Message from Development

[Douglas Saltsman]

We are constantly on the lookout for feedback and suggestions for new features and functionality, so please feel free to submit any feature or enhancement requests to this forum post - we'd love to hear from you! We apologize in advance if we are unable to respond to every suggestion; however, we do read and consider each request.

Thanks!
PrimoPDF Development Team

[Gerald]

I have not fully tested version 2.0, yet, but the NASTY problem with 11x8.5 landscape documents becoming rotated 8.5x11 portrait PDFs needs to be solved before we can consider deploying PrimoPDF to our users.

Meanwhile, I noticed that PrimoPDF 2.0 sometimes makes an attempt to guess a reasonable document name (instead of "output.pdf"). This is a most important feature; every PDF needs to be named. In fact, I have some quite good logic for this function which we have been using for several years in our own free PDF program (a combination of Ghostscript, a freeware interface, a printer driver, and some custom coding of my own). My code reads the program header and parses out a likely filename. If you are interested and I can get permission, maybe we can make some kind of deal - my logic and code for ???.

In regard to the file naming, I would suggest that you consider providing separate text entry fields for the path and the filename. A browse button could be provided for the path field. This would allow (usually) the entire path to be visible to the user, without making your dialog too wide. Also, this simplifies user editing of the filename. Alternatively, your path/filename text entry field should be much longer or wrap to a 2nd or third line.

Thank you for your consideration.

[eclayp]

We are constantly on the lookout for feedback and suggestions for new features and functionality, so please feel free to submit any feature or enhancement requests to this forum post - we'd love to hear from you! We apologize in advance if we are unable to respond to every suggestion; however, we do read and consider each request.

Thanks!
PrimoPDF Development Team

Hi Doug,

The functionality that I would like to see added is support for WindowsXP 64Bit Edition.

Thanks for the consideration,
-Eric

[Dominique]

Installation Issues:
- The path for temporary output file "temp.ps" should be configurable (currently it's the program installation directory!)
- PrimoPDF settings should be stored in HKCU-registry rather than HKLM. An even better location would be the user profile which would better suit roaming users

Output Naming:
I noticed that, when comparing to V1.0, V2.0 tries to give a more meaningful default name than "output.pdf".

Since every user has a different, very personal, view about naming, a real improvement would be to parametrize naming rules in the Options. In case, this proposal would be taken into consideration, rules should be defined separately for Path and Filename.
Possible options
for Path: Same as source file / alternative path
for Filename:
- Same name as source file w pdf extension
- adding information to the source filename (such as this is being done w/ V2.0 for word documents, although this does not really make sense to me, but that's personal)
- adding some fixed characters to the source filename
- appending the current date in the yymmdd format to the source filename

I hope this input will help you bringing even more value to this excellent product.

Dom

[tlyczko]

It would be nice to know for sure that efforts have been made to make this app compatible with Citrix PS 3.0 / 4.0 and Terminal Server 2003.

Thank you, Tom

[tlyczko]

I have not fully tested version 2.0, yet, but the NASTY problem with 11x8.5 landscape documents becoming rotated 8.5x11 portrait PDFs needs to be solved before we can consider deploying PrimoPDF to our users.

Thank you for your consideration.

Agreed! And why does PrimoPDF render color as black and white?? Can this be fixed??

Thank you, Tom

[thedoge]

Installation Issues:
- The path for temporary output file "temp.ps" should be configurable (currently it's the program installation directory!)
- PrimoPDF settings should be stored in HKCU-registry rather than HKLM. An even better location would be the user profile which would better suit roaming users
Dom

I'll second that. I was ready to propose this an a company standard for basic PDF creation, but writing to HKLM killed that. This is, as I understand it, not only a no-no for our company but also for MS XP Logo Certification. Are there any plans to address this in 2.1 and if so, when?

We operate in a largely locked-down XP environment, in which the average user will be - well - a User, with no ability to write to HKLM. So for me, it's back to the virtual drawing board - or at least back to looking for other possible freeware PDF creators. :(

[EloyCruz]

I notice quite a few people noting problems with erroneous fonts or missing fonts, and bad bitmap images, in V. 2.0 and choosing to revert top ealier versions

but..

