
Control if the printer should ask if you want to see the resulting PDF document.
Control output and prompts programmatically.
Setup can run unattended.
Graphical user interface.
Password protect PDF documents.
128/40 bit encryption.
Quality settings (screen, printer, ebook, prepress).
Set document properties.
Watermark text, size, rotation, and transparency.
Superimpose/background documents.
Appending/prepending documents.
User interface control.
Command line interface to all settings.
COM/ActiveX interface for programmatic control.
Support for Citrix MetaFrame
Support for Windows Terminal Server

Can't be beat. <-QUOTE}

Is there an explanation of how to tell BullZip to default to creating the PDF file in the same directory as the source document using the same filename, but with the PDF extension?

[HAN]

Howard: The program options are available (in XP) by going to Start | All Programs | Bullzip | Options. There are some options listed for destination and file name generation but not a lot of them. (The defaults have always been ok for what I been doing so far.)

[Arup]

Ghostscript is not an issue, its a prerequisite, an interpreter for PS language and as such does no harm. Leading programs like Scribus also use GS. In case its not wanted there is doPDF which doesn't need GS but it has way less features than Bullzip. In Bullzip, default save directory can be created when you first print and point out the directory or it can be selected by clicking on the Bullzip icon and selecting it under options.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Howard: The program options are available (in XP) by going to Start | All Programs | Bullzip | Options. There are some options listed for destination and file name generation but not a lot of them. (The defaults have always been ok for what I been doing so far.) <-QUOTE}

There does not appear to an option to default to using the asource document's directory for the destination of the PDF file.

I've tried both screen and printer, in both cases, the file size is 46KB.
That's too big.

Also, no way to choose version of Acrobat used for output.

[Howard Kaikow]

Note that I tried CuteWriter, but Kaspersky AntiVirus 7 will not let the program install due to an alleged virus.

I've reported this to the CutePDF folkes.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Note that I tried CuteWriter, but Kaspersky AntiVirus 7 will not let the program install due to an alleged virus.

I've reported this to the CutePDF folkes. <-QUOTE}

Neither would KAV 6.

Kaspersky has already fixed the problem, case of false positives.

[Howard Kaikow]

Choosing a PDF printer is driving me nuts, or maybe nuttier!

BullZip produces files quite a bit larger (relatively) to those produced by CuteWriter and SCansoft PDF Converter Pro 4.

I'll re-install PrimoPDF to see how it fares in the filezsize wars. Could be that the space bug will not occur in Vista, which is my target anyway.

Could end up with BullZip, CuteWriter and PrimoPDF on the Vista system.

I wanna wait until the next releases to decide which full PDF program to buy.
If I HAD to do so today, I'd likely get Scansoft PDF Converter Professional 5, or CutePDF Pro.

Butt, I have Scansoft PDF Converter Professional Pro 4 on my Windows 2000 desktop, so I likely can get by with just a PDF printer on the Vista system fer now.

[Arup]

In tests done independently BullZip produced relatively smaller sized files on image heavy pages, compare that to doPDF which doesn't use GS but produces a much larger page. Also BullZip is very stable and prints almost anything you can throw at it.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> In tests done independently BullZip produced relatively smaller sized files on image heavy pages, compare that to doPDF which doesn't use GS but produces a much larger page. Also BullZip is very stable and prints almost anything you can throw at it. <-QUOTE}

I print text heavy pages.

On my Win 2000 system I, currently have both BullZip and CuteWriter installed, so I can compare.

On Vista, just CuteWriter as it has produced smaller files thus far.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> I print text heavy pages.

On my Win 2000 system I, currently have both BullZip and CuteWriter installed, so I can compare.

On Vista, just CuteWriter as it has produced smaller files thus far. <-QUOTE}

I did a couple of bill pays at my bank.
I printed the confirmation screen with a few PDF printers.

BullZIP used 61KB
CuteWriter used 62KB
PrimoPDF used 60KB
Scansoft Create from Scansoft PDF Converter Professional 4 took 49KB

One thing I do not like about CuteWriter, I have yet to find a way to have it display the PDF file when it is done. No notification of task completion.

[Arup]

Try a heavy graphics page and see.

[Howard Kaikow]

{QUOTE-> Try a heavy graphics page and see. <-QUOTE}

Graphics pages are not relevant for me.

In case, I will not be using CuteWriter because it does not display the PDF output automatically.

So, I'll try BullZip.