Fuzzy PDF display with GdViewer

[btesch]

I am new to GdPicture, and PDF creation, so please be patient. I have added a GdViewer control to my app to view PDFs I am creating with GdPicture. I finally have the creation working for the first part of my project but my problem seems to arise with the viewer. When I open the file with GdViewer it appears a little fuzzy/distorted around the edges of the printed letters. The problem persists when I print the PDF using GdViewer. When I open the same file with Adobe Reader, it is much more clear and prints much cleaner. I am sure I am missing something so any help is appreciated.

I have attached screen shot of the difference. Adobe on top, GdViewer on the bottom.

below is the current code i am using to grab the file and print it.

The forcing of the PDF render setting is an attempt to clean things up, but has not shown as much help.

Code: Select all

            string prtfile = BuildPDF(_agtraxprogram, _filename);
            GdViewer printViewer = new GdViewer();
            printViewer.Visible = false;
            printViewer.CloseDocument();
            printViewer.DisplayFromFile(prtfile);
            printViewer.PrintSetDocumentName(prtfile);
            printViewer.PrintSetShowPrintingProgress(true);
            printViewer.PrintForcePdfDpiRendering(75);
            
            printViewer.PrintDialogFit(this);
            printViewer.CloseDocument();
            printViewer.Dispose();

[btesch]

Has anyone had a chance to look at this issue?

[Loïc]

Hi Bob,

We do not use the same rasterizer engine as Adobe, Adobe send PS content to printer when GdPicture have to send vector data.
We are aware that we don't produce the same output quality than Adobe. Like all our competitors...
Anyway, we do lot of research & make efforts to improve our rendering engine in each release cycles (including minor releases).

This is all I can tell for the moment.

Kind regards,

Loïc

[btesch]

Is part of this the rasterizing when it is created?

[Loïc]

I don't understand the question.

[btesch]

Is there anything I can do in my code while creating the PDF that will help? I am using the PDF plugin, do I need to create it as an image (TIFF?) and then save it out as a PDF when I am done? I am just looking to see if I can help with the process from my side.

Thanks,

Bob

[Loïc]

OK Bob I think I misunderstood the initial issue.

Unfortunately your code show anything that can help.

What is the problem ? What are your trying to do ? Creating a PDF from scratch ? drawing text on a new PDF ?
Any explanation is welcome because I don't understand what you are trying to do & what your screenshot shows.

Kind regards,


Loïc

[btesch]

I am creating a PDF from scratch. We get lines of report data back from a UNIX system and then build a PDF version of the report that is to be a mirror of the UNIX generated report, but in PDF format on Windows. Below is the module that takes the reports lines and builds the PDF and then saves it to disk.

Code: Select all

        #region .     LoadPdfPage     .
        private void LoadPdfPage(string filename, string publishedfile)
        {
            //start GdPicture image object
            GdPictureImaging oGdPictureImaging = new GdPictureImaging();
            oGdPictureImaging.SetLicenseNumberUpgrade(Statics.GdPictureLicense(), "XXX");
            GdPicturePDF oGdPicturePDF = new GdPicturePDF();

            string FontCourierStd = string.Empty;
            string FontCourierStdBold = string.Empty;

            oGdPicturePDF.NewPDF(false);
            oGdPicturePDF.SetAuthor("TraxView TraxReports");
            oGdPicturePDF.SetTitle(_agtraxprogram + " - " + filename);
            oGdPicturePDF.SetProducer("AgTrax Technologies");
            oGdPicturePDF.SetSubject(_agtraxprogram + " - " + filename);
            oGdPicturePDF.SetMeasurementUnit(PdfMeasurementUnit.PdfMeasurementUnitInch);

            if (parentControl != null)
            {
                parentControl.filescreated.Add(publishedfile);
            }
            if (parentForm != null)
            {
                parentForm.filescreated.Add(publishedfile);
            }

            FontCourierStd = oGdPicturePDF.AddStandardFont(PdfStandardFont.Courier);
            FontCourierStdBold = oGdPicturePDF.AddStandardFont(PdfStandardFont.CourierBold);

            oGdPicturePDF.NewPage(8.5F, 11F);
            oGdPicturePDF.SetTextMode(PdfTextMode.PdfTextModeFill);

            float currentline = 64;
            string currentFont = string.Empty;

            if (_fontsize == 7)
            {
                currentFont = FontCourierStd;
                oGdPicturePDF.SetTextSize(7F);
            }
            else
            {
                currentFont = FontCourierStd;
                oGdPicturePDF.SetTextSize(12F);
            }
            oGdPicturePDF.SetTextMode(PdfTextMode.PdfTextModeFill);

            foreach (TraxView.AgTrax.Trrpt rptline in reportlines)
            {
                float currentlinepos = currentline / 6;
                int linelength = rptline.Trfline.Length;
                switch (rptline.Trftype)
                {
                    case 1:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 3:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 5:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 6:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 7:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 16:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    case 18:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;

                    default:
                        oGdPicturePDF.SetFillColor(0, 0, 0);
                        oGdPicturePDF.DrawText(currentFont, .12F, currentlinepos, rptline.Trfline);
                        break;
                }
                currentline = currentline - 1;
            }
            oGdPicturePDF.SaveToFile(publishedfile);
            oGdPicturePDF.CloseDocument();
            gdViewer.CloseDocument();
            gdViewer.ZoomMode = GdPicture.ViewerZoomMode.ZoomModeWidthViewer;
            gdViewer.DocumentAlignment = ViewerDocumentAlignment.DocumentAlignmentTopCenter;
            gdViewer.DisplayFromFile(publishedfile);
        }
        #endregion .     LoadPdfPage     .

At this point we are very basic.

Thanks,

Bob

[Loïc]

OK Bob,

But now what is the problem ??

Do you mean that the generated PDF doesn't looks like you expect in Adobe Reader ?
What your initial screenshot shows ?

Loïc

[btesch]

It is still fuzzy even in Adobe reader, just not as bad. Is there anything I can do to make it even cleaner? Just asking to make sure I have not missed something I can do to make the best quality PDF with your tools.

Bob

[Loïc]

Well I think you should try to use another font.
Could you attach an example of PDF you generated ?

[btesch]

The zip file is attached. I had this issue also when using the TrueType "Courier New" font. I have to have a fixed width font. That is required by application format rules for these reports so columns align properly. If you have any suggestions for fonts, I am open to ideas.

Thanks,

Bob

[Loïc]

The PDF looks perfect in both Adobe reader and GdViewer.
I don't know what do you mean by "fuzzy", but is the font is not sexy enough for you, just use another one.
I think you can google "fixed font" to get a list of available font and try to use one of them.

Hope this helps!

Loïc

[Tom Moran]

Hi Bob;

DejaVu Sans Mono is a good alternative to Courier New for mono spaced fonts. Also Lucida Console.

Attached is an image comparing the three.

Tom

[btesch]

Thanks Tom. I'll give those a try.

Bob