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Remote PDF creation

ratoshigan
Registered: Oct 18 2010
Posts: 1
Answered

Hi, I am using an COTS application in a client/server setup that allows me to queue a test on any of the clients from any other client. The test output can only be sent to a printer. This test was typically printed to paper previously, but instead of printing, we now store an electronic PDF of the test output. We use a freeware PDF writer installed on each client to generate the files.
 
When we run the test from a remote PC and choose the PDF writer as the printer, the PDF writer launches the dialog to save the file name and location on the client that is being tested, not the client that the test is initiated from. While most of our clients all have the same printers configured, I did a check and found that my application only lists the printers that have been configured on the client being tested, not the printers configured on the client the test is initiated from. So what I would have to do is run to each client anyway in order to save the PDF. Because of that problem, we have been just manually going to each PC to run the test rather than performing them remotely. This led me to my question I am asking the forum community.
 
Is there a PDF writing software out there that will launch the dialog to save the file on the client I am running the test from and not the client that I am testing, or is it how my application is programmed that it is queuing the print request from the client being tested not the client I am queuing the test from? The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to think that it is my application that is causing my problem.
 
Thanks in advance for your time and responses.

UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
It'll be your application - if a PDF virtual printer is being tasked on machine A, then it will show the dialogs on machine A. Even if you network-share that virtual printer (which isn't something that's supported by many PDF drivers) it will be the initiating machine that owns the process, therefore it will see the dialogs. It's the same as for a physical printer - if I send a file to a printer plugged into machine B, it may well show the document in the queue, but all the settings dialogs appear on my screen.