I don't see any reply from development about these issues.

I don't expect instant resolution, but just an acknowledgemnent of the problem and possible workarounds.

This is especially true when the process worked in a previous version which got you guys a nice loyal following, and is now is broken in a new version, and your website provides no method of acquiring the previous version as a fallback.

why?

[nelsontt]

Hi Doug,

I'm a new user. Very impressed so far. The thing that I would most suggest is to deal with the ME install problem. I eventually did get it to install properly by following the instructions from several posts to this forum, but it was only after I'd already become quite frustrated and had done many install/uninstalls. You've got such a great program here, it's too bad that many people probably just give up after finding it didn't install properly and go to some other software.

Keep up the great work!

nelsontt

[Dick Peake]

Please look at making Primo PDF XP64 compatible - more users are going over to XP64 as time passes. Cheers.

[nitixinit]

I would like to see added is support for WindowsXP 64Bit Edition.

[coffeeman]

It would be great to be able to add text to an already created PDF document and then save it.

[Bernardo]

I'm a new user and quite impressed with Primo. As some others have already suggested, it would be helpful to have info upfront about Options 1 and 2, and also what the four PDF settings (Screen, Print ...) entail. This seems a simple info item to add to the manual. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

[throrope]

We use a desktop with XP Home configured with four profiles, mine being the last. When I print to primo, the popup screen opens in the first logged on profile which is rarely mine. I then have to switch users to access the popup screen and then find my "my documents" folder to save so that I can access the pdf in my profile. A little annoying, but for the price who cares. Can this be reconfigured?

[Patsy]

I am having trouble getting onto the web page. Any suggestions?

[Douglas Saltsman]

I appreciate all the feedback. I will see what I can include in the next version.

[zmule]

Great job so far. being able to control page breaks and truncations when printing from the web to file would be great. Adding pages and / or comments to primo documents after creation would also be great. Is this not possible already? Cannot find it anywhere on the forum searches or in the manual but the webpage eludes to it in the description of the software on the download page.
Anyway, thanks for a free product that is very useful indeed.

[Psybernaut]

Hi,

I've just downloaded and installed v3 . Very impressed with the software. It's simple and easy to use but still lacking one small feature which I see has been commented on in some other posts, which is active links from a word document being maintained in the PDF output.

Is there any plan to rectify this in the near future?

[rgabriele]

Dear Primo Development team,

I download for nearly every customer I have (~250 users)
Some really simple wishes....

1) Screen, Print, EBook or Prepress...
Most users come to this screen and go what's this?
Change "PDF Settings" to "Select whether the PDF will be used for Screen, Print, EBook or Prepress."
Can you add examples of what each is used for, maybe a mouse over tool tip
It takes up quite a bit of realestate so users think it's important, but are unsure of what to do with it. Please add to the manual as well.

2) Make the default storage location be My Documents of the current user, or at least make this an option.
I would also make this look more windows like ... users do not relate well to files paths C:\Program Files\activePDF\PrimoPDF\Microsoft Word - abc.doc

3) Turn off tossing the name of the program in front, never understood that, can you make it an option to turn that feature off. Out of all my users I haven't found one that thought it was useful.

4) I've tried many other products and like yours the best... I'm surprised not to see you program more prodominantly placed on sites like download.com and softpedia.com... or magazine's like PC Magazine and Maximum PC (tried the PDF creator which won their softy award and yours is much easier), want to incourage you get get your name out more!

Thank You for all you hard work

[Gustav123]

Hi,

I like the speed of PrimoPDF and the graphics rendering...excellent!

I suggest a few options in the app that I would find very useful...
auto save a numbered or dated copy in a location of choice instead of appending to a .pdf eg. Printingxxx or Printingxx-dd-mm-yyyy
have option to disable options-boxes ie auto generate .pdf (silent print?)
remove URL link from print options dialogue box that causes extra dialogue boxes on my network


I have used quite a few similar .pdf generators, one auto saves a copy as proposed but is very slow and doesn't render graphics well.

I generate a dozen or so invoices/purchase orders a day to send via email / PC fax which saves paper and the environment.
Occasionally I need to find a back copy which is easy if there is one auto saved.

