PDF and 64-bit OS

[Chris Craft]

I am unable to get PDF working on a 64-bit Server 2003 machine. I
downloaded the 64 bit GS version and installed it. The printer was
successfully created (the driver is Ghostscript PDF) but I am getting the 0
byte file which means I do not have the correct files in my Driver
directory. I am having an issue finding the 64-bit drivers and PB does not
have them anymore (due to license issue?). Has anyone gotten 64-bit
Ghoscript to work? If so where can I get the correct files?

Thanks again,
Chris Craft

[Arthur Hefti]

Check out CATsoftPDF - PDF creation from DataWindows without Printer Driver.
It's somewhat limited and in beta but this might be an alternative way:
http://blog.catsoft.ch/2009/02/catsoftpdf-create-pdf-from-datawindow.html.

Regards
Arthur

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message
news:49a3341d$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

Hi Chris;

I am running OK on Vista and Windows 2008 64 bit O/S's but I am using
the 32bit GS as PB 11.5 is still only 32bit. Maybe that might be your
problem. However, before doing that I would:

1) Make sure that you create the "Sybase DataWindow PS" print driver from
the definition supplied by the GS install.
2) Make sure that you have the GS environment variable set (ie
GS_DLL=C:\Program Files\gs\gs8.63\bin )
3) Make that GS "Bin" folder is in your System Path.

HATH

--
Regards ... Chris
ISUG - NA RUG Director
http://chrispollach.pbdjmagazine.com

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message
news:49a3341d$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

Good Morning Chris,

You got the 32-bit version working? I tried that first and I couldn't get
the printer installed because Windows reported an error saying the drivers
are not correct (this is the same setup as my 32-bit machine). I figured
that the printing DLL's need to be 64 but it sounds like it doesn't. I will
continue working on the 32-bit version.

Regarding the Path stuff. I have everything installed in my application
directory so that shouldn't be the problem (unless 64 doesn't look in the
current directory first). But, I will do some testing on that as well.

Note to Sybase: PLEASE imbed PDF functionality into PowerBuilder!

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message
news:49a3fa75$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

Arthur,

Does this require 2 extra DLL's (catsoftpdf.dll and itextsharp.dll)? I read
the documentation and it looks like I need them but your download zip file
didn't contain them. Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Chris Craft

"Arthur Hefti" <art...@catsoft.ch> wrote in message
news:49a378e4@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

Chris,

I am unable to get the EXE(gs854w32.exe) to execute on the 64 bit OS. It
gives me an error 'Windows cannot access the specified path, directory, or
file...'. If I execute the 64 bit EXE (gs863w64.exe) then it will work.
So, how did you get Ghostscript installed? Did you just manually copy over
the directory?

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message
news:49a3fa75$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

STUPID! It was blocked. OK - I am continuing on!

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a43a19@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

OK Chris - I am missing something. What driver did you use for the Sybase
DataWindow PS Printer? That has to be a 64 bit driver doesn't it? I have
tried every iteration and still nothing.

The one thing I did notice is GS versions after 8.54 do not install the GS
fonts anymore. Why is that?

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message
news:49a3fa75$1@forums-1-dub...

[Arthur Hefti]

Chris

with this download you can test if it works with you datawindows. The
datawindows definition (no data) will be sent to a webservice that fills
your datawindow with some dummy data and converts your datawindow to a PDF.
The version you can include into your application will be available within a
couple of days.

Regards
Arthur

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a42569$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

1) I used the driver supplied with GS (ghostpdf.inf) - it should be located
in the "Lib" subfolder where GS resides.
2) I have the fonts in the "fonts" subfolder of the GS root. Do you have
that?

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a4a08c$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

OK - First, I ended up using the 64-bit GS install and Second, I learned you
should always log out of a Remote Desktop session and back in when modifying
the path (You think I would have learned that by now)! After doing this I
was able to get PDF working.

Since I have been hacking away at this I started over slowly adding pieces
until it worked. It seems the 64-bit version requires you to have the
gs###\bin in the System Path even though it is installed in my applications
directory. The 32-bit version does not require the Path entry if installed
in the applications directory (as stated in the PB Docs). I reported a
similiar bug a couple of years ago when we updated GS version from GS7 to
GS8. Maybe another bug with 64?

The good thing is I am able to get it to work - the bad thing is I can't
expect my customers to add this to their path - and I get a little nervous
adding it in code because 1) AFPL license issue? 2) I don't want to manage
System Path stuff for another application in my code.

One last note and then I hope others comment on my findings. The latest GS6
versions do not install the fonts anymore. How are you dealing with this
issue? Have the customer download the fonts as well as the install program?
Only support GS8 versions?

Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Thanks again,
Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

news:49a53a52$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

How come you are installing the old 8.54 - I am using 8.63?

