Acrobat COM object

bryantma

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Aug 25, 2003, 7:24:08 AM8/25/03

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Hi.

I am trying to include Adobe Acrobat functionality in a web page using the COM interface. However, I can't find any documentation for the COM Object. does anyone have any or know where to find it?

I'm assuming that this is possible but have no proof.

Thanks.

MAB

Ian Burton

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Aug 25, 2003, 8:56:08 AM8/25/03

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Sorry MAB, I am baffled by your question. Are you trying to get PDFs on a web site so that users with the Acrobat Reader of some ilk can view the contents of the PDFs on your site? Or, are you trying to provide on the fly PDF conversion for documents upon user request. What is the "Adobe Acrobat" functionality that you're trying to implement - there's lot's of different functions for different purposes, so are you looking for all of it or some particular functionality?

With a more detailed description of your objectives, and version numbers of all the software involved perhaps someone could offer some help, but "implement acrobat functionality on a web site" is bit too vague for a user to user forum without a telepathy link.

Looking forward to your next post with al the details.
Cheers
Ian

bryantma

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Aug 25, 2003, 11:18:17 AM8/25/03

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Hi. :-)

In this instance I am trying to print PDFs from a webpage (vbscript clientside). What I really want is the documentation so that I can use the object created by 'CreateObject("AcroExch.Document")' to it's full potential. I have the Acrobat Interapplication Communication Reference, but the methods in there don't seem to work for me. I have Acrobat Version 6.0.0.2003051500 installed, IE6 on W2k.

Thanks for any help offered,

MAB

Aandi Inston

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Aug 25, 2003, 11:24:21 AM8/25/03

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The IAC Reference documents all of the supported OLE interfaces. What
information seems to be missing?

I would be surprised and appalled if these methods could be used from
a web server though!

Aandi Inston

bryantma

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Aug 25, 2003, 11:42:32 AM8/25/03

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OK, example.

The IAC document says that 'CreateObject("AcroExch.AVDoc")' or 'CreateObject("AcroExch.PDDoc")' can be used. However, neither worked for me and further searching revealed that 'CreateObject("AcroExch.Document")' did work. I am looking to do this for an Intranet application and am not fussed if it can only be done server side. I've also tried other methods and the OLE documentation just seems to be irrelevant. If a website can open a PDF and then the user can print the document locally, what is the problem in doing it from client side script? Other sites do this with other formats?

Thanks again. :-)

MAB

Aandi Inston

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Aug 25, 2003, 12:11:06 PM8/25/03

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You can't do anything until you create an AcroExch.App object, I
understand.

But I repeat: I don't think this can or should work in a web browser.
Surely web servers can't just instantiate arbitrary OLE objects on a
client - that would blow security into tiny pieces.

Acrobat is not for server use.

What you can do is link to a PDF. It will open in the browser. What
do you want to do beyond that - perhaps we can find a way that does
what you want.

Aandi Inston

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Aug 26, 2003, 4:32:53 AM8/26/03

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>Aandi:Acrobat is not for server use.
>Why not?

1. It is not technically suitable. For instance, it will occasionally
(or often) pop up messages, and it is not multi-threaded.
2. It is not licensed for server use. Never assume a product that is
licensed for a client can be run on a server; this mistake has cost
companies millions of dollars in penalties (that is not a specific
reference to Acrobat).

>. Really, all I want is a web page with a button on it. Clicking the button will print a PDF to a printer without further user intervention. Client printer or server printer, I don't care.

Acrobat is probably unsuitable as shipped because
(a) it is not for server use and
(b) there is no way to reference a client printer from the server
through it.

I have heard of a plug-in that can be installed on the client to
provide this function to servers. Perhaps it was from ActivePDF.

>This is proving for more interesting than I had imagined.

Acrobat development often has that effect.

Aandi Inston

bryantma

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Aug 26, 2003, 4:16:50 AM8/26/03

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Aandi:You can't do anything until you create
Aandi:an AcroExch.App object, I understand.
Well, my line 'set PdfDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.Document")' doesn't give any errors. I do nothing before that.

Aandi:But I repeat: I don't think this can or should work in a web browser.
Aandi:Surely web servers can't just instantiate arbitrary OLE objects on a
Aandi:client - that would blow security into tiny pieces.
I never suggested that the server should do that. I want a server object to print server side or a client object to print client side. I don't care which.

Aandi:Acrobat is not for server use.

Why not? Running serverside script is not too different from running windows scripting on anyother PC if you don't use the IIS objects. If a windows script file (eg VBS) can create objects and run them on my PC why not on the server? It's just an other PC. I'm not asking it to create anything on the client. I have used lots of ASPs, VBSs etc to run tasks with objects and many HTML pages with client side objects and applets to run other tasks, client side. I really don't understand why you should suggest that this can't be run on a server? Please explain.

Aandi:What you can do is link to a PDF. It will open
Aandi:in the browser. What do you want to do beyond
Aandi:that - perhaps we can find a way that does
Aandi:what you want.
Yes, I know that works, but I am trying to provide something tidier. Really, all I want is a web page with a button on it. Clicking the button will print a PDF to a printer without further user intervention. Client printer or server printer, I don't care. The IAC documentation provides these methods for the object. I just want to create this object in a web browser scripting environment rather than, say, an MS Office scripting environment.

I can do exactly this with the Crystal Reports objects/applets. Server side and Client side. I have that code and it works. Now I want to duplicate this for PDFs.

This is proving for more interesting than I had imagined. :-)

MAB

bryantma

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Aug 26, 2003, 10:12:25 AM8/26/03

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Well, I have a "proof of concept" solution now. My client script calls windows scripting which does a shell.exec to "AcroRd32.exe /p /h /s C:\afd3431273.pdf". That works for now with only one minor drawback that it leaves the acrobat app open when it is finished. Should the project go further... ... I'll be back. ;-)

MAB