Using HTML File type

[pmpenchoff]

We are attempting to print our standard print-outs using the file type of *HTML* and out of the box the page is being rendered, however we would like to NOT have the Page info on the top of each page. We would also like to be able to control the rendering to either portrait or landscape. One other thing we have noticed is that in the rendering, our TOP doesn't line up with the HTML page-breaks in the rendered page. Are there other properties and methods associated with this file type as there is with the *PDF*?

[Mike King]

The HTML wrapper for your output is generated by *dev/html.  Its a pretty basic program that can be modified in order to customize your output.

[pmpenchoff]

As always Mike, you're the King. Thank you.

[Mike King]

You are very welcome.  Always happy to help.

[Jane Raymond]

I don't know if this would be applicable to your case, but you might consider using the Report Writer as it can create HTML output.

[pmpenchoff]

Hi Jane, thank you for your suggestion, but that would mean that ALL our print programs would need to be processed via the report writer. (Nearly 300 programs)

We have plain text printouts now being processed via the *HTML* file type and this is a good solution.
Our issue now is any of the graphic forms that we print, like invoices, statements etc. These forms render via PDF properly, but when directed to HTML the result is a blank web page.

Any or all suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Mike.

[James Zukowski]

How about creating a PDF and downloading it?

[pmpenchoff]

We're already doing this, as a "pre-view".
Here's what we're really trying to do: In our software we have a universal printer handler, and all print jobs go through it so the end-user can select either "PDF" or to a printer. With some destructive print jobs we will only allow printing to printer for auditing purposes.
For security purposes browsers are not permitted to expose local resources so the only way that we can really provide a printing solution for these print jobs is to either print to PDF and let the PDF print to the local printers or to an HTML page and provide access to the local printers. For regular print jobs (text) the browser print works as you can access via CTRL P or using a print button on the page which gives a list of local printers. What is happening is that when we use *HTML* for those printouts that use the graphic print rather than the text we render a blank page and not a graphic printout. We can get a PDF, but the logic for "previewing" will not allow for "updating" the print job. HTML is the right choice, but not for graphics.
Do I need to implement a PDF to HTML converter for these jobs?