filePro's PDF output

[Bruce Easton]

Bill - using the fpml image tag for output from filepro is not difficult.

Example:   Put a dummy field on a form approximately where you want the 
upper-left corner of an image to start.

Then in your output processing table associated with the output format, 
do something like this:

Then:  ya=chr("27")&"<image file='/appl/images/logo.jpg' width=320 
height=scale x=center y=+10>"

(fpml tags in processing need to be prepended by the escape char, ergo 
the 'chr("27")')

I like to use a width with "height=scale" when I can.  filepro in this 
case uses the specified width and then sets the height keeping the 
original dimensions.

The x and y specs control the horizontal and vertical placement.

See this page for other characteristics for image and other tags:
http://fptech.com/fptech/fpmanual/index.htm#t=Filepro%2FPDF_printing.htm&rhsearch=pdf%20printing&rhhlterm=pdf%20printing&rhsyns=%20

Note:  Use the supplied fpml3 print code table.  Where I first needed to 
use this, my application would know that I intended to use the fpml3 
print code table before runtime, but I needed to control the destination 
location (for the PDF) at runtime, so I:

1.  Made a printer that had fpml3 as its print code type, and a trash 
are type destination (that ultimately would always be overriden at 
runtime) and then use said printer name on the options screen of the 
output format.  This is important so that as you use print codes on a 
form or report format, you are seeing the right codes from the fpml3 table.

2. I would then set the ultimate destination for the PDF output also in 
the output format's associated processing table using the printer command:

printer file "PDF:"{pp{pf{".pdf"

(where pp would be a path and where pf would be the pdf filename without 
the extension)

You can use fpml tags on forms or via print codes or processing, but 
I've avoided using them directly on forms (which is an option that needs 
to be set) because that method has limitations for data that must be 
considered (to avoid confusion between data and tags).  I am finding 
that I use tags via print codes or things like font changes, tab stops 
and minute positioning, but will form tags in processing for images or 
box drawing.

I have added print codes to my "fpml3" print code table to do:

1.  Font size changes between 6 and 30 point sizes. (i.e. <font size="12">)
2.  Small positioning adjustments (i.e. <moveto y="+3"> or '1/4 line 
forward')

--Bruce



On 7/20/18 9:16 AM, William J. McEachran via Filepro-list wrote:
> What I now for these types of things is convert PCL to PDF and then overlay
> multiple pdf's onto it to get the final result or output html and then
> convert the html to PDF.
> However, FPML is now available and could possibly save some steps.
> --
> Bill McEachran
> bill.mceachran at gmail.com
> http://www.wjmceachran.com
> http://www.fileproprogramming.com
> https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bill-mceachran-82a56114
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 20, 2018 at 9:06 AM Jose Lerebours via Filepro-list <
> filepro-list at lists.celestial.com> wrote:
>
>> I like this ... I mean, "complex"  ;-)
>>
>> If you cannot pull this off native fp, hit me up; I just may write a PHP
>> CLASS where you can define a template and populate values off your
>> filePro application.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 07/20/2018 08:51 AM, William J. McEachran via Filepro-list wrote:
>>> I've never used FPML.  I've got a complex report to generate ... lots of
>>> colors, graphics, charts.
>>> I'll generate the charts with gnuplot.  The <IMAGE> tag ought to handle
>>> what I'm trying to accomplish for the most part.
>>> I was looking for an example of using FPML but couldn't find anything on
>>> fptech.com.
>>> Have I missed it ... and example would be really useful.
>>>
>>> Is anyone using FPML to generate complex output in PDF?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> --
>>> Bill McEachran
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