PDF printing

[Pete]

Maybe this is a silly question but how do I print a pdf file from
inside a harbour application?
(PdfCreator is not exactly a preferable option, due to some worrying
comments in sourceforge about stealthily installing malicious code
affecting browser).

thanks in advance,

---
Pete

[apolinar]

see contrib\harupdf
od sample in harbour-devel topic how encode strint code128

apolinar

[pcordonet]

Hi Pete,

i think that bullzip is good, and it's possible utilize ActiveX.

Pere

[Pete]

Hi apolinar, thanks for your reply.
I think i was not clear enough.
I am looking for a way to print a pdf file to printer, not to create a
pdf file.
I have examined harupdf, but i haven't fount any printing function.
Any idea of how to do that?

best regards

---
Pete

[Pete]

On 17 Μάϊος, 16:07, pcordonet <perecordo...@gmail.com> wrote:

> i think that bullzip is good, and it's possible utilize ActiveX.
>

Hi Pere,

I agree, bullzip is good, -maybe the most interesting program in its
class.
Actually, I already use it. Closed source, though... and you have to
install/configure it on the client machine.
As I said, I am looking for a harbour integrated printing solution,
totally controlled in .prg level,
that is, to not have to deal with external app.
There must be some way...

bets regards,

---
Pete

[Massimo Belgrano]

Untested (works only on windows because use a window api)
SHELLEXECUTE( 0, "print" ,yourpdf)
#pragma BEGINDUMP
#include "windows.h"
#include "hbapi.h" HB_FUNC( SHELLEXECUTE )
{
hb_retnl( ( LONG ) ShellExecute( ( HWND ) hb_parnl( 1 ), hb_parc( 2 ),
hb_parc( 3 ), hb_parc( 4 ), hb_parc( 5 ), hb_parni( 6 ) ) )}
#pragma ENDDUMP

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

2011/5/17 Pete <pete_...@yahoo.gr>:

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[pcordonet]

Pete, another option is FASTREPPORT for (x)Harbour

http://www.paritetsoft.ru/frh.htm

Pere.


On 17 Maig, 15:47, Pete <pete_we...@yahoo.gr> wrote:

[Massimo Belgrano]

If you search a printing system i suggest see The qt printing system &
xhp class (xbase+ patrt compatible)
c:\harbour\contrib\hbqt\tests\
c:\harvour\contrib\xhxbp\tests\

2011/5/17 pcordonet <pereco...@gmail.com>:

[Pete]

On 17 Μάϊος, 16:48, Massimo Belgrano <mbelgr...@deltain.it> wrote:
> Untested (works only on windows because use a window api)
> SHELLEXECUTE( 0, "print" ,yourpdf)
> #pragma BEGINDUMP
> #include "windows.h"
> #include "hbapi.h" HB_FUNC( SHELLEXECUTE )
> {
>     hb_retnl( ( LONG ) ShellExecute( ( HWND ) hb_parnl( 1 ), hb_parc( 2 ),
> hb_parc( 3 ), hb_parc( 4 ), hb_parc( 5 ), hb_parni( 6 ) ) )}
> #pragma ENDDUMP
>
> From  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
>

Hi Massimo,

Tested and works. Many thanks!
As you have pointed out, that's a Windows-only solution which is a
cross-platform restriction.
I just wonder if there is an "ShellExecute" equivalent on other
platforms (on Linux for instance..)
Some "multi-platform" Guru could enlighten us, perhaps?

best regards,

---
Pete

[Viktor Szakáts]

I suggest WAPI_SHELLEXECUTE() which is properly
written and part of hbwin.

Viktor

[Pete]

On 18 Μάϊος, 10:22, Viktor Szakáts <harbour...@syenar.hu> wrote:
> I suggest WAPI_SHELLEXECUTE() which is properly
> written and part of hbwin.

Hi Viktor,

The suggestion is welcome. Many thanks!
BTW, may I ask what *.hbx files are?
I took a look into hbwin.hbx and saw a long list of :
DYNAMIC <funcname?>.
Do, this list represent existing functions names included into the
lib of question?
(in which case, they could be used as quick name-reference in place of
the (sadly) missing docs..)

best regards,

---
Pete

[Viktor Szakáts]

Hi Pete,

Pete wrote:
> On 18 Μάϊος, 10:22, Viktor Szakáts <harbour...@syenar.hu> wrote:
> > I suggest WAPI_SHELLEXECUTE() which is properly
> > written and part of hbwin.
>
> Hi Viktor,
>
> The suggestion is welcome. Many thanks!
> BTW, may I ask what *.hbx files are?
> I took a look into hbwin.hbx and saw a long list of :
> DYNAMIC <funcname?>.
> Do, this list represent existing functions names included into the
> lib of question?

