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Logical Printers |
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A PRINT destination does not necessarily mean a hard copy device. In PxPlus, you have the option to send output data to an image file, HTML, PDF, or preview facility just as easily as any physical printer. In these alternative formats, your output can be further manipulated, merged with other documents, displayed/distributed as is, or simply "printed out" at a later time.
The following logical PRINT destinations can be made available for use (in an OPEN statement) using standard file options. See Special File Handling.
*HTML* generates HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) documents from character-based output in PxPlus (Windows or UNIX/Linux). Only reports that are formatted using fixed-pitched fonts (e.g. Courier) can be converted to HTML. However, the resulting .htm files are in a universal format that can be viewed in any browser or incorporated into a Web page for posting on the Internet.
Example:
OPEN (1)"*HTML*;FILE=Sample.htm;SHOW;FONT=Courier New;TITLE=Sample;BACK=FFFFFF;TEXT=000000"
This example creates an HTML file called Sample.htm. It generates a report titled "Sample" that is formatted in the Courier New font in black text on a white background. The keyword SHOW indicates that the current default browser will be automatically invoked to display the file once it is created. If a file name is omitted, the system prompts for a path/file name to store the resulting HTML document.
For syntax details, see *HTML*.
*BITMAP* captures graphical output to a 24-bit colour bitmap image stored in memory. The resulting *BITMAP* image can be retrieved for display using the 'PICTURE' mnemonic, which accepts the assigned *BITMAP* channel number preceded by a # in place of a file name.
Example:
OPEN (1)"*BITMAP*"
PRINT (1)"HELLO"
PRINT 'PICTURE'(@X(col1),@Y(row1),@X(col2),@Y(row2),"#1"),
The SAVE FILE directive can also save *BITMAP* contents directly to a .bmp file.
Example:
OPEN (1)"*BITMAP*"
PRINT (1)"HELLO"
SAVE FILE (1) TO "C:\test.bmp"
See *BITMAP*, the SAVE FILE directive, and the 'PICTURE' mnemonic.
*VIEWER* directs graphical and character-based output to the internal print preview facility (Viewer). The Viewer is a customizable user interface in PxPlus for Windows (and WindX) that renders output for display as it would appear in hard copy form using *WINPRT* or any other print destination. When a report is loaded into the Viewer interface, it can then be displayed, manipulated and "printed out" using a wide variety of format settings, including:
The above settings, as well as many other actions, are controlled directly from the Viewer panel menu bar, GUI buttons and drop-downs. A full suite of options representing various graphical and character-based output properties may also be specified on the OPEN command, either in the "*VIEWER*" syntax or by issuing an OPT= string$.
Example:
OPEN(chan)"*VIEWER*"
OPEN(chan)"*VIEWER*;Title=My Report;Orientation=Landscape"
For syntax details for setting output properties, see *VIEWER*.
*PDF* generates documents in PDF (Postscript Display Format) from any graphical and/or character-based output in PxPlus (Windows or UNIX/Linux). The .pdf files created using this PRINT destination are fully compatible with Adobe Acrobat, as well as with any other PDF reader.
Example:
OPEN (1) "*PDF*;FILE=/tmp/pvx.pdf; FORM=Letter:8.5in:11in"
If the file name is omitted, the system prompts for a path/file name to store the resulting PDF.
Output to *WINPRT* can be automatically intercepted for PDF using the 'AP' system parameter. When 'AP' is set, if the user selects Output To File and includes a file name ending in .pdf, PxPlus looks at the option selected during the *WINPRT* Printer Selection dialogue and processes the output through *PDF*, instead of *WINPRT*.
For syntax details, see *PDF*.