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PdfScribe v1.3.2

PdfScribe is a PDF virtual printer. Check the releases page to download a prebuilt MSI package.

System Requirements

  • 64-bit Windows
  • .NET Framework 4.8 or later

Building from source

Visual Studio 2022/Votive 2022, and Wix 3.11 (or newer) are required to build PdfScribe.

PdfScribe links to, and distributes the following third party components:

  • Microsoft Postscript Printer Driver (V3)
  • Ghostscript (64-bit)
  • Redmon 1.9 (64-bit)

License

PdfScribe is AGPLv3+.

Configuration

In the application config file (PdfScribe.exe.config), there are the following settings in the "applicationSettings" element:

  • AskUserForOutputFilename - set value to true if you want PdfScribe to ask the user where to save the PDF.
  • OutputFile - if there is a constant filename you want the PDF to be saved to, set its value here. Environment variables can be used. PdfScribe will overwrite each time. This setting is ignored if AskUserForOutputFilename is set to true. Note that a literal % character cannot be used even though it is legal in a Windows filename.
  • OpenAfterCreating - set value to true if you want the PDF automatically opened with the default viewer. This setting is ignored if the file extension is not .PDF
  • StripNoRedistill - set to true if you want PdfScribe to remove any postscript that prevents printing of secured PDFs (see issues #25,#33 for details). A separate pass of the postscript output needs to be made, so only set to true if needed.

Known Issues

  • Check repo issues for the latest.

Release notes

v1.3.2

  • Set GS AutoRotatePages to /None (issue #32)

v1.3.0

  • Added StripNoRedistill option (fix for issue #33).

v1.1.5

  • Maintenance release, no new functionality. Link to Ghostscript 10.0, locally compiled redmon64pdfscribe.dll.

v1.1.3

  • Set output filename dialog box - PDF filename defaults to redmon document name. Inspired by changes @rainmakerho made (Pull request #36)

v1.1.2

  • Complete fix for issue #26 by @Zhuangkh (Pull request #40)
  • .NET 4.8 required

v1.1.0

  • Redmon modification for issue #17 by @mca0815

v1.0.9

  • Redmon modification for issue #17 by @tahoop (Dialog box for filename not appearing).

v1.0.8

  • Partial fix for issue #26 (bug with filename containing unicode/utf8 letters)

v1.0.7

  • Fix for issue #13 (Couldn't use environment variable in output filename).
  • Now defaults to use the print spooler rather than direct printing. (issue #14)

v1.0.6

  • Added option to automatically open PDF in the default viewer (enhancement request from issue #4).

v1.0.5

  • Installer package now properly removes older versions during a major upgrade. If you are upgrading from v1.0.4 or older, manually remove the old version first - the UninstallPrinter custom action is never called during an upgrade.

To do

  • Allow auto-generated filenames with sequence numbers if the user doesn't want to overwrite (ex: OUTPUT-001.PDF, OUTPUT-002.PDF, etc)
  • Allow file appending if OutputFile setting is used.
  • GUI for configuration
  • Watermarking output