Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Jared, Thanks to you and Doug James for checking into this issue. > I just hit your test page, and the PDF form came up, the contents of > the FDF came up... same as Doug. > > But when I clicked on the link to the FDF, I got the Reader splash > screen, and then nothing. Blank screen. No content at all. No errors > either... but I'm not sure that's a good thing. I used the FireFox > Page Info dialogue to save the FDF to my desktop and when I opened > it in Reader, nothing at all came up there either, just a blank, > gray, empty Reader screen. It seems that Firefox has some known issues when trying to display a PDF via a FDF (content of type Application/vnd.fdf). I should have made it clearer that what we're trying to reproduce are errors when opening the form with _Internet Explorer_. That link again is: http://www.hopeaviation.com/pilotform/test/index.cfm If anyone else could test this with IE and report whether it succeeds or how it fails, I'd appreciate it. > The system is oriented toward delivering content from a base64 > encoded DB text table, but the example uses a PDF which is streamed > back to the browser in a CFM page with cfcontent and cfheader making > Acrobat think it's a PDF file... source code is downloadable from > the link provided. This is basically what we're doing, too, except that we're trying to make the browser think that it's a FDF file (mime type would be Application/vnd.fdf). Here's another example for comparison at planetpdf.com (FWIW, this is the same situation but using ASP instead of CF. I have the same problems with Firefox and this example): http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html Thanks again, Stephen ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190628 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Stephen... I just hit the URL again using IE 6. I got two messages from Acrobat, one that the page contained no comments with "Yes" and "No" buttons. The other one said "This action is not permitted." Both of these ocurred while I had Reader open as a standalone app. When I hit the FDF page without Acrobat open, I, once again, got a blank page and no errors. Sorry dude... Laterz, J On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:42:30 -0500, Stephen Hait <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jared, Thanks to you and Doug James for checking into this > issue. > > > I just hit your test page, and the PDF form came up, the contents of > > the FDF came up... same as Doug. > > > > But when I clicked on the link to the FDF, I got the Reader splash > > screen, and then nothing. Blank screen. No content at all. No errors > > either... but I'm not sure that's a good thing. I used the FireFox > > Page Info dialogue to save the FDF to my desktop and when I opened > > it in Reader, nothing at all came up there either, just a blank, > > gray, empty Reader screen. > > It seems that Firefox has some known issues when trying to > display a PDF via a FDF (content of type Application/vnd.fdf). I > should have made it clearer that what we're trying to reproduce > are errors when opening the form with _Internet Explorer_. That > link again is: > http://www.hopeaviation.com/pilotform/test/index.cfm > > If anyone else could test this with IE and report whether it > succeeds or how it fails, I'd appreciate it. > > > The system is oriented toward delivering content from a base64 > > encoded DB text table, but the example uses a PDF which is streamed > > back to the browser in a CFM page with cfcontent and cfheader making > > Acrobat think it's a PDF file... source code is downloadable from > > the link provided. > > This is basically what we're doing, too, except that we're trying to > make the browser think that it's a FDF file (mime type would be > Application/vnd.fdf). Here's another example for comparison at > planetpdf.com (FWIW, this is the same situation but using ASP > instead of CF. I have the same problems with Firefox and this > example): > http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html > > Thanks again, > Stephen -- Continuum Media Group LLC Burnsville, MN 55337 http://www.web-relevant.com http://cfobjective.blogspot.com ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190652 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Jared, Thanks again. I've tried every configuration I can think of I can't get either of the results you reported. Would you mind trying this link at planetpdf.com and letting me know what happens: http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html This is the same basic idea of serving a FDF data file that points to a corresponding PDF but it's ASP instead of CF. Even though this FDF/PDF solution has worked for us for a couple of years, it's been a real bear trying to troubleshoot the odd, unreproducible problem. There are too many different factors between operating system and patch level, browser version and patch level and plugin configuration, Reader or Acrobat version(s), etc. Since there doesn't seem to be much problem with reading actual PDF files in most browsers, I think I will start looking at a solution that fills and saves a PDF file on the server and then serves that to the