Server side PDF tools - recommendations?

[aconant]

I am looking for a tool to be integrated into our enterprise architecture
that provides various PDF services to ASP.NET applications.

We have a common need to programmatically create, convert, populate, and
manipulate PDF files on the web application server for output to the web
client.

Specifically, we want to:

1. Merge different PDF files togther
2. Withing existing PDF files, add, delete or modify content
3. Convert text and other document types like .doc or .xls to PDF
4. Create new PDF documents on the server with data from a DB
5. Populate existing PDF form fields

These are the most basic (and common) needs, but I expect as we progress we
will need more enhanced features, especially with regard to security. We also
need to be able to use this in a multi-server load balanced farm, and it
should provide for multi-threaded scalability and performance.

I understand these features are common - that's my problem - there are a lot
of products out there...too many to sort through, so I am looking for
recommendations.

We already use Amyuni and ActivePDF in different locations with success.

We would prefer a native .NET solution (which ActivePDF does not appear to
be).

It appears Adobe does not offer an affordable solution at this level...

We have also identified DynamicPDF as an option.

Is there anything available from Microsoft we can use?

Does anyone have specific experience or recommendations?

I appreciate your help.

A

[John Timney \( MVP \)]

I've had lots of success with ActivePDF

--
Regards

John Timney
ASP.NET MVP
Microsoft Regional Director

"aconant" <ac*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BD**********************************@microsof t.com...

I am looking for a tool to be integrated into our enterprise architecture
that provides various PDF services to ASP.NET applications.

We have a common need to programmatically create, convert, populate, and
manipulate PDF files on the web application server for output to the web
client.

Specifically, we want to:

1. Merge different PDF files togther
2. Withing existing PDF files, add, delete or modify content
3. Convert text and other document types like .doc or .xls to PDF
4. Create new PDF documents on the server with data from a DB
5. Populate existing PDF form fields

These are the most basic (and common) needs, but I expect as we progress
we
will need more enhanced features, especially with regard to security. We
also
need to be able to use this in a multi-server load balanced farm, and it
should provide for multi-threaded scalability and performance.

I understand these features are common - that's my problem - there are a
lot
of products out there...too many to sort through, so I am looking for
recommendations.

We already use Amyuni and ActivePDF in different locations with success.

We would prefer a native .NET solution (which ActivePDF does not appear to
be).

It appears Adobe does not offer an affordable solution at this level...

We have also identified DynamicPDF as an option.

Is there anything available from Microsoft we can use?

Does anyone have specific experience or recommendations?

I appreciate your help.

A

[Andrej Tozon]

Hi,
this is a nice roundup of PDF components:
http://www.howtoselectguides.com/dotnet/pdf/

Andrej

"aconant" <ac*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BD**********************************@microsof t.com...

I am looking for a tool to be integrated into our enterprise architecture
that provides various PDF services to ASP.NET applications.

We have a common need to programmatically create, convert, populate, and
manipulate PDF files on the web application server for output to the web
client.

Specifically, we want to:

1. Merge different PDF files togther
2. Withing existing PDF files, add, delete or modify content
3. Convert text and other document types like .doc or .xls to PDF
4. Create new PDF documents on the server with data from a DB
5. Populate existing PDF form fields

These are the most basic (and common) needs, but I expect as we progress
we
will need more enhanced features, especially with regard to security. We
also
need to be able to use this in a multi-server load balanced farm, and it
should provide for multi-threaded scalability and performance.

I understand these features are common - that's my problem - there are a
lot
of products out there...too many to sort through, so I am looking for
recommendations.

We already use Amyuni and ActivePDF in different locations with success.

We would prefer a native .NET solution (which ActivePDF does not appear to
be).

It appears Adobe does not offer an affordable solution at this level...

We have also identified DynamicPDF as an option.

Is there anything available from Microsoft we can use?

Does anyone have specific experience or recommendations?

I appreciate your help.

A

[aconant]

Andrej,

Thanks for the link - looks like a very useful resource.

Any other input is still welcome.

"aconant" wrote:

I am looking for a tool to be integrated into our enterprise architecture
that provides various PDF services to ASP.NET applications.

We have a common need to programmatically create, convert, populate, and
manipulate PDF files on the web application server for output to the web
client.

Specifically, we want to:

1. Merge different PDF files togther
2. Withing existing PDF files, add, delete or modify content
3. Convert text and other document types like .doc or .xls to PDF
4. Create new PDF documents on the server with data from a DB
5. Populate existing PDF form fields

These are the most basic (and common) needs, but I expect as we progress we
will need more enhanced features, especially with regard to security. We also
need to be able to use this in a multi-server load balanced farm, and it
should provide for multi-threaded scalability and performance.

I understand these features are common - that's my problem - there are a lot
of products out there...too many to sort through, so I am looking for
recommendations.

We already use Amyuni and ActivePDF in different locations with success.

We would prefer a native .NET solution (which ActivePDF does not appear to
be).

It appears Adobe does not offer an affordable solution at this level...

We have also identified DynamicPDF as an option.

Is there anything available from Microsoft we can use?

Does anyone have specific experience or recommendations?

I appreciate your help.

A

[Lloyd Dupont]

there is this one as well..
http://itextsharp.sourceforge.net/
"aconant" <ac*****@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BD**********************************@microsof t.com...

I am looking for a tool to be integrated into our enterprise architecture
that provides various PDF services to ASP.NET applications.

We have a common need to programmatically create, convert, populate, and
manipulate PDF files on the web application server for output to the web
client.

Specifically, we want to:

1. Merge different PDF files togther
2. Withing existing PDF files, add, delete or modify content
3. Convert text and other document types like .doc or .xls to PDF
4. Create new PDF documents on the server with data from a DB
5. Populate existing PDF form fields

These are the most basic (and common) needs, but I expect as we progress
we
will need more enhanced features, especially with regard to security. We
also
need to be able to use this in a multi-server load balanced farm, and it
should provide for multi-threaded scalability and performance.

I understand these features are common - that's my problem - there are a
lot
of products out there...too many to sort through, so I am looking for
recommendations.

We already use Amyuni and ActivePDF in different locations with success.

We would prefer a native .NET solution (which ActivePDF does not appear to
be).

It appears Adobe does not offer an affordable solution at this level...

We have also identified DynamicPDF as an option.

Is there anything available from Microsoft we can use?

Does anyone have specific experience or recommendations?

I appreciate your help.

A