Generating PDF

[LynnHales]

Hey folks got a question that I can't find a good answer for in the Epic
Help or Help Center.

Preparing to pass what may be the last (and may never be released) version
of MIL-HDBK-2361 to the Army. We are giving them the schema, XML, graphics,
and a FOSI.

My boss and I are having a discussion as to whether or not Epic with the
Print Composer requires Adobe Acrobat to generate PDF or if Epic's Print
Composer has an embedded PDF generator. I thought once that I had to install
Acrobat to get PDF and I no longer have Epic on a machine that does not also
have Acrobat so I cannot test who is right.

So does anyone know if one is using Epic with the Print Composer installed
and selects File | Publish u PDF file Epic will produce PDF without Acrobat
or will the choice be greyed out?

This is kind of a toughie as PTC does not seem to like selling its print
composer license so I'm sure not how many can verify this.

Many thanks

Lynn

[DavidS.Taylor]

Hi Lynn,

Yes, Arbortext 5.4 Print Composer can produce PDF without Acrobat. I think it is using PDFBox.

David

David S. Taylor

Project Manager, Production and Marketing
Building Regulations | NRC Construction
National Research Council Canada
Building M-23A, Room 114 | 1200 Montreal Road | Ottawa, ON | K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1.613.990.2731 | Fax: +1.613.952.4040
David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca<">mailto:David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca>

[AndyEsslinger]

You have to have Styler or PE to use Arbortext PDF Direct. The user preference USEDISTILLER must be off. Print Composer license is not required.

Otherwise, you must have Adobe Distiller (any version after 3.0 seems to work), Arbortext SGML Editor, and a Print Composer feature license.
The user preference USESDISTILLER must be on.

-Andy

Andy Esslinger, (817) 279-0442, (817) 777 3047
Integrated Fighter Group
LM Aero, Tech Order Data (TOD)
1 Lockheed Blvd, Mail Zone 6634
White Settlement, TX 76108-3916

[DavidS.Taylor]

Hi Andy,

I don't know about Arbortext PDF Direct, we don't have it or Styler or PE. We have Arbortext Editor and Print Composer, and use FOSI for output.

Before replying to Lynn's question I tested a document with the File -> Compose -> PDF File... (using 5.4 M170), it outputs the PDF according to our FOSI. The system I tested on has no Acrobat products on it and USEDISTILLER is set to off. It is a PC workstation, not a server.

In searching the Arbortext install tree I notice that there is an instance of PDFBox along with a number of pdf-related config files and a dll.

David

David S. Taylor

Project Manager, Production and Marketing
Building Regulations | NRC Construction
National Research Council Canada
Building M-23A, Room 114 | 1200 Montreal Road | Ottawa, ON | K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1.613.990.2731 | Fax: +1.613.952.4040
David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca<">mailto:David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca>

[AndyEsslinger]

I have a coworker in a different group that uses 5.4m020. He says that PDF Direct is not part of 5.4, but it may be an add-in that is available. He isn't definitive because they use a setup that was customized by a vendor

Does anyone know anything about where the PDF Direct capability comes from (version or ?)?

-Andy

Andy Esslinger, (817) 279-0442, (817) 777 3047
Integrated Fighter Group
LM Aero, Tech Order Data (TOD)
1 Lockheed Blvd, Mail Zone 6634
White Settlement, TX 76108-3916

[DavidS.Taylor]

There isn't a 'product' or option called PDF Direct. In the Arbortext Customizer's Guide (5.2, 5.3 and 5.4) there is a section 'Customizing PDF Composition' that describes two methods to create PDF files. These are the 'direct PDF method' and the 'Acrobat Distiller Server Method'. The first doesn't require Distiller, obviously the second method does.

The usedistiller option controls which method is used.

It seems that Publishing Engine and Print Composer both have the same capabilities.

David

David S. Taylor

Project Manager, Production and Marketing
Building Regulations | NRC Construction
National Research Council Canada
Building M-23A, Room 114 | 1200 Montreal Road | Ottawa, ON | K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1.613.990.2731 | Fax: +1.613.952.4040
David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca<">mailto:David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca>

[AndyEsslinger]

David,

I found a document that answers my question at

[DavidS.Taylor]

Hi Andy,

Interesting, while direct PDF was first documented in the Arbortext 5.2 Customizer's Guide, it seems PTC didn't consider it to be 'mature' until 5.4 M080.

A quick search of the 5.2 and 5.3 Release Notes does show a lot of fixes were made to this option.

Cheers,

David

David S. Taylor

Project Manager, Production and Marketing
Building Regulations | NRC Construction
National Research Council Canada
Building M-23A, Room 114 | 1200 Montreal Road | Ottawa, ON | K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1.613.990.2731 | Fax: +1.613.952.4040
David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca<">mailto:David.S.Taylor@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca>