Metalogic PDF Files

					MCP PDF Library
                                        ===============
                                     Last revised: 22Sep 2010

This project consists of a small suite of utilities designed to allow the creation of simple PDF files natively on Unisys MCP systems.   The PDF files are created in clear-text, format and there is no support for linearization, encryption or graphics.  However, the software can create PDF files directly from WFL jobs and process printer backup files and any data sources such as stream or symbol files. 

The project is currently hosted in Source Forge and is now considered to be live. 

Installation and configuration
==============================

The project consists of this zip file which has two Algol and one Cobol74 source files in Programmers WorkBench format, this README file and a Release log.  The files are discussed below:

1. PDF/LIBRARY  (PWB file PDF_LIBRARY.alg_m)

This is an Algol source library which, in this initial implementation, has one entrypoint called CREATEPDF. The entrypoint specification is shown below:

  Integer Procedure CREATEPDF(INPUT,PDFNAME);   
  Ebcdic Array PDFNAME[0];                      
  File INPUT;   
    Library PDFLIB;                                

Except for the compilation of PDF/LIBRARY using the Algol or DCAlgol compilers, there are no special instructions.  

NOTE: The CREATEPDF entrypoint type and parameters havechanged in the 01.000.003 release for COBOL74 compatibility. 

2. PDF/CREATOR  (PWB file PDF_CREATOR.alg_m)

This is a simple Algol utility that shows how the CREATEPDF library can be called by a program. The PDF/CREATOR utility expects the name of the library codefile to be called OBJECT/PDF/LIBRARY but, of course, any name can be used.  Except for the compilation of PDF/CREATOR, no further installation instructions are necessary.

This utility can easily be called directly from WFL jobs or its source included in other programs.  


3. PDF/CREATOR/COBOL74  (PWB file PDF_CREATOR.c74_m)

Since PDF/LIBRARY is now compatible with COBOL74, a small example client program called PDF/CREATOR/COBOL74 is included in the project. 

Features
========

1.  Create readable PDF files natively on Unisys MCP systems 
2.  Source files are any readable data file including all symbol files, stream files and backup printer.
3.  According to the nature of the source, appropriate default settings are applied to the output.  For
    example, Algol sourced PDF files are 90-character line width presented in portrait whereas backup
    printer files are 132-character line width in landscape. 
4.  At this time, only COURIER mode is supported for all PDF files as monospacing is best for fixed record
    width files.
5.  Control of output PDF file name allowing override of default generated file name.

Operating instructions
======================

The use of the PDF/CREATOR utility is described below and shows how the library can be called.

  RUN OBJECT/PDF/CREATOR (“<PDF output root>”); 
    FILE INPUT  =  PDF/INPUT/FILE;
    TASKVALUE = <Line width>

The file-equation of the INPUT file is mandatory; this specifies the source file to be read during the PDF file creation.    Unless a <PDF output root> is specified, the utility will automatically suffix ‘.PDF’ to the last level of the source file name.

If <PDF output root> is specified then the default output name is overridden by this value.  

By default, CREATEPDF determines the best line width to be used according to the type of source file being processed.  The exception to this rule is a file with FILESTRUCTURE=STREAM – the output PDF file uses an 80 character width by default but this can be overridden using TASKVALUE.  Allowable values for STREAM files are, at this time, 80, 90 or 132.  The latter causes the PDF file orientation to be switched to landscape.

Some WFL examples
=================

Example 1:

  RUN OBJECT/PDF/CREATOR(“”);
  FILE INPUT=PDF/LIBRARY                     %Algol source file

Creates a 90-character width portrait PDF file in the same directory called:

  PDF/”LIBRARY.PDF” 

Example 2:

  RUN OBJECT/PDF/CREATOR(“MYBD/TEST”);
  FILE INPUT=*BD/0001435/000LINE ON BDPACK          % Backup file

Creates 132-character width landscape PDF file called:

  MYBD/”TEST.PDF”

This will be created under the usercode and family of the caller.

Example 3:

  RUN OBJECT/PDF/CREATOR(“”);
  FILE INPUT=DATA/”TEST.HTML”;                     % FILESTRUCTURE=STREAM
  TASKVALUE=132;

Creates 132-character width landscape PDF file called:

  DATA/”TEST.HTML.PDF”

Example 4:

It is possible to divert the PDF file family by file-equating the PDF logical file used by PDF/LIBRARY

  RUN OBJECT/PDF/CREATOR(“PDF/LIB”);
   FILE INPUT=PDF/LIBRARY ON DEV”;                     % FILESTRUCTURE=STREAM
   FILE PDF(FAMILYNAME=CDIMAGE);

Other attributes such as RELEASEID or NOTE could be assigned to the PDF output file.

References

1. PDF reference manual archive version (1.4 was used as a reference work for this project)

  http://www.adobe.com/devnet/pdf/pdf_reference_archive.html

2. The MCP Algol library implementation is discussed in Chapter 9 of the Unisys Algol Programming Reference
   Manual Volume 1, available from:
   
  http://support.unisys.com