How do I replace a block of text?
How do I rotate replacement text?
How do I scale replacement text?
How do I translate (move, offset) replacement text?
How do I overlay PDF pages?
How do I translate (move, offset) an overlaid PDF page?
How do I create an imposition with PDF pages?
Can I have multiple input and output files?
How do I create a blank PDF page?
How can I crop (deltamask) a page or overlay?
Why is content on my background disappearing when I overlay another page?
How can I use PDF commands and operators to draw lines and objects? (Content stream)?
How do I replace a block of text? top
A block is an iteration of text in a given direction with a specific X and Y-axis offset.
Syntax:
/block.Address[(item number one)(item number two)(item number three)]
- Each block is marked-up and uniquely named.
- Create a script referencing each named replacement block containing an array of replacement items.
- Please be aware that the first item in the array is placed in the anchor position, followed in order out, by each successive array item.
The attached sample contains a script that replaces four separate address text blocks on a single page.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 18:02 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I rotate replacement text? top
Rotation of replacement text is controlled by the Current Transformation Matrix syntax during a replacement.
Syntax:
/text << /Value (12345) /CTM[1 0 0 1 0 0]>>
where the formula for rotation is /CTM[cos sin -sin cos x y]
- Determine desired rotation of replacement text.
- Using the formula for rotation apply degree of rotation to each of the first four numbers in the CTM.
- Please be aware that the rotation is relative to the orientation and alignment of the placeholder element.
The attached sample contains a script that replaces and rotates four sets of placeholder text elements, with each set at a different orientation and each element within each set at a different alignment.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 19:07 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I scale replacement text? top
Scaling of replacement text is controlled by the Current Transformation Matrix syntax during a replacement.
Syntax:
/text << /Value (12345) /CTM[1 0 0 1 0 0]>>
where the formula for scaling is /CTM[A B C D x y]
- Determine desired scale of replacement text.
- The number 1 is equal to 100% the placeholder size.
- Apply the relative proportion in the CTM where "A" determines the horizontal (X-axis) and "D" determines the vertical (Y-axis) scale.
- Replacement text may be scaled in either the horizontal, vertical, or both directions.
- Please be aware that the scaling is relative to the size and alignment of the placeholder element.
The attached sample contains a script that replaces and scales a text element in first the horizontal, then vertical and then both directions.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 19:32 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I translate (move, offset) replacement text? top
translation of replacement text is controlled by the Current Transformation Matrix syntax during a replacement.
Syntax:
/text << /Value (12345) /CTM[1 0 0 1 0 0]>>
where the formula for translation is /CTM[A B C D x y]
- Determine desired translation of replacement text.
- Translation is based upon Points where 72 points = 1 inch.
- Apply the translation in the CTM where "x" determines the horizontal (X-axis) and "y" determines the vertical (Y-axis) translation.
- Replacement text may be translated in either the horizontal, vertical, or both directions.
- Please be aware that the translation of text is relative to the position and alignment of the placeholder element.
The attached sample contains a script that translates a text element in first the horizontal, then vertical and then both directions.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 20:43 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do overlay PDF pages? top
Overlaying PDF pages is accomplished by utilizing the $Page.MediaBoxTop command in pdfExpress. This creates a layer on top of the base page that can contain references to other PDF pages. The $Page.MediaBoxBottom page creates a layer behind the base page.
Syntax:
/$Page.MediaBoxTop [(:fileA.pdf:1:)]
where the command is referenced inside of the dictionary of an /addPage command.
- Create a script with the base layer as your carousel.
- Add the $Page.MediaBoxTop command to the dictionary of the /addPage.
- Reference an external pdf file or a page from a carousel.
The attached sample contains a script that utilizes a blank PDF page as a base and overlays one element at a time per page for four pages to demonstrate the transparency effect of overlaying pages.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 22:58 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I translate (move, offset) an overlaid PDF page? top
Translation of an overlaid PDF page is controlled by the Current Transformation Matrix syntax during a $Page.MediaBoxTop or $Page.MediaBoxBottom command in pdfExpress.
Syntax:
/$Page.MediaBoxTop [ << /Value (:fileA.pdf:1:) /CTM[A B C D x y] >>]
where the formula for translation is /CTM[A B C D x y]
- Create a script with the base layer as your carousel.
- Add the $Page.MediaBoxTop command to the dictionary of the /addPage.
- Translation is based upon Points where 72 points = 1 inch.
- Apply the translation in the CTM where "x" determines the horizontal (X-axis) and "y" determines the vertical (Y-axis) translation.
- Overlaid page may be translated in either the horizontal, vertical, or both directions.
- Please be aware that overlaid PDF pages are bottom-left corner aligned to the bottom-left corner of the base page. All translation is relative to this point, also known as the origin.
The attached sample contains a script that utilizes a blank PDF page as a base and overlays a PDF page and then applies an offset first in the horizontal, then vertical and then both directions.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 23:11 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I create an imposition with PDF pages? top
An imposition utilizing PDF pages is accomplished by overlaying and translating PDF pages using the Current Transformation Matrix syntax during a $Page.MediaBoxTop or $Page.MediaBoxBottom command in pdfExpress.
Syntax:
/$Page.MediaBoxTop [ << /Value (:fileA.pdf:1:) /CTM[A B C D x y] >>]
where the formula for translation is /CTM[A B C D x y]
- Create a script with the base layer as your carousel.
- Add the $Page.MediaBoxTop command to the dictionary of the /addPage.
- Translation is based upon Points where 72 points = 1 inch.
- Apply the translation in the CTM where "x" determines the horizontal (X-axis) and "y" determines the vertical (Y-axis) translation.
