B4A Library Printing and Pdf creation

Erel · Feb 28, 2017

This is an Android 4.4+ (API 19+) library.

Its two main features are:
1. Creating Pdf documents with the PdfDocument object.
2. Printing with the Printer object.

Lets start with PdfDocument.

B4X:

Dim pdf As PdfDocument
pdf.Initialize
pdf.StartPage(595, 842) 'A4 size
pdf.Canvas.DrawLine(2, 2, 593 , 840, Colors.Blue, 4)
pdf.Canvas.DrawText("Hello", 100, 100, Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD, 30 / GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale , Colors.Yellow, "CENTER")
pdf.FinishPage
Dim out As OutputStream = File.OpenOutput(File.DirInternal, "1.pdf", False)
pdf.WriteToStream(out)
out.Close
pdf.Close

1. Initialize.
2. Call StartPage to add a new page. The page size is measured in 1 / 72th inch.
3. Use the Canvas object to draw on the page. Note that you shouldn't use 'dip' units here.
You should divide the text size with GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale when calling Canvas.DrawText.
4. Call FinishPage.
5. Repeat the above 3 steps for each page.
6. Save the document to a file.
7. Close the pdf object.

Printing

The printing feature is based on the OS printing framework. Most popular printers are supported. You do need to first install a printer plug-in.

For example to print to a HP printer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hp.android.printservice

Cannon: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.canon.android.printservice.plugin

The Printer object can print bitmaps, html documents, WebView content and PDF documents.

Example:

B4X:

Sub Globals
   Private printer As Printer
End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   printer.Initialize("")
   Print
End Sub

Sub Print
   printer.PrintHtml("job", $"<b>Hello world!!!</b><br/>
<h1>second line</h1>
<img src="${WebViewAssetFile("smiley.png")}"/>"$)
End Sub

Sub WebViewAssetFile (FileName As String) As String
   Dim jo As JavaObject
   jo.InitializeStatic("anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.streams.File")
   If jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder") = Null Then
     Return "file:///android_asset/" & FileName.ToLowerCase
   Else
     Return "file://" & File.Combine(jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder"), _
  jo.RunMethod("getUnpackedVirtualAssetFile", Array As Object(FileName)))
   End If
End Sub

The WebViewAssetFile is a utility sub that creates the url of an asset file (the url depends on the compilation mode).

Updates:

V1.11 - PrintPdf2 - Allows passing custom PrintAttributes, created with JavaObject.
V1.10 - Adds support for printing PDF documents:

B4X:

Printer.PrintPdf("Job Name", File.DirAssets, "My Document.pdf")

JNG · May 12, 2017

Hi!

I am try to use this library but unable to point out the problem

B4X:

Sub Process_Globals
    'These global variables will be declared once when the application starts.
    'These variables can be accessed from all modules.

End Sub

Sub Globals
    'These global variables will be redeclared each time the activity is created.
    'These variables can only be accessed from this module.
    Dim pdf As PdfDocument
End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
    Dim Htmlfile As String = GenerateHtml
    pdf.Initialize
    pdf.StartPage(595, 842) 'A4 size
    '    pdf.Canvas.DrawLine(2, 2, 593 , 840, Colors.Blue, 4)
    pdf.Canvas.DrawText(Htmlfile, 100, 100, Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD, 30 / GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale , Colors.Black, "CENTER")
    pdf.FinishPage
    Dim out As OutputStream = File.OpenOutput(File.DirRootExternal, "Test1.pdf", False)
    pdf.WriteToStream(out)
    out.Close
    pdf.Close
End Sub

Sub Activity_Resume
   
End Sub

Sub Activity_Pause (UserClosed As Boolean)

End Sub

Sub GenerateHtml
    Dim stylelayout As String  =  $ "table{width: 100%; border-color: #000000;     border = 1;}" _
& " caption { display: table-caption; height:50px; }" _
& " th {border-width: 1px;            border-color:      #000000;font-size:16px; height:40px;} " _
& " td {border-width: 1px;  border-color:      #000000;font-size:16px; height:40px; }" _
& " a { text-decoration:none; color: #000;}"$
Dim caption As String = "Testing PDF"
    Dim Hstr As String = $"
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>9am</th>
<th>10am</th>
<th>11am</th>
<th>12am</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Monday</th>
<td colspan="2">Geography</td>
<td>Math</td>
<td>Art</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<th colspan="2">Gym</th>
<th>Home Ec</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Tuesday</th>
<td colspan="2">Value</td>
<td>Address Ec</td>
</tr>"$


    Dim HtmlStr As String =  $"<!DOCTYPE html>
    <html><meta charset="utf-8">
    <body>
    <style type='text/css'>${stylelayout}</style> _
           
            <caption>${caption}</caption>
            <table>
            ${Hstr}
       
            </table>
            <img src="smiley.gif" alt="Smiley face" height="42" width="42">
    </body>
    </html>"$
    Log(HtmlStr)
    Return(HtmlStr)
   
   
End Sub

. Code attached.