Yes.

.hbx files are used for force linking all functions from
a lib to an app f.e. to use them in macros, and also to
make it possible to link given lib dynamically to an app.

They are automatically generated if HB_REBUILD_EXTERN=yes,
so they should be accurate, given Harbour developers have this
setting, which is the case for frequent committers.

> (in which case, they could be used as quick name-reference in place of

They are useful for that too, indeed!

> the (sadly) missing docs..)

Sadly or not, they will have to done by volunteers and then
they will be. The infrastructure (format, editor, sources, examples)
is there.

Viktor

[Wojciech Puchar]

> Maybe this is a silly question but how do I print a pdf file from
> inside a harbour application?
> (PdfCreator is not exactly a preferable option, due to some worrying
> comments in sourceforge about stealthily installing malicious code
> affecting browser).

i use TeX as a frontend. the most flexible and highest quality printouts
possible.

[Clippero]

Pete, I understand you want to print from within your application
without using external tools Harbour.
I tried to do the same but then I realized that sometimes there are
external tools that are good and I resolved to have to develop
something that is done and works well.
Besides these applications usually have much more of what one manages
to make Developed from scratch.
In the case. pdf, once created inside my taste I print with a (run
foxit archivo.pdf /p), it prints me. pdf in the default printer, I can
even tell which printer I print. pdf
If you would like to make a preview. pdf before printing or would like
to give the option to print this or that page, do the same run without
the / p foxit shows me. pdf
Foxit does more than what I had been able to develop, as well as to
view or print my. pdf
It weighs very little and do not need it installed on your operating
system.
Do not say it is the best option or you should use, is that I just got
my result.

Fermín

On 17 mayo, 10:47, Pete <pete_we...@yahoo.gr> wrote:
> El 17 de ÌÜúïò, 16:07 pcordonet <perecordo...@ gmail.com> escribió:
>
> > Creo que BullZip es bueno, y es posible utilizar ActiveX.
>
> Hola Pere,
>
> Estoy de acuerdo, BullZip es bueno,-tal vez el programa más interesante en su
> clase.
> En realidad, yo ya lo utilizan. Fuente cerrada, aunque ... y hay que
> instalar / configurar que en la máquina cliente.
> Como dije, estoy en busca de una solución de impresión integrada puerto,
> totalmente controlada. prg nivel,
> es decir, no tener que lidiar con aplicaciones externas.
> Debe haber alguna manera ...
>
> las apuestas se refiere,
>
> ---
> Pete

[Pete]

On 22 Μάϊος, 14:06, Wojciech Puchar <woj...@tensor.gdynia.pl> wrote:
> i use TeX as a frontend. the most flexible and highest quality printouts
> possible.

Hi Wojciech,

Interesting point.
Could you give an outline of how do you use TeX? (small harbour code
example, perhaps..)

[Pete]

On 23 Μάϊος, 23:23, Clippero <clipp...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Pete, I understand you want to print from within your application
> without using external tools Harbour.
> I tried to do the same but then I realized that sometimes there are
> external tools that are good and I resolved to have to develop
> something that is done and works well.

Hi Fermin

Thank for your reply and your willingness to share your experience
with Foxit.
I agree with you, that "reinventing the wheel" is not always the best
approach.
However, what i was trying to find is a solution implemented, if
possible, in pure harbour code
without external dependencies.
The idea of having a bunch of "peripheral" programs in order to be
able to run a harbour application
doesn't seem to be very appealing, but that's only my opinion.

best regards,

---
Pete

[Viktor Szakáts]

Hi All,

Having an external .pdf viewer nowadays is not very special 

thing. Most client OSes have it by default (better ones implementing 

it as core functionality like Linux and OS X), of course Windows 

doesn't, but in most Windows installation the first 3rd party software 

to install is Adobe Reader (or an alternative). There is also 

SumatraPDF BTW, but FoxIt has better printing quality, anyhow 

the far best printing quality comes from Adobe Reader. One might 

try an older version if bloat is too much from recent ones.

Having built-in .pdf printing might certainly be possible technically 

in a Harbour app, but it's very unlikely that it can be pulled off easily 

(having seen the evolutions of SumatraPDF and number of 

available good .pdf viewers clearly confirms this) and most 

business app developers surely don't want to end-up developing 

a .pdf viewer.

