The VCL Converter sample demonstrates how to convert an existing file by printing it to novaPDF SDK using the ShellExecute function. It also demonstrates how to set different options and manage profiles.
The same approach should be taken if you print using a "Print()" method from another object (like an internet browser or a report control). Just replace the ShellExecute call with the call of your Print method.
When the application starts, it creates a few profiles and makes different settings in the profiles. Then it shows a dialog from where the user can select the active profile and change its settings using the controls from the dialog.
After that a document can be selected from the harddisk and printed to novaPDF SDK using the ShellExecute function call.
When using this technique to convert a file to PDF, you have to take care of the fact that ShellExecute prints to the default printer. This function returns immediately and does not wait until the print is finished (it may return before the printing is actually started). Therefore you have to set the default printer to novaPDF SDK before calling ShellExecute (using the SetDefaultPrinter method), register FileSaved message (or any other novaPDF SDK message) to be sure that the print job was started. In this message handler restore the default printer (with the RestoreDefaultPrinter method). This way you made sure that the default printer was restored and your document is printed to novaPDF SDK.
Source code snippets
- DECLARE INovaPdfOptions variable
//declare an INovaPdfOptions member variable PRIVATE m_novaOptions : INovaPdfOptions; - Register novaPDF SDK messages
// register event messages WM_NOVAPDF2_FILESAVED := RegisterWindowMessage(MSG_NOVAPDF2_FILESAVED); WM_NOVAPDF2_PRINTERROR := RegisterWindowMessage(MSG_NOVAPDF2_PRINTERROR); // handle event messages PUBLIC PROCEDURE WndProc(var Message: TMessage); override; PROCEDURE TForm1.WndProc(var Message: TMessage); BEGIN IF Message.Msg = WM_NOVAPDF2_FILESAVED then BEGIN // ... END ELSE IF Message.Msg = WM_NOVAPDF2_PRINTERROR then BEGIN // ... END ELSE BEGIN inherited WndProc(Message); END; END; 3. Initialize INovaPdfOptions PROCEDURE TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); BEGIN // ... // initialize COM libraries hr := ActiveX.CoInitialize(nil); if FAILED(hr) then begin MessageDlg('Failed to initialize COM' +#13+SysErrorMessage(hr) +#13+ SysErrorMessage(GetLastError()), mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); end; //create an instance of INovaPdfOptions m_novaOptions := nil; hr := ActiveX.CoCreateInstance(CLASS_NovaPdfOptions11, //CLSID_CNovaPdfSource, nil, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_INovaPdfOptions11, m_novaOptions); if (FAILED(hr)) then begin MessageDlg('Failed to create novaPDF COM object', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); exit; end; // initialize the NovaPdfOptions object to use with a printer licensed for SDK m_novaOptions.Initialize( PRINTER_NAME, '' ); if (FAILED(hr)) then begin MessageDlg('Failed to initialize NovaPdfOptions', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); exit; end; // add 2 profiles CreateProfiles(); // load profiles in list LoadProfiles(); END; 4. Release INovaPDFOptions PROCEDURE TForm1.FormClose(Sender: TObject; var Action: TCloseAction); BEGIN //... //delete profiles m_novaOptions.DeleteProfile2( m_strSmallSizeProfileID ); m_novaOptions.DeleteProfile2( m_strFullOptProfileID ); // destroy m_novaOptions object // - no need for this as the Delphi takes care of it automatically // uninitialize COM libraries ActiveX.CoUninitialize(); //... END; 5. Set novaPDF SDK Options PROCEDURE TForm1.CreateProfiles(); BEGIN // Add a profile called "Small size" m_novaOptions.AddProfile2(SMALL_SIZE_PROFILE, PROFILE_IS_PUBLIC, m_strSmallSizeProfileID); m_novaOptions.LoadProfile2(m_strSmallSizeProfileID); // Set some options to this profile // disable the "Save PDF file as" prompt m_novaOptions.SetOptionLong(NOVAPDF_SAVE_PROMPT_TYPE, PROMPT_SAVE_NONE); // set generated Pdf files destination folder to the application path m_novaOptions.SetOptionLong(NOVAPDF_SAVE_FOLDER_TYPE, SAVEFOLDER_CUSTOM); m_novaOptions.SetOptionString2(NOVAPDF_SAVE_FOLDER, ExtractFilePath(Application.ExeName)); // set output file name m_novaOptions.SetOptionString2(NOVAPDF_SAVE_FILE_NAME, 'PDF Converter small size.pdf'); //Set other options and profiles //... END; 6. Start a print job PROCEDURE TForm1.btnStartPrintClick(Sender: TObject); var hExec : HINST; BEGIN //... // set the active profile to be used for printing m_novaOptions.SetActiveProfile2(strProfileId); // register our window to receive messages from the printer m_novaOptions.RegisterEventWindow(self.Handle); // set novaPDF as default printer, so it will be used by ShellExecute m_novaOptions.SetDefaultPrinter(); // license the file to be converted with ShellExecute m_novaOptions.LicenseShellExecuteFile(efFileToConvert.Text); // print the document m_bPrintJobPending := TRUE; hExec := ShellAPI.ShellExecute(self.handle, 'print', PChar(efFileToConvert.Text), PChar(''), PChar(''), SW_HIDE); if (hExec <= 32) then begin // failed to execute program m_bPrintJobPending := FALSE; m_novaOptions.UnRegisterEventWindow(); m_novaOptions.RestoreDefaultPrinter(); end; END; 7. Restore default printer when printing finished PROCEDURE TForm1.WndProc(var Message: TMessage); BEGIN if Message.Msg = WM_NOVAPDF2_FILESAVED then begin // restore original default printer m_novaOptions.UnRegisterEventWindow(); m_novaOptions.RestoreDefaultPrinter(); m_bPrintJobPending := FALSE; end else if Message.Msg = WM_NOVAPDF2_PRINTERROR then begin case (Message.WParam) of ERROR_MSG_TEMP_FILE : begin MessageDlg('Error saving temporary file on printer server', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); end; ERROR_MSG_LIC_INFO : begin MessageDlg('Error reading license information', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); end; ERROR_MSG_SAVE_PDF : begin MessageDlg('Error saving PDF file', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); end; ERROR_MSG_JOB_CANCELED : begin MessageDlg('Print job was canceled', mtWarning, [mbOK], 0); end; end; // restore original default printer m_novaOptions.UnRegisterEventWindow(); m_novaOptions.RestoreDefaultPrinter(); m_bPrintJobPending := FALSE; end else begin inherited WndProc(Message); end; END;