Question Re: Ghostscript and PDF in Technology Q&A

Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:57:36 GMT

Hi.

I followed one of the guides here, and finally managed to create a valid PDF in PB12.5 using Ghostscript and dw_data.saveas()! Yay!

However, I have some questions.

First of, I installed GS8.71 and restarted my computer.

Then I installed GS9.18, restarted the computer holding down SHIFT to install the printer with an unsigned driver (Windows 10).

Then I created a PDF using dw_data.saveas(), and it says in the properties that it's created using Ghostscript 8.71.

I uninstalled both GS8.71 and GS9.18, removed the "gs" folder in C:\Program Files\ and restarted.

I reinstalled only gs9.18 and now the properties in the PDF says "Ghostscript 9.18". Which makes me think that GS8.71 is not necessary anymore?

So my questions is:

Do I really need to install GS8.71 first? It looks like GS9.18 is working great on it's own?

And how can we distribute GS to all our customers without having to install it on every client computer?

Can the "Sybase Datawindow PS" printer perhaps be a network printer which all client computers can access instead of a local printer?

And finally: will it be possible to save a datawindow as PDF (native, without installing GS) in future versions of PowerBuilder?

Perhaps Armeen Mazda in Appeon would like to comment this?

Regards,

Bjarne

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

arnd_schmidt — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:19:58 GMT

There is no need to install / remove multiple versions of ghostscript. GS 9.18 is doing find.

You can install the printer via a batch file or like Roland shows it: Topwiz Software - PrinterInstall

If you want to use a network printer that acts to "create pdf file" the only experience I have is to use a linux box that will handle the stuff.

For example: https://www.steveroot.co.uk/2013/10/24/network-pdf-printing-from-windows-8/

regards

Arnd

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:32:40 GMT

Hi Bjarne;

Yes, I have heard that of late as well, that the latest version of GS has the missing fonts that the GS8.71 version provided. So if that is true (and it seems so with your testing) - we can negate the older GS version installation from this point onwards.

Thanks for bringing this new information to light!

Regards ... Chris

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

arnd_schmidt — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:20:45 GMT

AFAIK, It's been some years ago that ghostscript included the fonts in the dll.

http://sourceforge.net/p/ghostscript/discussion/5452/thread/2aff3d46

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:25:35 GMT

Hi Arnd;

Just retested GS 9.18 64 bit with W7 and W10 64 bit and PDF generation does NOT work without GS8.71 installed as well.

Regards ... Chris

PS: The good news at least is that GS 9.18 works OK with v8.71 on W7 & W10.

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

arnd_schmidt — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:12:43 GMT

Chris, the gs 64-bit won't work out of the box, but there is no need for gs8.71.

https://scn.sap.com/thread/3535221

PowerBuilder PDF Printing on 64 bit O/S &laquo; eLearnIT eLearnIT

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:28:50 GMT

Sorry ... just tested it all again and you need v8.71 when installing the 64 bit version otherwise you get a FAILED message in the PB IDE and a -1 RC on the SaveAs ( ). Once v8.71 is installed, then v9.18 works like a charm.

Are you guys running the 32 bit version?

We are not allowed to install the 32bit GS here at my government clients when the O/S is 64bit. Especially on a W2012 or higher file server.

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:03:12 GMT

I've only installed the 64-bit version because of Win10 x64 OS.

Now I will try once more to uninstall all the versions of GS I have, and only install GS9.18 x64.

I've removed every instance of GhostScript in Control Panel.

Is there anything else I need to do to completely remove all traces of GhostScript?

Regards,

Bjarne

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:07:08 GMT

Hi Bjarne;

Just because you uninstalled - does not mean that the version of GS is gone. Check your "Program Files" folders ....

PS: Also check if you have any 32 bit versions installed as well under ""Program Files (x86)".

Regards ... Chris

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:09:01 GMT

Nothing left in C:\Program Files

The only thing that looks like GS in C:\Program Files(x86) is a folder named "GPLGS".

Should I remove that as well?

Regards,

Bjarne

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:23:04 GMT

Hmmm .. I do not have this folder or can even remember seeing it before (or a variation thereof).

My suggestion would be to first rename it and see if your PC environment has any noticeable impacts. If not, then its probably OK to remove it if you don't think that its being used.

Re: Ghostscript and PDF

Former Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:42:37 GMT

Well, I uninstalled everything in Control Panel now.

I also removed everything looking like "GhostScript" and GSx.xx" in C:\Program Files and removed C:\Program Files(x86)\GPLGS.

I restarted the computer and installed only GS9.18 x64.

Here is the result:

It's in Norwegian, but you get the essence: 233 pages, 749 Kb in size and is generated from GPL GhostScript 9.18 in PowerBuilder 12.5.2 (build 5703) in Windows 10 x64.

Regards,

Bjarne