Pl let me know where I am going wrong

regards
jng

Erel · May 14, 2017

Please start a new thread in the questions forum.

Mikel Huerta · Aug 15, 2017

Excuse me @Erel, wish version of PDF library are you using ? i am using PDF library version 0.25 .. and , if not are the same , where can i found the newst one ?

Thanks you.

Erel · Aug 16, 2017

The Printing library is not related to any PDF library. The latest version is attached to the first post.

Mikel Huerta · Aug 16, 2017

Erel said:
The Printing library is not related to any PDF library. The latest version is attached to the first post.

Yes, sorry , i 'd see it just right now .. thanks a lot.

luciano deri · Oct 20, 2017

Hello, is possible use this library to print on termic printer?

Erel · Oct 22, 2017

You can use it to print on any printer that provides a printer adapter app.

luciano deri · Oct 31, 2017

Is possible convert pdf on jpg?

Erel · Nov 1, 2017

This library doesn't read or show pdf documents. It cannot convert a PDF document to any other format.

luciano deri · Nov 20, 2017

Is possible set backgroud page color?

asales · Nov 20, 2017

luciano deri said:
Is possible set backgroud page color?

See the properties of Canvas object:

'fills with semi-transparent red color.
pdf.Canvas.DrawColor(Colors.ARGB(100, 255, 0, 0))

BarryW · Feb 13, 2018

how to call this library?

Erel said:
This is an Android 4.4+ (API 19+) library.

Its two main features are:
1. Creating Pdf documents with the PdfDocument object.
2. Printing with the Printer object.

Lets start with PdfDocument.

B4X:

Dim pdf As PdfDocument pdf.Initialize pdf.StartPage(595, 842) 'A4 size pdf.Canvas.DrawLine(2, 2, 593 , 840, Colors.Blue, 4) pdf.Canvas.DrawText("Hello", 100, 100, Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD, 30 / GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale , Colors.Yellow, "CENTER") pdf.FinishPage Dim out As OutputStream = File.OpenOutput(File.DirRootExternal, "1.pdf", False) pdf.WriteToStream(out) out.Close pdf.Close

1. Initialize.
2. Call StartPage to add a new page. The page size is measured in 1 / 72th inch.
3. Use the Canvas object to draw on the page. Note that you shouldn't use 'dip' units here.
You should divide the text size with GetDeviceLayoutValues.Scale when calling Canvas.DrawText.
4. Call FinishPage.
5. Repeat the above 3 steps for each page.
6. Save the document to a file.
7. Close the pdf object.

Printing

View attachment 53290

The printing feature is based on the OS printing framework. Most popular printers are supported. You do need to first install a printer plug-in.

For example to print to a HP printer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hp.android.printservice

Cannon: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.canon.android.printservice.plugin

The Printer object can print bitmaps, html documents, WebView content and PDF documents.

Example:

B4X:

Sub Globals Private printer As Printer End Sub Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean) printer.Initialize("") Print End Sub Sub Print printer.PrintHtml("job", $"<b>Hello world!!!</b><br/> <h1>second line</h1> <img src="${WebViewAssetFile("smiley.png")}"/>"$) End Sub Sub WebViewAssetFile (FileName As String) As String Dim jo As JavaObject jo.InitializeStatic("anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.streams.File") If jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder") = Null Then Return "file:///android_asset/" & FileName.ToLowerCase Else Return "file://" & File.Combine(jo.GetField("virtualAssetsFolder"), _ jo.RunMethod("getUnpackedVirtualAssetFile", Array As Object(FileName))) End If End Sub

The WebViewAssetFile is a utility sub that creates the url of an asset file (the url depends on the compilation mode).

Updates:
V1.10 - Adds support for printing PDF documents:

B4X:

Printer.PrintPdf("Job Name", File.DirAssets, "My Document.pdf")

Erel · Feb 13, 2018

See the first post which you quoted.

JOTHA · Mar 5, 2018

Hi Erel,

great Lib! Thank you for your excellent work again!

Whats the advantage over PDFWriter?

KMatle · Mar 5, 2018

JOTHA said:
Whats the advantage over PDFWriter?

You can easily create PDF's without needing an extra PDF library. Additional you can print PDF's if needed

SAMER ISSA · Apr 27, 2018

Hello Erel

How can i use Pdf.Canvas.DrawText as wordwrap ?

KMatle · Apr 28, 2018

SAMER ISSA said:
Hello Erel

How can i use Pdf.Canvas.DrawText as wordwrap ?

I'm not Erel but the methods are very simple. You have to wrap it by code and draw several lines.

SAMER ISSA · Apr 29, 2018

Thank you for replay KMatle ...
but have you an example please !

I was work with DonManfred library (pdf.jar) it have wordwrap but without (Aligns type) like "CENTER" "RIGHT" "LEFT"
and (printing.jar) library have Aligns type but without wrap text

Erel · Apr 30, 2018

Please start a new thread in the questions forum.

Erel · Oct 20, 2019

V1.11 - PrintPdf2 - Allows passing custom PrintAttributes, created with JavaObject.

B4A Library Printing and Pdf creation

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