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Mif2Go User's Guide, Version 55

  

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36 Converting via runfm > 36.4 Using runfm for Mif2Go conversions > 36.4.3 Configuring runfm output > 36.4.3.2 Configuring PDF output: runfm -pdf option


36.4.3.2 Configuring PDF output: runfm -pdf option

When you use the -pdf option, if the default printer for FrameMaker is Adobe PDF (or if you also specify -printer "Adobe PDF"), runfm generates a PDF file either from the specified book or document (see §36.4.1.2 Specifying FrameMaker file paths: runfm -book, -doc options), or if none is specified, from the book or document that is already active in FrameMaker. If you also use the -project option (see §36.4.2 Identifying your Mif2Go project), the conversion project runs after PDF generation is finished.

Note:  You may not specify both -print and -pdf in the same invocation of runfm.

PDF output is assumed to be in My Documents

If you name a PDF file, you must specify a full absolute path, enclosed in quotes if the path contains any spaces. After FrameMaker generates PDF output, runfm moves the resulting PDF file from My Documents to the specified location, and gives the file the specified name. If FrameMaker writes PDF files somewhere other than My Documents, you must move the file yourself, after runfm finishes.

If you specify a path but no PDF file name, runfm names the PDF file bookname.pdf or docname.pdf, and moves it to the specified location. For example, for a single-file FrameMaker document, this command:

runfm -doc E:\Mydoc.fm -printer "Adobe PDF" -pdf doc E:\PDFs

would produce Mydoc.pdf in My Documents, then move it to E:\PDFs\Mydoc.pdf.

Make sure Adobe PDF is the current printer

Unless Adobe PDF is the default Windows printer, or is set as the FrameMaker default printer, you must install SetPrint and specify -printer "Adobe PDF" (see §36.4.3.4 Specifying output via SetPrint: runfm -printer option). If you do not specify -printer "Adobe PDF", or you have not installed SetPrint, before using the -pdf option with runfm you must make sure Adobe PDF is either the default Windows printer, or is set as the FrameMaker default printer.

Note:  runfm does not use FrameMaker Save As.

Configure Adobe PDF for no prompts

For runfm to generate PDF without user intervention, you must also make sure that no prompts are required:

1. On the system where FrameMaker is running, go to Start > Control Panel > Printers.

2. Right-click the entry for Adobe PDF, and choose Printing Preferences...; the Adobe Printing Preferences dialog opens.

3. On the Adobe PDF Settings tab, uncheck the following options:

View Adobe PDF Results

Prompt for Adobe PDF filename (if this item is present)

Ask to Replace existing PDF file

If you are using Acrobat 7 or a later version, you might find “Prompt for Adobe PDF filename” as a choice in a drop-down list for Adobe PDF Output Folder, instead of as a checkbox item; if this is the case, choose the following item instead from the drop-down list:

My Documents\*.pdf

4. Click OK to dismiss the Adobe Printing Preferences dialog. Under Location in the Printers window, you should now see My Documents listed for Adobe PDF.

runfm sets FrameMaker print options for PDF

When you specify -pdf, runfm sets the following print options in FrameMaker: 

[spacer]

Thumbnails

No

Skip Blank Pages

No

Last Sheet First

No

Copies:

1

Odd-Numbered Pages

Yes

Even-Numbered Pages

Yes

Scale:

100%

Print Separations

No

However, runfm does not check Print to File, because doing so would not yield a PDF in one step. After a PDF file is created, runfm restores the original values of these FrameMaker print options.

For PostScript, use -print instead of -pdf

If what you really want is PostScript output (for example, if you are using a watched directory to distill PostScript to PDF), use the -print option instead of the -pdf option, specify -printer "Adobe PDF", and give the output file extension .ps; also specify -reverse no to make sure output is in the correct order (see §36.4.3.1 Configuring print output: runfm -print and -reverse options). For example, with book file UG.book already open in FrameMaker:

runfm -print book E:\PS\In\UG.ps -reverse no -printer "Adobe PDF"

See also:

§36.4.1.2 Specifying FrameMaker file paths: runfm -book, -doc options

§36.4.2 Identifying your Mif2Go project

§36.4.3.1 Configuring print output: runfm -print and -reverse options

§36.4.3.3 Configuring PDF output: runfm -pdfsave option

§36.4.3.4 Specifying output via SetPrint: runfm -printer option



36 Converting via runfm > 36.4 Using runfm for Mif2Go conversions > 36.4.3 Configuring runfm output > 36.4.3.2 Configuring PDF output: runfm -pdf option