Thanks,
Gus

[ozhorn]

Dear Primo Development team,

Some really simple wishes....

1) Screen, Print, EBook or Prepress...
Most users come to this screen and go what's this?
Change "PDF Settings" to "Select whether the PDF will be used for Screen, Print, EBook or Prepress."
Can you add examples of what each is used for, maybe a mouse over tool tip
It takes up quite a bit of realestate so users think it's important, but are unsure of what to do with it. Please add to the manual as well.

Thank You for all you hard work



If someone would define this, that already knows the answer to this point, I'd really like to know too. Thanks in advance.

[amazon13]

:DI have truly been enjoying my PrimoPDF for quite some time and had never noticed until today, that the links in the pages doesn't work within Adobe Reader when printed with PrimoPDF. Imported documents from other sources, the links work but not from within the PrimoPDF documents. This would really be a plus for this program. I almost feel embarrassed making this suggestion since the program is wonderful and most of all it's free. But since you do solicit suggestions I thought I would mention this little tidbit. Just in case you might consider putting this in an update!

[gmagel]

I'd like to add my voice to whatever throng exists that creating PDFs having active hyperlinks (e.g. URLs) would be a great feature. Any answer to the "when" question?


Hi,

I've just downloaded and installed v3 . Very impressed with the software. It's simple and easy to use but still lacking one small feature which I see has been commented on in some other posts, which is active links from a word document being maintained in the PDF output.

Is there any plan to rectify this in the near future?

[dpeters]

Douglas,

There is a problem copying pdfs created in Primo to other locations see thread

http://forums.primopdf.com/showthread.php?p=5655

I am anxious to hear your solution - seems like a good program otherwise.

Thanks.

[RobDo]

Hi - do you have possibility to use the scanner attached directly to a PC with PrimoPDF installed, and take that as the input to then create a PDF output?

Using intermediate steps like Windows photo editor tends to result in a poor output.

[Manik]

This is not possible using Primo

[GameBooy2020]

I would really like to see PrimoPDF be able to convert web pages just like the PDF Download extension for Firefox does. When I convert web pages with PDF Download, they look better than any other PDF converter, even better than Nitro PDF and PrimoPDF. Unfortunately the PDF Download extension doesn't always work because the servers may get busy, so I would really like to see PrimoPDF print web pages to PDF just like PDF Download does.

[mariuspopa]

Good morning! My name is Marius Popa, a user running your latest version of PrimoPDF, and I want to suggest you to add more features to your wonderful software. Its new features should be the following:
Create private profiles - Define different profiles for future use, each with its own printing settings
Import/Export profiles - the printing profiles can be exported or imported into different installations
Merge PDF files - append or insert content to an existing PDF file
Document information - include title, author, keywords in every PDF file
PDF viewer options – user should be able to control how the PDF file will be displayed after being generated in the default PDF viewer
Custom Save options - configure it to use predefined save settings
After save actions - custom actions can be defined to be performed after the PDF was successfully generated
Customizable resolution - choose from 72 dpi to 2400 dpi
Predefined/custom page sizes - choose a default page size (like Letter, Legal, A3, A4, A5, A6, ...) or define the own user profile concerning this task
Graphics options – every user should be able to compress, downsample or convert text and graphics to reduce PDF size
Fonts embedding and font subsets embedding - Fonts (TrueType and OpenType) can be embedded in the PDF file to ensure perfect portability.
PDF Watermarks – users ought to define multiple text or image watermarks and add them to individual pages or the entire PDF document.
Page Left, Right, Top and Bottom Margins – Any user must be able to set a margin region that will remain empty when printing.
Page zoom (1%-400% zoom factor) – Every user has to be able to zoom a page if he or she needs advanced settings of how the document should be positioned on the PDF page.