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a569f9@forums-1-dub...
> Yes. My setup is directly from the GhostScript Install (Attached). I
> also went nuts on the System Path just adding everything to see what
> happens but still nothing.
>
> In order for you to have the correct ghostpdf.inf it had to come from the
> 64-bit install (gs###w64.exe) right? If you attempt to use the
> ghostpdf.inf file from the 32-bit install (gs###w32.exe) then windows
> won't let you assign that driver to the printer. Are you saying you
> installed the 32-bit version but used the 64-bit printer driver from the
> 64-bit install (which I have tried but still no luck)?
>
> This just doesn't sound right to me. PB is a 32-bit app but all the
> printers on a 64-bit OS must use a 64-bit driver. So, somewhere along the
> line (PB or Windows or GhostScript) there is a 'handshake' that takes
> place. I don't know what pieces PB needs in 32 before the handshake
> happens.

>
> Chris Craft
>
> "Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

> news:49a53a52$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

Chris;

Have you tried the Environment variable registration for GS ...
For example:

GS_DLL=C:\Program Files\gs\gs8.63\bin

instead of the System Path?

--
Regards ... Chris
ISUG - NA RUG Director
http://chrispollach.pbdjmagazine.com

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a5958d@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

I have tried every one from 8.51 to 8.64 (the latest). The reason I am
using 8.54 now is because 8.6 does not include the fonts anymore. That was
one of my questions for you in my latest post - how you are dealing with
that? If customers never installed a previous release then they won't have
the fonts.

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

news:49a59b67$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

Yes - It didn't work unless I had it in the System Path. Does this work for
you w/o System Path set (You had said in a previous post that both needed to
be set)? I have never been able to get that to work.

Chris

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

news:49a59bd5$1@forums-1-dub...

[Arnd Schmidt]

Chris,

can you check via regmon which registry keys will be read?
I am not sure, but eventually you should deinstall older GS versions and
then install the one and only new version using a "clean" registry.

Arnd

[Chris Craft]

Yes, I have been uninstalling after every test. I even check the registry
to make sure nothing has been left. This has been a fun excercise of
patience.

Chris Craft

"Arnd Schmidt" <arnd.s...@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:vohbq45q1795dunv0...@4ax.com...

[Arnd Schmidt]

What happens if you print a document to the printer named "Sybase Datawindow PS"?
Do you get the message to enter a filename?
Does this produces a valid Postscript File?

AFAIK the gswin32c.exe will be executed by PB to convert the PS-File to a PDF.
Can you find this one in the GS\gsx.xx\bin directory or did you install the 64-bit version?

Arnd

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:49a5d548$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

I have lots of fonts in the "font" sub-folder.
Is yours empty?

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a5a77b$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

I have it in both so I never noticed.

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a5a6b7@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

It won't be empty if you started with an earlier version. If you install
the 8.6x version on a machine that never had GS then you will notice the
fonts directory does not exist. The 8.5x install use to have a checkmark
indicating you wanted to install the Fonts (which was checked by default)
but the 8.6x install does not have that option anymore. Without those you
will create a 'blank' PDF document.

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

news:49a67f4f$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

Ahhh ... I wonder if that is a bug then?
Yes, my installation goes back to the 8.3 originally.

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a7151a$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

Hi Chris;

FYI: GS does not need the FONT folder any more BTW. In GS 8.64 it does load
the fonts but places them in the LIB folder. You should be able to see
them - just do a search for *.ps in that folder. I have 78 fonts.

GS 8.64 is working perfectly for me on XP (just installed this AM) with PB
11.5. I will try this now on Vista.

Do not forget top read the Fonts.html document in 8.64 to read about adding
more fonts and special considerations for font location. You may also have
to put the "c:\program files\gs8.6.4\lib" in your system path as well.

HTH

--
Regards ... Chris
ISUG - NA RUG Director
http://chrispollach.pbdjmagazine.com

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

news:49a5a77b$1@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Craft]

Ah, that is good to know.

Another note - I applied the latest EBF for PB11 and it now works without
having to have it in my path. I don't know if this really fixed my problem
or if it was one of the 100 things I have been doing but all I care is it is
working.

Chris, I would be curious if you tried installing GS in your application
directory and then removed it from the path to see if it works for you as
well.

One last thing - On the 32-bit version I noticed that using the GhostScript
driver produces a much smaller PDF file. Using the Acrobat Distiller driver
from Sybase the PDF file was 48KB but using the Ghostscript driver it was
12KB. This is much better! Now, if only Sybase would use that driver when
automatically creating the Printer I would be good to go!

Thanks Chris - have a great weekend!

Chris Craft

"Chris Pollach" <cpol...@travel-net.com> wrote in message

news:49a7f9b1$2@forums-1-dub...

[Chris Pollach]

Hi Chris;

Good news on the EBF. My systems were working OK beforehand - but I am
glad that it fixed your situation.

Unfortunately, I do not have a test machine to install GS on for the
local application folder.

Interesting file size comparison on 32 vs 64 bit drivers!

--
Regards ... Chris
ISUG - NA RUG Director
http://chrispollach.pbdjmagazine.com

"Chris Craft" <NOchrisATfamoussoftwareDOTcomSPAM> wrote in message

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