[ SOLVED ] Print  TVirtualStringTree to pdf
lazarus / 21-General

----------------------------------------------------------------------
superc · 2021-08-03 09:29

Hello,

I've created my TVirtualString and I must print the tree on pdf (and
save it to file), how would you proceed? What components or
methodologies would you use?

Thanks in advance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
balazsszekely · 2021-08-03 13:04

Quote from: superc on August 03, 2021, 11:29:01 amHello,

I've created my TVirtualString and I must print the tree on pdf (and
save it to file), how would you proceed? What components or
methodologies would you use?

Thanks in advance.
This is a tough one. You can certainly save/load a VST to/from a file,
but that's a binary format. In order to print a tree to a pdf, first
you have to draw the tree canvas to a bmp, then via LazReport and
PDFExport(alternatively FPReport/fcl-pdf) to a pdf file. Maybe there
are other methods too that I'm unaware of.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
lucamar · 2021-08-03 14:13

Quote from: GetMem on August 03, 2021, 03:04:50 pmMaybe there are
other methods too that I'm unaware of.
Using fcl-pdf (or PowerPDF) would probably be the easier, wouldn't it?
Or maybe relying on a PDF "printer" ... though that would force users
to install one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
balazsszekely · 2021-08-03 16:58

My brain hurts, but I did it. 
I'm using the same project from your previous thread(https://forum.laz
arus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,55461.msg412695.html#msg412695).
Lazarus 2.0.12(32 bit)/FPC 3.2.0/Zeos 7.2.14.0/Power PDF 1.4.0.0
Please do the following:
   1. Extract attachment
   2. Copy sqlite3.dll(32 bit) to the project folder
   3. Install Zeos from OPM
   4. Install PowerPDF from OPM
   5. Go to "Install/Uninstall Packages" dialog, install Lazreport and
LazreportPDFExport, don't forget to rebuild the IDE
   6. Open then run the project, press the "Tree to PDF" button

PS: The above method should also print the non-visible part of the
tree(in case you have horizontal/vertical scrollbars).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
superc · 2021-08-04 07:13

Quote from: GetMem on August 03, 2021, 06:58:11 pmMy brain hurts, but
I did it. 
I'm using the same project from your previous thread(https://forum.laz
arus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,55461.msg412695.html#msg412695).
Lazarus 2.0.12(32 bit)/FPC 3.2.0/Zeos 7.2.14.0/Power PDF 1.4.0.0
Please do the following:
   1. Extract attachment
   2. Copy sqlite3.dll(32 bit) to the project folder
   3. Install Zeos from OPM
   4. Install PowerPDF from OPM
   5. Go to "Install/Uninstall Packages" dialog, install Lazreport and
LazreportPDFExport, don't forget to rebuild the IDE
   6. Open then run the project, press the "Tree to PDF" button

PS: The above method should also print the non-visible part of the
tree(in case you have horizontal/vertical scrollbars).

it seems to me a fitting solution to my problem, now let's see how it
behaves with 1000 node....
Thank you again

----------------------------------------------------------------------
balazsszekely · 2021-08-04 11:22

Unfortunately Lazreport does not increase the size of the image
properly, so for a very large tree the generated pdf is wrong. You can
try other report generating tools like: 
 - FPReport
 - Fortes4Lazarus
 - FortesReport-CE
 - Fastreport
All of the above has PDF export built in.
I ran a few test for large trees, in each case the generated Bmp(see
FBitmap in the code) is correct, however the bitmap size is very
large. In my opinion the tree to pdf conversion is not practical. You
should filter the tree or use some kind of pagination and only export
the relevant data or perhaps switch to a formated text file?