requestor. If you have any advice along those lines, please lay it on me. Thanks again for your time, Stephen > Stephen... > > I just hit the URL again using IE 6. > > I got two messages from Acrobat, one that the page contained no > comments with "Yes" and "No" buttons. > > The other one said "This action is not permitted." > > Both of these ocurred while I had Reader open as a standalone app. > When I hit the FDF page without Acrobat open, I, once again, got a > blank page and no errors. > > Sorry dude... > > Laterz, > J > > > On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:42:30 -0500, Stephen Hait > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jared, Thanks to you and Doug James > for checking into this > issue. > > > I just hit your test page, and > the PDF form came up, the contents of > > the FDF came up... same as > Doug. > > > > But when I clicked on the link to the FDF, I got the > Reader splash > > screen, and then nothing. Blank screen. No content > at all. No errors > > either... but I'm not sure that's a good > thing. I used the FireFox > > Page Info dialogue to save the FDF to > my desktop and when I opened > > it in Reader, nothing at all came > up there either, just a blank, > > gray, empty Reader screen. > > It > seems that Firefox has some known issues when trying to > display a > PDF via a FDF (content of type Application/vnd.fdf). I > should have > made it clearer that what we're trying to reproduce > are errors > when opening the form with _Internet Explorer_. That > link again > is: > http://www.hopeaviation.com/pilotform/test/index.cfm > > If > anyone else could test this with IE and report whether it > succeeds > or how it fails, I'd appreciate it. > > > The system is oriented > toward delivering content from a base64 > > encoded DB text table, > but the example uses a PDF which is streamed > > back to the browser > in a CFM page with cfcontent and cfheader making > > Acrobat think > it's a PDF file... source code is downloadable from > > the link > provided. > > This is basically what we're doing, too, except that > we're trying to > make the browser think that it's a FDF file (mime > type would be > Application/vnd.fdf). Here's another example for > comparison at > planetpdf.com (FWIW, this is the same situation but > using ASP > instead of CF. I have the same problems with Firefox and > this > example): > > http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html > > Thanks > again, > Stephen > > > -- > Continuum Media Group LLC > Burnsville, MN 55337 > http://www.web-relevant.com > http://cfobjective.blogspot.com > > ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190656 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Maybe (just a thought here...) it wouldn't be a bad idea to think Blackstone, or get the Macromedia FlashPaper add-on (it's what, $69? $99?) to go direct html-to-pdf without anything extra in the middle. I think, by and large, Acrobat is a great tool for disseminating information to any supported system, and it encapsulates the data in a really awesome static fomation. However, any attempts I've seen to do dynamic PDFs outside of fairly high-end tools just doesn't work very well. Exception: HTMLdoc. Granted, it's limited and imperfect, but when it's capabilities fit the need, it's AWESOME. I'll keep thinking on it... Laterz, J On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 20:21:31 -0500, Stephen Hait <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jared, > > Thanks again. I've tried every configuration I can think of I can't > get either of the results you reported. Would you mind trying this > link at planetpdf.com and letting me know what happens: > http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html > This is the same basic idea of serving a FDF data file that points > to a corresponding PDF but it's ASP instead of CF. > > Even though this FDF/PDF solution has worked for us for a > couple of years, it's been a real bear trying to troubleshoot the > odd, unreproducible problem. There are too many different factors > between operating system and patch level, browser version and > patch level and plugin configuration, Reader or Acrobat version(s), > etc. > > Since there doesn't seem to be much problem with reading > actual PDF files in most browsers, I think I will start looking at a > solution that fills and saves a PDF file on the server and then > serves that to the requestor. If you have any advice along those > lines, please lay it on me. > > Thanks again for your time, > Stephen > > > Stephen... > > > > I just hit the URL again using IE 6. > > > > I got two messages from Acrobat, one that the page contained no > > comments with "Yes" and "No" buttons. > > > > The other one said "This action is not permitted." > > > > Both of these ocurred while I had Reader open as a standalone app. > > When I hit the FDF page without Acrobat open, I, once again, got a > > blank page and no errors. > > > > Sorry dude... > > > > Laterz, > > J > > > > > > On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 13:42:30 -0500, Stephen Hait > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jared, Thanks to you and Doug James > > for checking into this > issue. > > > I just hit your