missing images from rendered PDF

I am trying iSEDQuickPDF (thanks Chicks!) to replace code that currently uses GhostScript as a render engine. I am programming in Delphi (5) and using the precompiled Delphi units. Here is my first problem: images are missing from a testfile when displayed with the following simplified code snippet:

QP := TiSEDQuickPDF.Create;
Stream := TMemoryStream.Create;
QP.UnlockKey('...my.trial.key...');
QP.LoadFromFile('D:\altona.pdf');
QP.RenderPageToStream(72,1,0, Stream);
Stream.Position := 0;
Form1.Image1.Picture.Bitmap.LoadFromStream(Stream);
...
Stream.Free;
QP.Free;

The testfile can be found here:

http://www.eci.org/eci/downloads/ECI-en/altona_test_suite/Altona_Visual_1v2a_x3.pdf

The image at the top left and at the top right are missing when rendered with the code above.

Question: is this an extreme example of a PDF that is just a bridge too far for iSEDQuickPDF? is my code the proper way to display a PDF with iSEDQuickPDF?

Note I know this is a difficult file and it makes many RIPs fail at several points (but not by skipping images).

Govert

Update: It appears that most of the other images are also missing when the gdiplus.dll is not available; same result in print output.

Also, FindImages will write the images to (Jpeg) files, except the missing images (iow, they are probably already skipped when the file is read)

Govert

Edited by Govert

Mmm... I have tried it all, but no luck

Save with QuickPDF: gives a good looking copy of the original file, and... same problem when rendered.
Rendering a file with just the layer containing these images didn't help either.

How does iSEDQuickPDF behave generally? If only I knew the conditions for (existing) PDF's to be rendered and printed properly, or if limitations could be defined, I could live with it as iSEDQuickPDF looks attractive enough.

Govert

Thanks Chicks. I think I'll first try to find out the format of the problematic images. Well... in fact I found all the images in this test file are problematic for printing. I think I may reduce and simplify the code in my PDFPrintShop by at least 50%; so that does justify some investigation.

Govert

Yes, thanks. I'll take some more time and try to dive deeper into this. Perhaps follow Chicks' suggestion to join one of the source code groups (if possible).

Govert

Unfortunately, new security restrictions prevent batch printing, unless each of the files to be printed has the "disclosed" flag set to true. If you are creating all the PDFs to be printed, this isn't an issue, but for G.P. printing of PDFs, it's a non-starter.

This vbscript example (using the ActiveX version of iSEDQuickPDF) shows how to attach a javascript to a PDF, with various print options (6-up printing with borders, optional print-to-file), and silently print it. The printParams object is very rich, so much more can be done.

Dim oQP, key, js
Dim inPath, outPath

key = " -- MY QUICKPDF KEY GOES HERE -- "
inPath = "c:\temp\test.pdf"
outPath = "c:\temp\printtest.pdf"

js = "this.disclosed = true;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "var pp = this.getPrintParams();" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.interactive = pp.constants.interactionLevel.automatic;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.binaryOK = true;" + vbCrLf

'-- Set up 2X3 nUp printing with borders and autorotate
js = js + "pp.pageHandling = pp.constants.handling.nUp;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.nUpPageOrders = pp.constants.nUpPageOrders.Vertical;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.nUpNumPagesH = 2;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.nUpNumPagesV = 3;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.nUpPageBorder = true;" + vbCrLf
js = js + "pp.nUpAutoRotate = true;" + vbCrLf

'-- Print to file as gdi option
'js = js + "pp.fileName = '/c/temp/printtest.prn'" + vbCrLf

'-- Print to file as postscript option
'js = js + "pp.fileName = '/c/temp/printtest.ps'" + vbCrLf
'js = js + "pp.printerName = ''" + vbCrLf

'-- Set printer name option
'js = js + "pp.printerName = 'my printer name'" + vbCrLf

'-- Print already!
js = js + "this.print(pp);" + vbCrLf
js = js + "this.closeDoc();" + vbCrLf

'-- Init iSedQuickPDF
Set oQP = CreateObject("iSED.QuickPDF")

'-- Unlock the PDF library
Call oQP.UnlockKey(key)

Call oQP.LoadFromFile(inPath)

Call oQP.SetOpenActionJavaScript(js)
Call oQP.SaveToFile(outPath)

'-- Cleanup iSEDQuickPDF
set oQP = nothing

Dim cmd, sh, wsx

'-- Launch the PDF in Reader with hidden flag
cmd = "%comspec% /c start acrord32 /h " + outPath
Set sh = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set wsx = sh.Exec(cmd)

And now in Delphi....

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
   S, InPath, OutPath, cmd : string;
begin
InPath := 'd:\an-9012.pdf';           //just one of my test samples
OutPath := 'd:\printtest.pdf';
S :=
'this.disclosed = true;'#13#10 +
'var pp = this.getPrintParams();'#13#10 +
'pp.interactive = pp.constants.interactionLevel.automatic;'#13#10 +
'pp.binaryOK = true;'#13#10 +
//Set up 2X3 nUp printing with borders and autorotate
'pp.pageHandling = pp.constants.handling.nUp;'#13#10 +
'pp.nUpPageOrders = pp.constants.nUpPageOrders.Vertical;'#13#10 +
'pp.nUpNumPagesH = 2;'#13#10 +
'pp.nUpNumPagesV = 3;'#13#10 +
'pp.nUpPageBorder = true;'#13#10 +
'pp.nUpAutoRotate = true;'#13#10 +
//Set printer name option (using PDFCreator here to save trees...)
'pp.printerName = ''PDFCreator'';'#13#10 +
'this.print(pp);'#13#10 +
'this.closeDoc();'#13#10;
//(QP is created and iSEDQuickPDF unlocked when the form is created)
QP.LoadFromFile(InPath);
QP.SetOpenActionJavaScript(S);
QP.SaveToFile(OutPath);
//Launch the PDF in Reader
cmd := 'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\acrord32.exe /h d:\printtest.pdf';
WinExecAndWait32V2(cmd, SW_SHOW);   //a function defined elsewhere
end;

Edited by Govert