PrintPdf

The PrintPdf component can be used to print a PDF file onto a local or remote printer. This component uses Adobe executable to print PDF file.

Points to note

This component can be used on Windows platform only.
This component cannot be launched manually on the peer server.

Configuration and Testing

The component can be configured using the Configuration Property Sheet (CPS) as explained in the following sections.

Component Configuration

Figure 1: PrintPDF CPS

Attributes

The following parameters can be configured from the Custom Property Sheet of the component.

Error handling configuration

The actions to be taken when a particular error occurs can be configured here. Click the ellipsis

button against this property to configure the properties for different types of errors.

Please refer the Error Handling section in Common Configurations page for documentation.

PrintPDF Configuration

Click the ellipsis button against this property to edit the configuration of PrintPDF component.

Figure 2: PrintPDF Configuration dialog box

Adobe Executable

The location were the Executable file of the Adobe application is present.

Default Printer

The Printer Name is used as the default 'printer' when no name is specified in the input.

Wait Time

The time, in milli seconds, the component should wait for the printer to print the file.

Validate Printer

If enabled, the printer name specified is validated.

Sample Input and Output

Configure the parameters mentioned in Configuration and Testing section. A Feeder component can be used to provide input and a Display component to receive the output from the PrintPdf component.

The component is configured to print a PDF file to a local printer in this example.

Launch the flow and send the sample input through Feeder component.

The PDF file is opened using the specified Adobe executable before it is sent to the printer. The file is closed automatically after the specified wait time and the component sends an XML message which contains FilePath, PrinterName and Message elements on to its output.

An error document will be sent to the ON_EXCEPTION port of the component if one of the following cases is encountered:

If the printer name specified is not valid
If the path of the PDF file given in the input is not valid
If the path of the Adobe executable provided is not valid

There will not be any error document if the print is not successful.

Below figure shows the sample input and output for the scenario mentioned.

Figure 3: Components connected as per scenario

Figure 4: Sample Input sent from Feeder

Figure 5: Output Generated

Useful Tips

Recommendations

Configure the component for a local printer connected to the production box where FPS runs.
Use Adobe Version 8.0 or later for printing the file.

Limitations

When the print fails, it does not report the failure.
After a system restart, print does not work for some initial attempts.
FPS on which the component is running should not be launched as NTService.
The system has to be restarted if printing stops after processing many requests.