- Overlaid page may be translated in either the horizontal, vertical, or both directions.
- Please be aware that overlaid PDF pages are bottom-left corner aligned to the bottom-left corner of the base page. All translation is relative to this point, also known as the origin.
The attached sample contains a script that utilizes a blank PDF page as a base and overlays two PDF pages, applying an offset to each page to create a 12-up business card imposition.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 23:23 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
Can I have multiple input and output files? top
Yes. The script file can contain multiple carousels and multiple output streams. Pages from any carousel can be used as input to any output stream.
- Create a script with multiple, uniquely named carousels and output streams.
- In separate /addPage commands add valid page references from named carousels to an output stream.
- Please be aware that the user can specify multiple pages in the page array in a single /addPage command.
The attached sample contains a script that containing three carousels as inputs and three output streams. Pages are then added to each output stream from each carousel in a variety of ways.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/10/03 15:47 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How do I create a blank PDF page? top
A blank PDF page can be created using the /MediaBox operator inside of the /createCarousel dictionary.
Syntax:
[ /createCarousel (c1) << /Page << /Rotation 0 /MediaBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] >> >> ] merge
where the formula for /MediaBox is [bottom left top right]
- Determine the page size, in points, you would like to create
- Page size is based upon Points where 72 points = 1 inch.
- Create a script with the /MediaBox operator inside of the /createCarousel dictionary.
- The four numbers can be thought of as a two-point geometric coordinate system with the first pair describing the lower-left and the second pair describing the top-right corner.
The attached sample contains a script that creates five carousels, each a different size and/or orientation, and adds them in order to a single output stream.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 16:26 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How can I crop (DeltaMask) a page or overlay? top
When overlaying a page the /DeltaMask operator can be used to crop the overlaying page. The /DeltaMask operator is utilized inside of the dictionary of a $Page.MediaBoxTop operator.
Syntax:
/$Page.MediaBoxTop [ << /Value (:FileA.pdf:1:) /DeltaMask [36 36 36 36] >> ]
where the formula for /DeltaMask is [bottom left top right]
- Determine the finished page size, in points, you would like to create.
- Determine the difference in page size, in points, from the actual page size.
- Page size is based upon Points where 72 points = 1 inch.
- Create a script with the /DeltaMask operator inside of the /$Page.MediaBoxTop dictionary and place the amount, in points, you would like to remove from each of the four sides of the input file.
- When a replacement occurs with this modifier, no rendering occurs between the actual size of the object (its media box) and the distance specified by a new media box where bottom and left are added to the original media box and top and right are subtracted from the original media box.
The attached sample contains a script that crops an overlaid pdf page in each direction, one page at a time, and then crops from multiple directions at once.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/09/03 17:26 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
Why is content on my background disappearing when I overlay another page? top
When overlaying one page onto another using the $Page.MediaBoxTop operator the pages act as transparencies, allowing non-marked space to show items behind or beneath, while marked space obscures those items behind or beneath. A common misconception is that space appearing as white when the PDF is viewed in some utility like Acrobat, is that the space is actually not marked. The space may be unmarked, or it may actually by white, which is an opaque color. The best way to determine the existence of background white boxes is to overlay onto a colored background.
Syntax:
[/addPage (s1) [(base:1)] << /$Page.MediaBoxTop [ (:overlay.pdf:1:) ] >> ] merge
where "base" is a colored page as a background and "overlay.pdf" is the overlay page obscuring content on other pages.
- Create or utilize a colored background page as your carousel.
- Overlay the offending page into the colored background with the /$Page.MediaBoxTop operator.
- Output page should display the relative opacity of the overlay on the non-white background
- Please note that certain graphic arts composition programs, such as QuarkExpress, often create text and/or image boxes with white backgrounds. These programs often allow the user control over such processes, and can often be modified so that the image and/or text area is non-colored and transparent when distilled to PDF.
The attached sample contains a script that overlays a logo with a white background onto a page with text, obscuring the text, and then overlays the same logo onto a blue page to demonstrate the opacity of the logo.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/11/03 11:49 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
How can I use PDF commands and operators to draw lines and objects? (Content stream)? top
Users can inject PDF commands directly into the output PDF file using the /Contents operator. This will allow the user to perform operations such as line drawing, filling of paths and simple graphics rendering.
Syntax:
/$Page.MediaBoxTop [ << /Value << /Contents( operators ) >> >> ]
where "operators" is one or more valid PDF operators that will be interpreted and executed in order from top to bottom in linear fashion, or from back to front graphically, where the first drawing commands may be obscured by any subsequent commands marking the same area.
- Create or utilize a colored background page as your carousel.
- Using the /$Page.MediaBoxTop operator create a value containing the /Contents command as part of its dictionary.
- Populate the /Contents with valid PDF operators in a such a manner as to not interfere with the current graphics state of the PDF file.
- Please note that the modification of a PDF file using the /Contents operator can adversely effect the PDF file if not implemented properly. This is a highly advanced feature that requires knowledge of PDF files and operators.
The attached sample contains a script that generates a dynamic page for the base layer and overlays a page containing marking commands as part of the /Contents operator. Simple graphics operations such as moving the cursor, drawing lines, drawing rectangles, filling paths and drawing curves are demonstrated with this example.
Download Sample
Submitted 07/14/03 15:30 by GMP
Version plug-in: V2.1.0 BETA 08-21-02 PC, RELEASE Win95/98/NT/2K/XP, Build 2212, UI Build 2143
Version pdfc: pdfc-Pro Release Build 3.0.2
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