[Info-vax] OpenVMS printing to PDF

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2015-05-20 15:11:11 +0000, Jan-Erik Soderholm said:

> Stephen Hoffman skrev den 2015-05-20 17:02:
>> On 2015-05-20 14:48:30 +0000, Dirk Munk said:
>> 
>>> I don't think Javascript is the ideal tool for implementing business
>>> rules in an application.
>> 
>> JavaScript or the other scripting language is how the data is fetched.
>> Whether the programmer puts the business logic there, or into the database
>> as triggers or such, or embeds that logic in whatever local application or
>> remote server and remote application the JavaScript is fetching the data
>> from, is up to the programmer.
>> 
>>> An application is not about fetching data, but also about generating
>>> data. A billing program generates data from other data, it will not only
>>> produce bills, but also update databeses etc.
>> 
>> OK, so I might infer that you haven't particularly used a web scripting 
>> language, embedded rendering engines, or an ERP system?
>> 
>>> I also see no need for a HTML5 detour and rendering process if it can 
>>> be done with PDF directly.
>> 
>> Sure.  That'll work fine for various applications.  But if you want to 
>> create The Next Great Product,...
> 
> Wasn't we talking about VMS here? :-)

My replies were to Mr Munk, not to you.   Or so I thought, based on the 
text I was quoting.  In particular, I was discussing how this works on 
other platforms and approaches that are different from what is typical 
with an FMS-style or DECforms-style solution, as a possibility for 
where OpenVMS might eventually go, and as an option that somebody that 
was creating a tool for this purpose might want to consider.

> The primary goal is to give some old VMS apps "PDF support".

Sort of.   The goal was to create a tool that provided some sort of 
automatic layout and integration, which would then allow old OpenVMS 
applications to generate or merge PDF.   That means that the person 
creating the tool will have trade-offs, and potentially competition 
with or insight from other existing tools and platforms.   It also 
means that there may well be other servers around that can potentially 
perform these tasks.   Most OpenVMS servers are not in isolation, and 
most folks work with a mix of platforms.   It's often beneficial to use 
the platform with the tools appropriate for the task, too.  Further, 
some folks are increasingly integrating with a dedicated print engine 
server or with an ERP system.   If the goal is an isolated fix, then — 
as I've stated — there are tools for that, and — again, as I've stated 
— there are alternatives.

In short, If you're creating a tool to do this layout, then you will 
want and even need to know what else is available, and HTML5 and other 
open source is part of that.

> You are way out of reality with JS, callable HTML5 rendering...

I'll stipulate that I am far out of your particular reality, yes.


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