Is it possible to create a PDF file from scratch

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

Another words is possible to create a new PDF file but not from any other file format such as Microsoft doc ?

[Bernd Alheit]

Another words is possible to create a new PDF file but not from any other
file format such as Microsoft doc?




Yes.

[RamonHerrera@adobeforums.com]

Another words is possible to create a new PDF file but not from any other
file format such as Microsoft doc?




When I need a barebones PDF file just for testing, I use one of the latest Acrobat Pro versions and select "new page" (or something to that effect), then type "hello, world" and save it. You can even save an empty page.

-RFH

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

Sorry I had forgotten to mention that I wish to use the SDK only. Thanks to all replies.

[Bernd Alheit]

You can read the PDF Reference and create your own program. The PDF Reference is in the Acrobat SDK.

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

You also don't mention what part of the SDK you want to use. For example, plugins have lots of APIs that they can use to create a PDF from scratch with text, vectors and raster data. However, JavaScript and COM/.NET, can only add text to a PDF.

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

I had not decided yet but I was headed in the direction of creating a PDF using mathematics equations and mathematics symbols.

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

From plugin APIs, yes. From the others - no.

[Michael_Marden@adobeforums.com]

justmehere : what kind of pdf do you want to end up with?
are the math equations used to generate curves ?

If you simply want text, lines, and curves:
that can be done by creating the file (from scratch) following the rules in the PDF Reference.

follow-up to Leonard for Javascript:
do you really mean "can only add text to a pdf" ?
I am currently looking into the JSO to add functionality within a Visual Basic (VB) program. My understanding was that I could also add lines etc. via the add annotation. I can get the VB examples to run (after correcting the file path lines), but I find there is a large gap between the general description in the JavaScript Ref and getting the right format in VB.

Does anyone have the correct VB format to add lines or text to a pdf using the JSO ?
thanks

[malkyt8@adobeforums.com]

Yes you could use the annotations to provide the functionality but this does not create a flat PDF file, so not all PDF viewers would be able to see the additions, Acrobat/Reader shouldn't have a problem.

The JSObject is just a bridge to the JavaScript, and should be able to call the Doc level functions directly, the problem when dealing with the annotations is that you probably have to use the GetProps and SetProps methods. (see annotation in the JS Guide)

Investigate the IAC Developer Guide documentation for more information.

HTH

Malky

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

I'm looking right now only to create algebraic equations not graphs but eventually yes I would like to be able to generate graphs.

[Michael_Marden@adobeforums.com]

malkyt : The guides indicate you can add these functions (lines, text, etc). I intend to use Acrobat or reader.

So what is the best way to use the JSObject. I did not see any Doc functions that correspond to drawing a line. So, via annotation or not, if anyone has some VB code to draw lines using JSObject, they would be greatly appreciated (guessing the right format can take a long time).

justmehere: it's still not clear what you want to you.
You have equations you want to present in a pdf?
otherwise I'm not sure what you mean by creating the equation.
You need a special Math-font, or you are willing to type & draw ?

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

The ONLY way to draw lines with JS would be to create a Line or PolyLine annotation. So look at the addAnnot() method.

[Michael_Marden@adobeforums.com]

I did
that's why I'm here.
Can you supply a VB example of addAnnot() to draw a line ?
I know you like to send us back to the books, but getting the right format out of a general description is not always obvious.

I got my way through the PDF-Ref for writing a pdf from scratch, but a "getting started" sample would help here. My files are essentially text & lines, so once I have those two formats, I can get back to my program,
thanks

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

Remember that lines drawn via annotations may NOT be printed by all PDF "readers" since it's not standard content...

I don't have a VB sample for you, sorry. I believe there is a JS sample in the SDK, however...

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

I had one more question. Is it possible to customize the Adobe plugin that gets loaded when you open a pdf file from the internet using a browser ?

[George Johnson]

FWIW, you can use JavaScript (doc.flattenPages) to convert annotation appearances to regular page contents.

George

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

Customize it in what way?

[justmehere@adobeforums.com]

I would like to be able to users to be able to create mathematical equations and annotations from this plugin and be able to save that into a pdf file.

[Leonard_Rosenthol@adobeforums.com]

Sure. You can write your own plugin to Acrobat that will be loaded into the browser plugin. No problem at all.

Of course, this will ONLY work with Acrobat and NOT with only Reader.