[Info-vax] OpenVMS printing to PDF

[JF Mezei]

On 15-05-19 19:23, Dirk Munk wrote:

> Indeed a PDF tool can do that. But think of a billing program that 
> produces PDF output files. Similar to FMS, you first produce a PDF form 
> with named fields, and then you fill those named fields in your 
> application. When the form has been completed you write the pdf form, as 
> an individual form, or all of them as one big file, just as you choose.

You need to be careful wth the use of "form".

Postscript has forms. You basically have a piece of postscript code
(call it a "subroutine") that draws your logo, boxes, standard text etc.

You then define a page dictionary that uses that subroutine to draw the
form.

You then issue additional postcript commands to draw stuff on the page
(aka: print the name at a location that happens to be inside the
pre-drawn box with Name:  text on the left.

You then showpage that page.

When you start the next page and the form is drawn, the raster copy is
moved instead of re-executing the subroutines. This increases
performance significantly.

The output of such process is just a page with text/graphics on it.


PDF Forms are very different as you include special PDF operators to
create input fields that can be used interactively. This isn't something
you would use to generate bills that are emailed to millions of
customers every month.