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Reporting Tools for Developers
 

F.A.Q.

Questions

PDF In-The-Box environment
  Which operating systems do you support?
  Which development tools do you support?
  Which API suits me best?
  Must I install a printer driver to run PDF In-The-Box?
  Must Adobe Reader® be installed to generate PDF files?
  Can PDF In-The-Box generate PDF files on a website?
Using PDF In-The-Box
  Does PDF In-The-Box require specific skills or prerequisites?
  What about documentation?
  What about Technical Support?
  Does PDF In-The-Box have a user interface?
  Can I use PDF In-The-Box to convert a DOC or HTML file to PDF?
  Can PDF In-the-Box extract data from a database and generate a report?
  Can PDF In-The-Box display an existing PDF file?
  Can PDF In-The-Box print an existing PDF file?
  Can PDF In-The-Box load and modify an existing PDF file?
  Can PDF In-The-Box load an existing PDF form and populate fields programmatically?
Generating PDF documents
 

Is the number of pages per PDF file limited?

  Can I change orientation inside a document?
  Can I write page numbers including the total number of pages of the document?
  Can I insert rich texts from RTF files?
  Can I use style sheets?
  Can I layout different texts as a grid?
  Can I write angled text?
  Can I write non-latin characters?
  Can I draw geometrical shapes and graphics?
  Is the number of images per PDF file limited?
  Which image formats do you support?
  Does PDF In-The-Box compress images?
  Can I insert hyperlinks in PDF documents?
  Can I define a Table of Contents made of bookmarks?
  Can I insert annotations?
  Can I encrypt generated PDF files and protect them by passwords?
Pricing, License, Updates, Payment, Delivery
  Does PDF In-The-Box require a run-time license?
  If I install PDF In-The-Box on several development PCs, must I purchase several licenses?
  What's Synactis' policy concerning PDF In-The-Box updates?
  Can I pay in US Dollars?
  I prefer not use a credit card, how can I pay?
  Can I purchase PDF In-The-Box to a reseller in my country?
  Can I have PDF In-The-Box delivered on a CD?
 

What are the limitations of the Trial version?

Any other question?
  Just ask us! We're here for help. You can use English or French.

Responses

Which operating systems do you support?

PDF In-The-Box runs on these Microsoft Windows platforms (in Win32 mode): Windows 95, 98, 2000, 2003, NT 4, XP and Vista.

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Which development tools do you support?

PDF In-The-Box can be used with any development tool running on Microsoft Windows (in Win32 mode). Depending on your development tool, you've to select the right API.

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Which API suits me best?

PDF In-the-Box is offered with three programming interfaces called ActiveX, Delphi and DLL. They are functionally equivalent.

If you're programming in Delphi, preferably use the Delphi API. It's a VCL-based programming interface, supporting Delphi 4, 5, 6, 7, 2005, 2006 and 2007 (in Win32 mode).

If not, you've the choice between the ActiveX and the DLL APIs. All development tools can call DLLs, and most of them can integrate ActiveX controls. The ActiveX API is easier and more pleasant to use, that's why it's selected by most of our customers.

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Does PDF In-The-Box require a run-time license?

No! You need a license for each developer computer only, i.e. each computer used to design applications or websites using PDF In-The-Box. Deploying or distributing your applications to end-user computers is royalty-free!

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Can I use PDF In-The-Box to convert a DOC or HTML file to PDF?

No. PDF In-The-Box is not a file converter. If your need is to convert DOC or HTML files to PDF, this is not the tool you should use.

However, you can insert text files (TXT or RTF) and images in generated PDF files.

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Must I install a printer driver on end-user computer to run PDF In-The-Box?

No! PDF In-The-Box is not a virtual printer driver. It's a development tool.

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Can PDF In-the-Box extract data from a database and generate a report?

No. PDF In-The-Box is not a database-oriented tool. If your need is to produce PDF reports out of DMBS data, preferably use REPORTMAKER.

REPORTMAKER is a complete report generator for developers. It offers a built-in PDF output (based on the PDF In-The-Box technology, naturally).

