"Save as PDF" in runtime

[highflyr]

The "save as pdf" feature is great... (even if the resulting files are bloated).

I have it working beautifully (via scipting) on both Mac & Windows in FMP8 and FMP8A.

However, when I create a runtime for either platform, the script(s) fail and there is not "save file as PDF"... on "excel".

I even tried a custom menu set and put the PDF in the File menu... works fine in "real" versions, but isn't there in runtimes.

Any ideas?

(I can use OSX's printing for Mac, but would like a one button solutions for Windows as well)

[mike275]

oops if this isn't working in runtime we should know it.....

[highflyr]

I have been told that runtimes do not support save records as pdf.

Although the documentation suggest that "save/send records a" is supported in runtimes (p87), p90 says "Because some features have been removed from the runtime application, the following script steps are ignored by the runtime

application: ..... Save Records as PDF"

So it's not supported.

[rogermax]

Holy Cow! That one really makes me want to set off on a rant. But I will do it at home and save the bandwidth. Just plain stinks.

I wonder if it will work on RT's that are hosted from FMS8...have to wait and see I guess.

I was really looking forward to using that feature too.

[Søren Dyhr]

If it weren't for the crossplatform issue, could this definately be exploited:

http://www.apple.com/applescript/print/

--sd

[rogermax]

Well, I expect there is a way to do it outside of FM in Windows too, but I was really hoping to have work "natively" and scripted that way.

[Alpha-Snail]

Just confirmed from this post what I just spent the last hour learning the hard way. Given that FM Advanced is specifically for developing runtimes, and their marketing has agressively promoted new PDF and Excel functionality, I believe this falls under the category of false advertising. It makes in the least, for a solid candidate for a class action law suit. (No kidding!)

Now, with regard to your current dilemma, your best option is probably CutePDF Writer. It's an extremely popular freeware that works great. Your users would have to be directed to their website to download and install the application since you can't distribute it yourself, and you would have to write a script specifically for that print driver, which is what it is.

Their website is simply CutePDF.com. Its not a perfect solution, but since you've already spent lots of money for the FM8 upgrade (as many of us have), it beats throwing down any more bucks to the rich and powerful!

[highflyr]

Thanks everyone... my personal take on this is that it is a licensing issue with Adobe... how many runtimes are going to be using this, and how is Adobe going to be paid.

Søren Dyhr suggested applescript... that will be my workaround for the Mac people... who need this the most. I use an Applescipt studio application I wrote to send all of the relevant data to InDesign for a print (press) quality catalog.

Alpha-Snail suggested CutePDFWriter... the solution I used in FMP7. But this adds another layer.. the users have to print, and then find their copy, and then attach it to an email. And the quality I have found isn't that great. We are just going to pull access to PDF for the PC people as they don't _really_ need it.

[rogermax]

We have been employing CutePDF as a workaround. Not to belabor the point, but I was hoping to make it as transparent as possible. When I saw the feature at Devcon I was really jazzed because I had envisioned save as pdf and attach to email in one fell swoop without plugins or other layers of fuss. Now not so much. My users are 100% non mac and require the pdf feature for sending quotes. However, there are lots of other things that are cool about 8. We have a number of users running the runtime version and others that are deployed in networks. To some degree this will become a marketing issue for me.