topic Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control in LabVIEW

OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:01:21 GMT

When you drop an instance of an Adobe PDF Viewer into an ActiveX Container, you get a FP terminal that defaults to the "AcroPDFLib.IAcroAXDocShim" class. This appears to be "AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF" (refer to page 239) according to the Acrobat Interapplication Communication Reference. I would like to have access to all the different classes of Automation Methods (start at page 5 in that document) such as the AcroExch.App and AcroExch.AVPageView.

Now, if you take the terminal, change it into a constant, you can right click on it and go to "Select ActiveX Class" at which point all available classes are available. (see below, how I have changed from the IAcroAXDocShim class to the CAcroApp class)

In short: how can I access all of these methods on the original parent container that contains the document?

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:21:27 GMT

Here's a related question, and maybe has a more simple answer: I would like to programmatically determine what page in the document is currently being viewed in the container. How can I do so?

Best regards,

Jack

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

smercurio_fc — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:37:18 GMT

I don't understand what you're trying to do. Why did you change the class? If you have the ActiveX container, why are you asking how to access the methods on the original parent container? You have the container.

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:51:02 GMT

Please check out all the available methods in this reference document in the table of contents starting on Page 5. The only methods available in LabVIEW are those under the AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF. I want to be able to access the other methods in other classes.

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

smercurio_fc — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:36:49 GMT

The AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF is the ActiveX control that can be embedded into any ActiveX container, whether it's LabVIEW or something else. The other classes refer to accessing the Acrobat Reader app itself, in the same way as Excel is manipulated using ActiveX. In that respect, it's two different worlds.

So, are you trying to automate Acrobat, or use the browser control (AxAcroPDFLib.AxAcroPDF)?

EDIT: I just remembered and did a quick check to confirm: The other classes only apply to the retail version of Acrobat. They apparently do not apply to the Reader.

Message Edited by smercurio_fc on 07-29-2009 02:36 PM

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:42:26 GMT

Basically, it boils down to making a PDF viewer that is compatible with a touchscreen monitor. The native PDF controls are small, and do not conform to the UI standard implemented through the rest of the application.

New buttons would be created that allow for zooming in and out, fitting to page height/width, and a scrollbar.

To achieve such a goal, I need more methods than are available in the base ActiveX Reader control.

Below is a quick sketch that shows my goal: enlarged controls for an embedded PDF viewer. The items circled in RED would go away, replaced by LabVIEW controls that control the PDF viewer.

EDIT: Oops, Fit Width button and Zoom In are duplicated. One should be Fit Page and the other Zoom Out.

Message Edited by mechelecengr on 07-29-2009 03:42 PM

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

smercurio_fc — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:53:13 GMT

Well, all that I can say is that it is what it is. The Reader ActiveX control is limited. If it doesn't have the capabilities you need, then you need to see if there's another ActiveX control available that has.

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:05:07 GMT

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I have already searched the interweb with keywords like "Free PDF ActiveX Control", but have not yet come up with a solution without a distribution license fee. Having a fee is not necessarily a deal-breaker, so if anyone who has used a "highly configurable" PDF viewer with success, please ping me here.

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

tca-adam — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:59:56 GMT

I am currently running Adobe Acrobat V7 here and would like to be able to use ActiveX or another method to create PDF files from within LabVIEW.

Is it possible?

I am a bit overwhelmed with the Active X classes I am being presented with!

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

rolfk — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:24:55 GMT

mechelecengr wrote:

Now, if you take the terminal, change it into a constant, you can right click on it and go to "Select ActiveX Class" at which point all available classes are available. (see below, how I have changed from the IAcroAXDocShim class to the CAcroApp class)

In short: how can I access all of these methods on the original parent container that contains the document?

I can't help you with Acrobat here but ActiveX consists really of two object types. One are ActiveX controls that have an UI and can be embedded in a container and the other are Active X Automation servers that can be instantiated as object but do not have any direct UI itself.

The ActiveX container in LabVIEW will only show you ActiveX objects of the first type. To employ the other type you have to use the Automation Open function instead. Automation Open will instantiate (create) the Automation server object based on information in the registry and then gives you a refnum you can work with.

When selecting an Active X control into a container the instantiation of the control is done automatically inside the control and that is why you do not have the need to execute an Automation Open for such objects.

If you need to get the full Acrobat to get all the functionality I wouldn't know, bu I have my doubts that you can do it with the Reader component alone. The ActiveX controlallows very little control of the visibility of its various components and the ActiveX Automation classes do not have an UI component you can embed in a container.

Rolf Kalbermatter

Message Edited by rolfk on 08-11-2009 08:24 AM

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

Porras — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:49:58 GMT

Hi, JackDunaway.

Did you finally manage to do it? What I need is similar than this. I want a PDF preview control on my FP, and I need to remove several items and toolbars from the PDF viewer window. I saw this is possible to do using several functions of the CAcroApp class, but I cannot manage to use this... I mean, taking a constant (like you showed in your picture) I get all the methods for the CAcroApp class, but how do I relate it with the ActiveX PDF preview control I have on my FP?

On the other side, I want also to disable the Run-Time menu contained on the PDF preview control. It appears when I right-click the control, and has many posibilities I don't want the user of my application to be able to access...

Thanks,

Francisco

Re: OLE Automation Methods for Acrobat Reader in ActiveX Control

JackDunaway — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:33:49 GMT

@Porras wrote:

Did you finally manage to do it?

The project was scrapped when it became clear the cost to develop would overcome the benefit. Hope it works better for you.