Need command line capabilities

[Tom Locke]

I downloaded the trial version of Nitro PDF believing it had command line processing that would allow me to convert a .pcl file to a .pdf file. Apparently Nitro PDF does not do this. I found some references from 2005 about a Primo PDF product that allows command line processing. How can I obtain such a product that has this capability.

In addition, there seems to be a licensing issue. I get a failure with a message that SwiftView(R) for Windows found a LAN, WAN or system license and processing aborts. Is there a way to process files that have a SwiftView license stamp?

[zack.schofield]

PrimoPDF doesn't support command line processing, because its behavior is modelled after a printer. Also if the there is a problem opening or displaying a file for printer, it is before PrimoPDF is invoked and so there is nothing PrimoPDF can do to workaround the issue.

Also, I am unaware of any program out right now that allows the conversion of .pcl files.

[Tom Locke]

Zack,

I was under the impression your product could "convert any file to pdf", and that this included .pcl files. Is this incorrect?

Do you have any product that will convert a .pcl file (that is an HP printer command language file) to .pdf?

Do any of those products support command lines for doing this conversion.

I have tried several other software that does this conversion, although the output is not as attractive as the .pcl input file. If your product does not perform this conversion, is there any product you recommend?

[zack.schofield]

Any printable file should be able to print using PrimoPDF.

I am not aware of any program out there that will print pcl files.

[Tom Locke]

Zack,

I know I am being redundant but I want to be sure we are "on the same page."

The .pcl file is simply a datafile with the HP printer commands to specify fonts, spacing, positioning, et al as it would print on an HP printer. If you copy it to an HP printer, it prints out.

Going by what you say and by the help docu, PrimoPdf is actually intended to allow printing of word, excel, text, visio, html, etc. to a .pdf output file, but is not intended to convert a .pcl file with the HP printer commands to a .pdf output file.

If that is correct we will pursue the other products that are on the market that do convert .pcl files to .pdf.

Or should we try using either PrimoPdf or NitroPdf as a printer, and have our software that generates files with HP Printer Command Language treat PrimoPDF as a virtual printer?

Tom

[zack.schofield]

.PCL and .PS are printer languages. PrimoPDF works by taking what is sent to the printer in the PS printer language and then converting the PS file into a PDF. We do not support the conversion of the PCL printer language. If your application has the means to send the file you want to convert to the printer then you would be able to output a PDF. If this process cannot be done manually you could look into using the PrimoPDF API that would allow you to send a print job to the Primo printer programmatically.

[Tom Locke]

Zack,

Is Primo PDF API part of the Primo PDF freeware download, and if not is it available on a trial basis?

Tom

[zack.schofield]

Yes, contact sales at activePDF.com and submit your request.