Generating a PDF through a web site

Wowbagger · 7th August 2009, 02:41 PM

I have a possible project that involves writing a PDF file programmatically, through an ASP.NET web site.

More specifically, it will be filling in "blanks" in the document, with content provided by users.

(And, I'd like the component to be as inexpensive as possible.)

I have Googled "pdf generation .net" for some ideas. But, I'd like to see if anyone, here, has any recommendations, warnings, or comments.

Thanks!

Christian Klippel · 7th August 2009, 03:43 PM

Hi Wowbagger,

do you really need to modify an existing PDF? I think it would be simpler to complete generate the whole PDF with the user-supplied data.

Besides, there seem to be a whole bunch of different .NET components available for handling PDF's when searching for ".net pdf component". That ABCpdf thing (first link on that search) looks promising, and they offer a free license key if you link back to them.

I guess the best way is to check out some of the many available components. Never did that much with online PDF generation so far, so i really can't say that much about it at all.

Greetings,

Chris

Wowbagger · 7th August 2009, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Christian Klippel

do you really need to modify an existing PDF?

I suppose the initial template content could come from a different form, such as Word document or something.

I already know how to programmatically manipulate Word content, using Word's API, if that is installed. Though, I guess I would need to use something else, if it is not.

But, the final output needs to be a PDF file.

Fnord · 7th August 2009, 03:54 PM

I agree with CK. Generate a PDF from the data given by the user. I use a product called "PrimoPDF" that looks like a printer to my PC, but actually stores the finished PDF on the hard drive.

Best of all, it's free.

Maybe they have something that will fit your needs.

Wowbagger · 7th August 2009, 03:56 PM

One possability is this one: http://www.asppdf.net/
Which is a tad pricey. But, some folks I know are happy with some of their other things.

The functionality should ultimately match this:
http://support.persits.com/pdf_net/demo_fill.cs.aspx

a template, like a form, being filled in with replacement content provided by the user.

Nick Bogaerts · 7th August 2009, 04:19 PM

I've done a fair few for various clients, both in .NET and PHP. Had one just today, in fact. In .NET, I've been pretty happy with PDF4NET. I've used .net Charting for more fancy stuff (pie charts, etc..), but it's overkill for your run-of-the-mill print-and-post applications.

I've had two main issues. One is that, whatever library you use, it's quite temperamental. I've often had pages come out completely blank for no apparent reason, eventually being fixed after a few round trips to and from the designers. We've never been able to nail down exactly what causes trouble, but trial and error eventually fixes it.

I'm also quite lucky to be working for an agency with an absolutely fantastic design department, because of my second issue: the quality of some third party PDFs I've had has been, quite frankly, shocking. I've had one case in particular for an offshore mortgage application form (exciting stuff, I know), with six slightly different versions, where nothing lined up. If I had two applications with a few pages in common, I'd still have to move the text around because they couldn't be bothered to keep margins or field sizes consistent from one to the other. So if at all possible, keep PDF mastering in-house. It avoids a lot of frustration.

Finally, don't underestimate the time it takes to do it. It's a tedious, mind numbing job. For a full application, think one or two hours per page just filling in the fields.

7th August 2009, 02:41 PM	#1
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Generating a PDF through a web site I have a possible project that involves writing a PDF file programmatically, through an ASP.NET web site. More specifically, it will be filling in "blanks" in the document, with content provided by users. (And, I'd like the component to be as inexpensive as possible.) I have Googled "pdf generation .net" for some ideas. But, I'd like to see if anyone, here, has any recommendations, warnings, or comments. Thanks!
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

7th August 2009, 03:43 PM	#2
Christian Klippel Muse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ruhr Area in Germany Posts: 653	Hi Wowbagger, do you really need to modify an existing PDF? I think it would be simpler to complete generate the whole PDF with the user-supplied data. Besides, there seem to be a whole bunch of different .NET components available for handling PDF's when searching for ".net pdf component". That ABCpdf thing (first link on that search) looks promising, and they offer a free license key if you link back to them. I guess the best way is to check out some of the many available components. Never did that much with online PDF generation so far, so i really can't say that much about it at all. Greetings, Chris
	__________________ Humber-physics 101: The treadmill has no ground equivalent. This means that the belt is not the road, but the Earth. ... That means the belt is also a privileged and unique perspective. If not then the treadmill collapses to the real world equivalent of a real treadmill, with different objects at different velocities in the same frame. Either way, no motion.

7th August 2009, 03:51 PM	#3
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Originally Posted by Christian Klippel do you really need to modify an existing PDF? I suppose the initial template content could come from a different form, such as Word document or something. I already know how to programmatically manipulate Word content, using Word's API, if that is installed. Though, I guess I would need to use something else, if it is not. But, the final output needs to be a PDF file.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

7th August 2009, 03:54 PM	#4
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pantopia Posts: 3,911	I agree with CK. Generate a PDF from the data given by the user. I use a product called "PrimoPDF" that looks like a printer to my PC, but actually stores the finished PDF on the hard drive. Best of all, it's free. Maybe they have something that will fit your needs.
	__________________ "When I say, "Evidence, Please?" I am not asking for another statement of faith. I am asking for the evidence that supports that faith. Faith proves nothing." -- Fnord, Pointing Out the Obvious to the Oblivious Since 1957.

7th August 2009, 03:56 PM	#5
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	One possability is this one: http://www.asppdf.net/ Which is a tad pricey. But, some folks I know are happy with some of their other things. The functionality should ultimately match this: http://support.persits.com/pdf_net/demo_fill.cs.aspx a template, like a form, being filled in with replacement content provided by the user.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

7th August 2009, 04:19 PM	#6
Nick Bogaerts Muse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire Posts: 597	I've done a fair few for various clients, both in .NET and PHP. Had one just today, in fact. In .NET, I've been pretty happy with PDF4NET. I've used .net Charting for more fancy stuff (pie charts, etc..), but it's overkill for your run-of-the-mill print-and-post applications. I've had two main issues. One is that, whatever library you use, it's quite temperamental. I've often had pages come out completely blank for no apparent reason, eventually being fixed after a few round trips to and from the designers. We've never been able to nail down exactly what causes trouble, but trial and error eventually fixes it. I'm also quite lucky to be working for an agency with an absolutely fantastic design department, because of my second issue: the quality of some third party PDFs I've had has been, quite frankly, shocking. I've had one case in particular for an offshore mortgage application form (exciting stuff, I know), with six slightly different versions, where nothing lined up. If I had two applications with a few pages in common, I'd still have to move the text around because they couldn't be bothered to keep margins or field sizes consistent from one to the other. So if at all possible, keep PDF mastering in-house. It avoids a lot of frustration. Finally, don't underestimate the time it takes to do it. It's a tedious, mind numbing job. For a full application, think one or two hours per page just filling in the fields.
	__________________ Oh, and when the last law was down, and the devil turned on you, where would you hide, Roper, all the laws being flat? This country is planted thick with laws from coast to coast, man's laws not God's, and if you cut them down—and you're just the man to do it—do you really think that you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the devil the benefit of the law, for my own safety's sake. —Robert Bolt, A Man For All Seasons