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Can PDF In-The-Box load and modify an existing PDF file?

No. PDF In-The-Box can create new PDF files only. It can't load and transform existing files.

Now, if your need is to display, print or modify documents generated by your application, the appropriate solution is All In-The-Box.

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Must Adobe Reader® be installed to generate PDF files?

No. PDF In-The-Box writes native PDF format. It doesn't need Adobe Reader® or any third-party software to generate PDF files.

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Can PDF In-The-Box display an existing PDF file?

Well, the answer is not so simple. PDF In-The-Box does offer a method called ShowDoc, capable of displaying a PDF file (either generated by our tool or not). However, it must be clear that this method just calls Adobe Reader® (supposed to be installed on the computer), passing to it the concerned file name. The file will be displayed in a separate window without any programmatic control over display options. This window will have to be subsequently closed by the user.

Depending on your specific needs, this feature may be satisfactory or not. A slightly better solution can be found with Synactis PDF Viewer. Now, if your need is to display, print or modify documents generated by your application, the appropriate solution is All In-The-Box.

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Can PDF In-The-Box print an existing PDF file?

PDF In-The-Box does offer a method called PrintDoc, capable of printing a PDF file (either generated by our tool or not). However, it must be clear that this method just calls Adobe Reader® (supposed to be installed on the computer), passing to it the concerned file name and the required printer name, if any. The file will be printed by Adobe Reader®, hopefully on the required printer (this depends on the version of Adobe Reader®). On completion, the Adobe Reader® window will have to be closed by the user.

Depending on your specific needs, this feature may be satisfactory or not. A slightly better solution can be found with Synactis PDF Viewer. Now, if your need is to display, print or modify documents generated by your application, the appropriate solution is All In-The-Box.

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What's Synactis' policy concerning PDF In-The-Box updates?

 It's very simple:

Major updates are defined by the first digit of the version number.

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Can I pay in US Dollars?

Of course you can! When clicking the Order link in the online store, you get a form requesting you to select a currency. All currencies can be selected.

You can also quickly convert a specific amount to your currency by clicking one of the links How much does it cost in your currency? displayed on that page.

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I prefer not use a credit card, how can I pay?

Our credit card transactions are processed by SWREG in secure mode. Most customers use this method of payment since it's now really safe and because the license is delivered immediately.

However, if you can't or won't pay by credit card, you can either use the PayPal system or send a wire transfer (see wiring instructions in that case).

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Can I have PDF In-The-Box delivered on a CD?

No, sorry! This product is delivered electronically only. As soon as your license is paid, you get a license number and an activation key: this information allows you to download the product from our website.

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Can I purchase PDF In-The-Box to a reseller in my country?

No, sorry. This product is exclusively sold directly by Synactis and distributed electronically.

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If I install PDF In-The-Box on several development PCs, must I purchase several licenses?

For 2 or 3 PCs, yes. For more computers, we offer a 10-developer license which will save you money.

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What are the limitations of the Trial version?

The trial version is fully functional. It just displays a warning window on each run and writes a demo watermark across pages.

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Can I write non-latin characters?

Non-latin characters are managed using the CharSet system. Supported character sets are: ANSI_CHARSET, ARABIC_CHARSET, BALTIC_CHARSET, EASTEUROPE_CHARSET, GREEK_CHARSET, HEBREW_CHARSET, RUSSIAN_CHARSET, TURKISH_CHARSET.

In current version, asian writings are not supported.

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Does PDF In-The-Box have a User interface?

No. PDF In-The-Box provides technology to be integrated into applications in a transparent way for end-users.

PDF In-The-Box has a programming interface only. Depending on the selected version, this API can be supplied as an ActiveX control, a VCL component or a dynamic-link library (DLL).

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Can PDF In-The-Box load an existing PDF form and populate fields programmatically?

No, this is not the part of PDF In-The-Box. It can create PDF forms but not load existing ones.

Depending on your need, you might consider using either Synactis PDF Viewer or All In-The-Box.