[mariuspopa]

Good morning! My name is Marius Popa, a user running your latest version of PrimoPDF, and I want to suggest you to add more features to your wonderful software. Its new features should be the following:
40 bit/128 bit encryption - full 40-bit and 128-bit encryption has to be supported and the user should be able to control whether the PDF can be viewed, printed, modified, copied or annotated
create PDF links - any visible text that starts with "http://", "www", "mailto:", "ftp://" or "file://" in your original document can be converted to clickable PDF links if users choose so (hidden links and internal links are not converted).
send PDF via email - once created, the PDF file ought to be automatically sent via email to different recipients, either using the default email client or directly from the program
PDF Bookmarks – PremiumPDF should be able to detect the headings in the printed document and add bookmarks in the generated PDF files. Users have to define the text attributes for the document headings (font, size, style, color) and for the generated bookmarks.
PDF Overlay - this allows adding the content of the document currently being printed via PremiumPDF as the background or foreground of an existing PDF file, with options to customize the position of that added content.

[mariuspopa]

Good morning! My name is Marius Popa, a user running your latest version of PrimoPDF, and I want to suggest you to add more features to your wonderful software. Its new features should be the following:
Create 100% industry-standard PDF files that can be read, printed, or processed by popular PDF viewer programs - such as Nuance PaperPort® Professional and Adobe® Acrobat, Acrobat Reader® and Foxit Reader - support PDF versions 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 and ISO PDF/A.
Wrap-up multiple documents and file types into a single PDF package, and managing document security and transferring files should be easier than ever
The PDF-A archiving standard ensures today's PDF files will be able to display and print appropriately for years to come. A new PDF-A button has to be able to turn any PDF file into the archive format instantly. PremiumPDF ought to create PDF files that are compliant with the new public specification from the International Standards Organization, 19005-1 PDF/A.
The program should produces PDF files up to 300% faster than alternatives.
Create PDF files dramatically smaller than the original document, support industry-standard compression options, including loss-less, JPEG 2000 and enable optimization for the Web.
The PDF Optimizer should allow the user to minimize the size of files without compromising the quality. A host of size reduction must approach from down sampling, to compression, and unembedding fonts, allow documents to be ideally sized for sharing and archiving.
A PDF creation assistant should makes this task, namely creating PDF files, a breeze to batch process documents and set up profiles so that every user have batch settings pre-configured for different types of documents.
Secure PDF files by requiring others to know a password in order to view or print a document. 40-bit and 128-bit encryption can also be applied to a PDF file with the user able to control whether the document can be viewed, printed, edited, copied or annotated. Security Profiles can be created so that applying security to the user documents can be as simple as a drag-and-drop.
Unlike other PDF solutions, PremiumPDF should include everything you need to digitally sign documents for protection and authentication of information, and no certificate from a third-party vendor should be necessary.
The PDF creation assistant should make it fast and easy to create PDF documents - from multiple files and multiple file types at the same time. Use drag & drop to add files to a batch, or simply select a range of pages users wish to turn into PDF files.
Select a range of original files or different types and have them copied as PDF files - into separate PDF files, into a single combined PDF document, or grouped within a PDF Package. Users must be also able to merge multiple documents into a single PDF file page-by-page, which is ideal for merging letter text into a letterhead template document, or to merge form data into a form template.
Users ought to be able to apply watermarks and stamps to their documents from a pre-made library or create their own. Custom watermarks can be applied from other PDF files or created from within the PDF creation assistant.
Support font embedding for all standard and non-standard fonts, shading and transparency conversions. Select the graphics resolution and control PDF page size and orientation. Support for the creation of custom page sizes and automatically scales in inches, millimeters and points.
Choose to have PDF files automatically added as an attachment to an email message simplifying the sharing of documents over the Internet.
Users should be easily able to turn individual email messages into PDF, or archive complete folders of email into PDF. File attachments within the email message should be automatically attached in their native format to the PDF or converted to PDF pages appended to the mail body.
Create and view PDF files without the need for any additional PDF creation or viewing software.
Instantly Convert PDF files into fully formatted Microsoft Word, Corel® WordPerfect® and OpenOffice.org documents that look just like the originals — complete with text, columns, tables and graphics.