test page, and > > the PDF form came up, the contents of > > the FDF came up... same as > > Doug. > > > > But when I clicked on the link to the FDF, I got the > > Reader splash > > screen, and then nothing. Blank screen. No content > > at all. No errors > > either... but I'm not sure that's a good > > thing. I used the FireFox > > Page Info dialogue to save the FDF to > > my desktop and when I opened > > it in Reader, nothing at all came > > up there either, just a blank, > > gray, empty Reader screen. > > It > > seems that Firefox has some known issues when trying to > display a > > PDF via a FDF (content of type Application/vnd.fdf). I > should have > > made it clearer that what we're trying to reproduce > are errors > > when opening the form with _Internet Explorer_. That > link again > > is: > http://www.hopeaviation.com/pilotform/test/index.cfm > > If > > anyone else could test this with IE and report whether it > succeeds > > or how it fails, I'd appreciate it. > > > The system is oriented > > toward delivering content from a base64 > > encoded DB text table, > > but the example uses a PDF which is streamed > > back to the browser > > in a CFM page with cfcontent and cfheader making > > Acrobat think > > it's a PDF file... source code is downloadable from > > the link > > provided. > > This is basically what we're doing, too, except that > > we're trying to > make the browser think that it's a FDF file (mime > > type would be > Application/vnd.fdf). Here's another example for > > comparison at > planetpdf.com (FWIW, this is the same situation but > > using ASP > instead of CF. I have the same problems with Firefox and > > this > example): > > > http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/inetpub/demo2.html > > Thanks > > again, > Stephen > > > > > > -- > > Continuum Media Group LLC > > Burnsville, MN 55337 > > http://www.web-relevant.com > > http://cfobjective.blogspot.com > > > > > > ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190660 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
BTW... that sample site in ASP isn't working for my version of Reader either. I get a file currupted message. I do find that some things just aren't stable with pdfs unless they're generated with Exchange or something, and even then they're twitchy and take tuning to get working sometimes. What's the driver behind needing PDF for this solution, if I may ask? Laterz, J On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 20:18:58 -0600, Jared Rypka-Hauer - CMG, LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Maybe (just a thought here...) it wouldn't be a bad idea to think > Blackstone, or get the Macromedia FlashPaper add-on (it's what, $69? > $99?) to go direct html-to-pdf without anything extra in the middle. > > I think, by and large, Acrobat is a great tool for disseminating > information to any supported system, and it encapsulates the data in a > really awesome static fomation. However, any attempts I've seen to do > dynamic PDFs outside of fairly high-end tools just doesn't work very > well. Exception: HTMLdoc. Granted, it's limited and imperfect, but > when it's capabilities fit the need, it's AWESOME. > > I'll keep thinking on it... > > Laterz, > J -- Continuum Media Group LLC Burnsville, MN 55337 http://www.web-relevant.com http://cfobjective.blogspot.com ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190661 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Jared Rypka-Hauer - CMG, LLC wrote: > really awesome static fomation. However, any attempts I've seen to do > dynamic PDFs outside of fairly high-end tools just doesn't work very opensource iText works a treat, though i don't know what you mean by "fairly high-end tools", i wouldn't normally classify it that way. ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190666 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
We had hassles with iText and multiple pages, but we got FOP working a treat. -Original Message- From: Paul Hastings [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 17 January 2005 12:38 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request Jared Rypka-Hauer - CMG, LLC wrote: > really awesome static fomation. However, any attempts I've seen to do > dynamic PDFs outside of fairly high-end tools just doesn't work very opensource iText works a treat, though i don't know what you mean by "fairly high-end tools", i wouldn't normally classify it that way. ~| This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=11 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190667 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
James Holmes wrote: > We had hassles with iText and multiple pages, but we got FOP working a > treat. really? never had any issues w/it. nothing a quick email to their list didn't solve. ~| Stay Ahead of Hackers - Download ZoneAlarm Pro http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=65 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190668 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