[ It may be interesting to note that certain newer printers can 

directly consume .pdf files as input data. This may be an option 

if you have control over printers used. ]

Viktor

[Claudia Neumann]

Hi all,

Ghostscript is switching to PDF printing on Linux. I don't know how much of this
has reached the Windows version of Ghostscript. Either you can print a PDF file
with Ghostscript directly or you can convert the PDF file to PostScript and
print it with Ghostscript on all Windows printers on the command line.

This is how it print out Postcript files from my application on Windows on local
printers or printers in the network..

Regards

Claudia

[wanst...@gmail.com]

The only solutions I found for your requirements are: SumatraPDF (MuPDF) and Ghostscript (Windows / Linux)

[jgt]

While I use the following is Foxpro 2.6 for Unix, it should apply to Linux and I think Windows.

The output from the prg is processed by GNU Enscript, and then Ghostscript, first to produce a Postscript file to print, and then convert the Postscript to pdf via 'ps2pdf'.

The pdf output contains a clickable link to the website mentioned in the letter.

```

parameter fax_letter
SET TALK OFF
@0,0 say "~~GS4 23 36 45 34 https://mygs1.xxxxx.org/login"
@1,0 say "~~GS4 10 51 35 53 mailto:col...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com?subject=Your Reference "+c->arefnum
writer=lower(h->tabcod)
if fax_letter = 'EML'
* @2,0 say '$!col 47 row 48 '+writer+'.eps'
@1,0 say "   "
@2,0 say "    "
ltrhead="xxxltrhd.eps"
do getform with ltrhead
do getsig with 47, 60-48, writer
endif

bold_on="~font{CourierBold10}"
bold_off="~font{default}"
ff=""
cr=chr(27)+'&k2G'
top_m3=chr(27)+'&a3L'
top_m0=chr(27)+'&a0L'
col=5
@ 09,54 SAY cmonth(date())+' '+str(day(date()),2)+', '+str(year(date()),4)
@ 11,col SAY alltrim(TRIM(C->ACTCONT12)+' '+TRIM(C->ACTCONT11)+' '+TRIM(C->ACTCONT1))
@ 12,col SAY C->ACTNAM
@ 13,col SAY C->ACTADD
@ 14,col SAY C->ACTCTY
@ 15,col SAY C->ACTZIP
@18,1 say bold_on
@18,col say "RE: xxxxxxxxxx"
@ 20,col SAY 'AMOUNT OWING: $'+LTRIM(STR(C->ACURRBAL,9,2))+'   ;
'+'REFERENCE # '+C->AREFNUM
@ 22,col SAY 'ATTENTION: '+TRIM(C->ACTCONT12)+' '+TRIM(C->ACTCONT1)

@24,col say "     Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@24,78 say bold_off
@26,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@27,col say "of "+alltrim(str(c->acurrbal,9,2))+" xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@28,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@29,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@31,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@32,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@33,col say "secure this offer IMMEDIATELY."
@35,1 say bold_on
@35,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@35,76 say bold_off
@37,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@38,col say "is available at ~ps{0 0 1 setrgbcolor}https://xxxxx.xxxxx.org/login. ~ps{0 0 0 setrgbcolor}"
@39,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@40,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "
@42,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@43,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@45,col say "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
@47,col say "Sincerely yours,"
@52,col say "MR.xxxxxxxxx 1800xxxxxxx Xxxxx"
@53,col say "Account Manager"
@54,col say "~ps{0 0 1 setrgbcolor}xxx...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com ~ps{0 0 0 setrgbcolor}"
@55,01 SAY ' '
RETURN

**************************************************
* get signature                                  *
**************************************************
procedure getsig
parameter col row writer
epscol=str(col*7.2,3)
epsrow=str(row*12,3)
@3,0 say "~ps{save}"+" ~ps{/showpage {} def}"+" ~ps{/setpagedevice /pop load def}"
@4,0 say "~ps{"+epscol+" "+epsrow+" translate}"+" ~ps{("+writer+".eps) run}";
+" ~ps{restore}"
return
*************************************************
* get letterhead                                *
*************************************************
procedure getform
parameter form
@2,0 say "~epsf[n]{"+alltrim(form)+"}"
return

[Mario]

Hi ja...@qbol.com,

I think you are showing how to create a PDF file right?

The question here is how to PRINT the PDF file from Harbour...

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[Gerald Drouillard]

There are many ways to print a pdf.  If you printer supports postscript then use ghostscript to convert pdf=>ps

If your printer is pcl then you may need to use a ghostscript subproject called ghostpcl.  https://www.ghostscript.com/releases/gpcldnld.html

Once you have it converted you "copy" it to the printer/port.

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[Mario]

You can not rely on PCL or PS printers only...

The solution should cover the most common Windows Printers (or Driver based printers GDI).