Convert PDF files into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and OpenOffice.org Calc files and retain accounting, currency, percentage, date, time and other special formatting that makes it much easier to perform calculations or change data on a converted spreadsheet and Calc file.
Convert PDF files into the Microsoft Office 2007 files formats — .docx, .xlsx, .pptx
Open and view XPS files within PremiumPDF, or convert your PDF files into XPS format.
Turn PDF document pleadings into Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect and OpenOffice.org Writer documents with a single click.
A PDF convertion assistant makes it a breeze to batch process documents and set up profiles so users have batch settings pre-configured for different types of documents. Accelerate the PDF conversion process PDF by eliminating the need to open the document in its native application.
Converting only a few pages from a long PDF document is now a breeze. Quickly preview the pages within a PDF file and select a specific page or page range for the conversion process.
Use passwords to access and convert protected PDF files when additional document security is required.
PremiumPDF processes files that are created from scanners or image applications, converting them from “image-only” or static files into editable, searchable PDF files.
PDF page thumbnails and assembly tools have to allow any user to easily manipulate pages in a PDF document to rearrange, add or delete pages with drag & drop ease.
Text tools must provide an easy way to add, delete, move or modify text within a PDF file. Change colors, fonts, or point sizes with only a few mouse clicks.
Easily add, delete, move, reshape or resize images, including individual graphical elements in pie and bar charts without having to manipulate the entire graphic.
Streamline group collaboration using sticky notes and highlighting tools that allow any user to emphasize text or certain portions of documents during the creation or review process.
Eliminate the need to review 5 different versions of the same document in order to assimilate everyone’s comments. With this feature every user must be able to create a single “master” document and accept or reject change once.
Display and print comments to get a convenient synopsis of changes that result when collaborating on PDF documents.
Add bookmarks and hyperlinks to users' documents to quickly find a place in a document or embed a link to important information eliminating wasted time spent searching for information.
Using the bookmarks users ought to be able to create a Table of Contents page within their PDF files that links to each section of their document.
Make any user's PDF files more complete and dynamic by adding application, audio or video files.
Split large PDF files into smaller documents that are easier to share.
Inspect documents to remove metadata and other hidden information from files.
Side-by-side document comparison ought to streamline the review process.
Users should be able to measure elements on your file for distance, perimeter, or area readings.
Embed and View 3-D content within the user's PDF files.
Create PDF documents from more than 300 file types.
Convert and merge files into the one PDF document.
Convert documents to PDF in batch.
Scan paper to PDF.
Copy text with formatting
Export PDF for reuse in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, OpenOffice and more.
Extract all text and images from PDF documents.
Batch convert documents.
Insert and edit text, including font face, size, color and more.
Edit images — delete, insert, resize, rotate, crop, flip, replace, arrange, and extract.
Edit image properties — brightness, contrast, color space, and resolution.
Edit pages — insert, delete, rotate, crop, extract, and replace.
Split pages of PDF documents based on page groups, page ranges, and bookmark structure.
Add headers, footers, watermarks, and text to all pages in a document.
Add Bates numbering across a collection of PDF documents.
Add and edit bookmarks and links.
Auto-create bookmarks based on document text formatting and headings.
Auto-create links based on keywords and page numbers.
Optimize, shrink and repair PDF documents.
Edit document properties including metadata and initial view settings.
Highlight text content with Highlight, Underline, and Cross Out tools.
Add Sticky Notes, Text Boxes, and Call Out annotations.
Add freehand drawings with a Pencil tool.
Add drawing shapes, including lines, arrows, rectangles, ovals, polygons and clouds.
Apply stamps to pages.
Add text feedback to your markups.
Sort and manage comments.
Secure documents with passwords and certificates.
Encrypt with 40- and 128-bit level security.
Apply restrictions on printing, copying, and altering PDF documents.
Create and apply re-usable security profiles.
Getting Started window for new or inexperienced users.
In-depth help documentation.
Industry leading customer support services.
User-friendly Microsoft Office 2007-style interface or other skinnable interfaces
Please note that some feature may be similar, but you should include in the program only the essential parts from those similar features.

[ander]

PrimoPDF is just great. Thanks very much for it.

I have only one wish: Is it possible for PPDF to detect the path of the file that's being printed, and to use that folder as the default place to save the PDF?

If so, could that at least be an option? (If it's a technical limitation, no problem, of course.)

[Boorchmen]

Very classy