Creating a PDF file from a MI map window

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aboes

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Nov 10, 2006, 8:22:03 AM11/10/06
to MapInfo-L
My earlier message about this question was probably lost due to the
MI-List problems of the last few days.
I'd like to create a PDF file from a map window, for publication in a
book that I am making using Adobe CS2, InDesign. I see that with my
version of MI (4.5) I can "print" to a pdf file, making use of certain
settings under the 'properties' button. I've done all that, but do not
get the PDF to display correctly in the InDesign document. Am I missing
a step in this process? Is it absolutely necessary to go via a Layout
window, to 'flatten' the map data, or can one actually create the PDF
from a map window? Is it perhaps necessary to upgrade to a more recent
version of MI to make the step to Adobe PDF more easily?

911mapper

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Nov 10, 2006, 7:06:08 PM11/10/06
to MapInfo-L
Why you see PDF is because Adobe installed it as a "virtual printer".
MapInfo has never [don't know about latest vX.x] directly supported pdf
printing.

I have had good luck with PDFCreator
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Others have good remarks for other "pdf printers"
PDF995
http://www.pdf995.com/
CutePDF
http://www.cutepdf.com/

Here are some other things to consider.
If you are trying to open or insert your MapInfo PDF into InDesign
[true pdf editor]
you may experience problems. Try using "File Save As" and then you
have to try
different settings like JPG, BMP, TIFF, etc and the sizing 600x600.

Graphic cards can make a difference, most MI users raze nVidia, I like
them, and support ATI
This has to do with pixelation.
If you have a LCD or laptop they look great on movies, but for text it
may be too small [1280x768]
to read. But changing to 800x600 from the suggested and native 1280 can
cause strange rendering
like a cap "T" have the top or bottom looking like it is bolded. This
is fromt the mismatch between
the LDC pixels [leds] and what you are sending to it.
This will happen when importing graphic exports [pdf prints also].

This kind of gets like voting, "none of the above" is not a choice, so
you have to figure out the best
of the worst evils.
It will take some experimenting to be "acceptable" but getting a 100%
perfect rendering like
directly drawing a line in your editing program will be a journey.

On a note, my screens will look great but when I print directly to a HP
9600 InkJet at the office or
a HP 2600 Color Laser at home my 1 point lines all but disappear on the
paper, again, pixelation.

--Trey Pattillo

Flavio Hendry

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Nov 11, 2006, 2:26:20 AM11/11/06
to MapInfo-L, 911mapper
hi

> Why you see PDF is because Adobe installed it as a "virtual printer".
> MapInfo has never [don't know about latest vX.x] directly supported
> pdf printing.

with 8.5 it is (there is a free PDF add-on coming along).

Mit freundlichem Gruss / Best Regards
Flavio Hendry

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Ian Tidy

unread,
Nov 12, 2006, 11:38:26 PM11/12/06
to MapInfo-L
Currently I use PDF Creator, and it works well (much better than the
GeoPrinter released with MI Pro 8.5). I have been looking into how
possible it would be to create Layered PDFs from MapInfo using the
opensource toolkits and software available (e.g. GhostScript). I have
worked out how it needs to work, but I haven't had the time to look
into the PDF side. I would be interested to hear from anyone who find
a tool like this useful or anyone who has already done this.

Cheers Ian
mailto:ia...@napier.govt.nz

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