PDF Writer equivalent

[Morley]

I write a turnkey FileMaker Pro solution for small biz. Under OS 9, if the user has used the Chooser to define PDF Writer as their "printer", then a PDF document is created when they "print". Useful.

Under OS X, as far as I can make out, the only way to generate a PDF document is to click the "Preview" button on the print dialogue. Won't work with my solution since the page setup and print commands are delivered directly by FMP without presenting any dialogues to the user.

If the OS X Print Centre could define PDF as a "printer", the problem would be solved. Anyone know of a way?

[griffman]

The other way you can create a PDF is with the "Output options" pop-up, click the "Save as File" checkbox, then select PDF (or PostScript) from the other pop-up menu.

I don't think this helps you, but perhaps you have access to those buttons in FMP?

-rob.

[Morley]

Thanks for the hint. However, instead of using the current layout for output, it outputs the code of a random script.

Have posted this issue to various FMP discussion lists and will post the solution here if and when it's found.

[tncook]

If you select print in most (I dont know of any that dont) apps in the print window there is a preview button that opens your print job in the Preview app for there you can save as PDF.

there are a few more steps then what you are looking for, but not too many more

[Morley]

Yes, of course. That much is already established. My problem is we want to automatically build a PDF if PDF Writer (or equivalent) is selected in Print Centre, in much the same way as this is possible in Mac OS 8/9 when the user selects PDF Writer in the Chooser.

It's been our experience in the shrink-wrap market, that choosing a printer first is far easier for timid and fearful users than to remember what they're supposed to do when a print dialogue appears. No, I'm not kidding! Therefore our FileMaker Pro solution does NOT present a Print dialogue. There is no Preview button to select. The user chooses the printer they prefer -- PDF Writer or a physical printer, and prints. Believe it or not, that's much less complicated.