I'm sure we could have solved it, but we were in evaluation mode and we really liked the coolness of FOP's XML/XSLT interface so we went with that :-) -Original Message- From: Paul Hastings [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 17 January 2005 2:05 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request James Holmes wrote: > We had hassles with iText and multiple pages, but we got FOP working a > treat. really? never had any issues w/it. nothing a quick email to their list didn't solve. ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190670 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Eh, maybe "high-end" was the wrong word. I've never been in a situation where dynamic PDF occupied a legit place in the budget, so "free" vs. "paid" has always been the hangup. Laterz, J On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:08:31 +0800, James Holmes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm sure we could have solved it, but we were in evaluation mode and we > really liked the coolness of FOP's XML/XSLT interface so we went with that > :-) > > -Original Message- > From: Paul Hastings [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, 17 January 2005 2:05 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request > > James Holmes wrote: > > We had hassles with iText and multiple pages, but we got FOP working a > > treat. > > really? never had any issues w/it. nothing a quick email to their list > didn't solve. > > -- Continuum Media Group LLC Burnsville, MN 55337 http://www.web-relevant.com http://cfobjective.blogspot.com ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190760 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Jared asked: > What's the driver behind needing PDF for this solution, if I may > ask? Primarily the requirement for a user's signature on the form. The user enters data that's stored and used to populate the form, then they print the PDF that's populated with their data, sign the form and mail it in. For this case, the form needs to be updated each year so the user can make any minor changes in subsequent years and avoid having to enter all the form data once it's been entered initially. Is there an electronic signature of some kind that would be the same as an actual signature? If it would be acceptible to the insurance companies we deal with, that might be worth investigating. Stephen ~| Logware: a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190795 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
I know there are regulations regarding electronic signatures... SallieMae, who owns my old studen loan, uses e-signatures when you work with your loan online. I'll log into their site and check out their docs (like privacy policy) later. Gotta head to a doc's appointment right now. Laterz, J On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:04:13 -0500, Stephen Hait <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jared asked: > > What's the driver behind needing PDF for this solution, if I may > > ask? > > Primarily the requirement for a user's signature on the form. The > user enters data that's stored and used to populate the form, > then they print the PDF that's populated with their data, sign the > form and mail it in. For this case, the form needs to be updated > each year so the user can make any minor changes in > subsequent years and avoid having to enter all the form data > once it's been entered initially. > > Is there an electronic signature of some kind that would be the > same as an actual signature? If it would be acceptible to the > insurance companies we deal with, that might be worth > investigating. > > Stephen > > ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190813 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Dynamic CF PDFs - help request
Electronic Signatures Act? http://money.cnn.com/2000/06/30/electronic/signatures/ I think this it it: http://www.hif.hu/english/menu4/m4_8/es.pdf Dan On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:43:29 -0600, Jared Rypka-Hauer - CMG, LLC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I know there are regulations regarding electronic signatures... > > SallieMae, who owns my old studen loan, uses e-signatures when you > work with your loan online. I'll log into their site and check out > their docs (like privacy policy) later. Gotta head to a doc's > appointment right now. > > Laterz, > J > > On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:04:13 -0500, Stephen Hait <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Jared asked: > > > What's the driver behind needing PDF for this solution, if I may > > > ask? > > > > Primarily the requirement for a user's signature on the form. The > > user enters data that's stored and used to populate the form, > > then they print the PDF that's populated with their data, sign the > > form and mail it in. For this case, the form needs to be updated > > each year so the user can make any minor changes in > > subsequent years and avoid having to enter all the form data > > once it's been entered initially. > > > > Is there an electronic signature of some kind that would be the > > same as an actual signature? If it would be acceptible to the > > insurance companies we deal with, that might be worth > > investigating. > > > > Stephen > > > > > > ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:190834 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