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Is the number of pages per PDF file limited?

No. The number of pages per document is unlimited.

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Is the number of images per PDF file limited?

No. You can insert as many images as you wish.

When an image is repeated several times (such as a logo appearing on each page header), PDF In-The-Box stores it only once in the generated PDF file in order to make it smaller.

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Which image formats do you support?

Images can be retrieved from memory or loaded from disk. More than 30 image formats are supported, including JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PCX, PNG, WMF, EMF, ICO).

PDF In-The-Box supports smart stretching, i.e. it can preserve image proportions when inserting them into the rectangle that you specify.

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Can I encrypt generated PDF files and protect them by passwords?

Yes! PDF In-The-Box supports file encryption using 40-bit keys. You can define two different passwords (owner and user passwords) and assign permissions (Print, Copy, Annotate, Edit).

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Can I insert hyperlinks in PDF documents?

Yes, you can set various kinds of hyperlinks:

On interactive form fields, you can also set actions such as submitting the document to an URL or running JavaScript code.

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Can I define a Table of Contents made of bookmarks?

Yes. You can define a tree-structured table of contents by bookmarking locations in the document.

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Does PDF In-The-Box compress images?

Yes. For each image, you can choose between Zlib (a lossless compression algorithm, somewhat similar to ZIP) and Jpeg (which can give high compression rates, at the cost of quality deterioration).

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Can I insert annotations?

Yes. You can create various types of annotations and store text inside.

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Can PDF In-The-Box generate PDF files on a website?

Yes! PDF In-The-Box ActiveX can be installed on any Windows-based web server and generate PDF files in response to remote client requests. The PDF output will have to be encoded in VBScript, inside an ASP page.

You can try the online demos available on this website. An example is also supplied with the product.

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Does PDF In-The-Box require specific skills or prerequisites?

PDF In-The-Box just requires that you master a programming language! Whichever you want. No specific knowledge is needed concerning the PDF format.

The programming interface has been designed in order to be as easy and pleasant to use as possible. If you use PDF In-The-Box for Delphi, you'll be immediately accustomed to it since PDF In-The-Box emulates Delphi's TCanvas and TPrinter classes.

Moreover, PDF In-The-Box is delivered with a comprehensive demo project, showing the main features in a didactic way.

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What about documentation?

PDF In-The-Box includes a comprehensive Programmer's Manual in the form of a CHM file. All programming symbols (methods, properties, events and various symbols) are fully documented in English with a lot of examples and hyperlinks.

The Programmer's Manual is included in the product, but it can be downloaded separately too.

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What about Technical Support?

Tech Support is available by e-mail (support@synactis.com). It's operated by professional developers of the Synactis team.

This service is free and unlimited!

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Can I change orientation inside a document?

Yes. When opening the document, you define paper size (all sizes are supported) and initial orientation. Subsequently, you can change orientation at any time.

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Can I write page numbers including the total number of pages of the document?

Yes! PDF In-The-Box implements a sophisticated page and chapter numbering system. You can number pages (page fronts only or both sides, at your choice), chapters, or pages inside chapters. In all cases, you can mention the total number of pages (either in the document or in the chapter). 

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Can I insert rich texts from RTF files?

Yes! You can insert a rich text, either loaded from a RTF file or from the memory (a rich edit control for instance).

Supported rich text features are those of the Microsoft Windows EM_FORMATRANGE functionality. In other words, you can insert texts saved by Windows Wordpad, not texts coming from a word processor.

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Can I use style sheets?

Yes! PDF In-The-Box includes a style management system, making text layout easier.

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Can I layout different texts as a grid?

Yes! PDF In-The-Box includes a grid management system. Row heights and column widths can be defined according to specific needs.

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Can I write angled text?

Yes! Any angle from ascending vertical to descending vertical is accepted.

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Can I draw geometrical shapes and graphics?

Yes! The PDF In-the-Box programming interface includes various methods to draw lines, rectangles, circles, polylines, etc.

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