Please read all the messages and pay special attention to the context before publishing your suggestions.

Thanks

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[Daniel Lopes Filho]

Have you tried using fastreport?

It's very easy to implement and use, the problem is that it only works on Windows.

There are versions for C# that can be cross-platform.

https://www.ozs.es/files/FastReport/FastReport.pdf

https://www.ozs.es/wp/fastreport/

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[Alain Aupeix]

Le 18/09/2025 à 19:31, jgt a écrit :

While I use the following is Foxpro 2.6 for Unix, it should apply to Linux and I think Windows.

The output from the prg is processed by GNU Enscript, and then Ghostscript, first to produce a Postscript file to print, and then convert the Postscript to pdf via 'ps2pdf'.

The pdf output contains a clickable link to the website mentioned in the letter.

Hi, I didn't know about enscript. I have download the source, build it and tried it under Xubuntu.

It works, but I have some problem with encoding. The txt I tried was in utf-8, and the pdf generated with ps2pdf has a bad encoding.

What is the way to have utf-8 encoding in pdf ?

Thanks
A+
--

---

Alain Aupeix
Sites web : JujuLand | Pissobi-Lacassagne | Gadel

---

X.ubuntu 16.04 | H.arbour 3.2.0-1 (r2025-08-22 10:00) | Hw.gui 2.23-8dev (r3792) | G.ramps 5.1.2

---

[Alain Aupeix]

Le 19/09/2025 à 21:00, 'Alain Aupeix' via Harbour Users a écrit :

Hi, I didn't know about enscript. I have download the source, build it and tried it under Xubuntu.

It works, but I have some problem with encoding. The txt I tried was in utf-8, and the pdf generated with ps2pdf has a bad encoding.

What is the way to have utf-8 encoding in pdf ?

Hi, I have found that enscript is not able to convert UTF-8 source.

It seems that using paps allows it. Unfortunately, I am under Xubuntu 16.04, and I can't build it because a dependance (fmt)

I'll continue to use hwgui script, even it needs to create the script for each different file to print.

[john s wolter]

It likely dates me but I used the CUPS system to provide LINUX printing.   Second was Ghostscript.   The maintainer changed the license to open source years ago.  Enscript is new to me.

Cheers, John S Wolter

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[Alain Aupeix]

Hi,

I have made a script (and also a program) which works:

utf8topdf.sh
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/bash

if [ "x$1" = "x" ];then
   exit
fi
iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO-8859-15 "$1" > "/tmp/$1.txt"
enscript -p "/tmp/$1.ps" "/tmp/$1.txt"
ps2pdf "/tmp/$1.ps"
------------------------------------------------------------------------

utf8topdf.prg

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

function main(file)
local fname

if pcount() != 1
   return nil
endif

if at(".",file) > 0
   fname=left(file, at(".",fichier)-1)
endif
hb_run("iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO-8859-15 "+chr(34)+file+chr(34)+" > "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+file+chr(34))
hb_run("enscript -p "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fname+".ps"+chr(34)+" "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+file+chr(34))
hb_run("ps2pdf "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fname+".ps"+chr(34))

return nil
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The advantage of the prg is that it doesn't finally name the pdf  <file>.txt.pdf

A+

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[Alain Aupeix]

An improvement of utf8topdf :

• possibility to use ~
• test if 'fichier' exists
• pdf generated in same folder then 'fichier'
• pdf name same as 'fichier' replacing extension with pdf
  

utf8topdf.prg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
function main(fichier)
local fname, fpath:=""

if pcount() != 1
   return nil
endif

if at("~",fichier) > 0
   fichier=strtran(fichier,"~",getenv("HOME")+"/")
endif
if !file(fichier)
   return nil
endif
if at("/",fichier) > 0
   fpath=left(fichier,rat("/",fichier))
   fichier=strtran(fichier,fpath,"")
endif
if at(".",fichier) > 0
   fname=left(fichier, at(".",fichier)-1)
else
   fname=fichier
endif

hb_run("iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO-8859-15 "+chr(34)+fpath+fichier+chr(34)+" > "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fichier+chr(34))
hb_run("enscript -p "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fname+".ps"+chr(34)+" "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fichier+chr(34))
hb_run("ps2pdf "+chr(34)+"/tmp/"+fname+".ps"+chr(34)+" "+chr(34)+fpath+fname+".pdf"+chr(34))

return nil
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A+

[Mario]

Bonjour Alain,

Pour info, « fichier » en anglais se dit « file(s) » et « dossier » se dit « folder(s) »

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[Alain Aupeix]

Ah bon ???

:-D

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