PDF Creator and Alternatives

PDF Creator

PDF Creator is a free PDF printer with an API that allowed access for PDF functionality in ABC.

Using PDFCreator 1.7.3 (old version)

In the past PDFCreator 1.7.3 was included with ABC Client 4 installers. Version 14 auto-configures it for PDF creation when present. Version 15 auto-configures it for both PDF creation and emailing.

We removed it in later versions of ABC Client 4 installers because it is blocked by most antivirus software, as it includes bundled adware. It was possible to still install it manually by turning off antivirus software temporarily or excluding a folder from AV scans, and unchecking any adware options. However, we recommend using a current version of PDF Creator and manually configuring it to work with ABC.

Using PDFCreator (current version)

1. In ABC Client Settings > Advanced Setup Options, uncheck "Auto Configure PDF Creator."
2. Download and install PDFCreator. It comes bundled with PDF Architect, but you may skip installing it: Click the gear for Advanced Settings and uncheck PDF Architect, and then click "Skip" if prompted again. You can also "Decline" other prompts for extra software.
3. In PDF Creator, click Profiles, select <Default Profile>.
4. In Save settings, select "Automatic" save, Filename <Title>, Target Directory <MyDocuments>\My ABC Files\PDFs, Behavior for existing file "Overwrite files"; check "Skip send actions that fail".
5. Under Actions remove any actions listed so there are none.
6. In ABC Client Settings > Printer Settings > PDF Printer, select the PDF Creator printer.

Alternatives

Other PDF printers can be used in ABC. To work with ABC, a PDF printer needs to automatically name the PDF to the document name, save it to a specified folder without prompting the user, and not open it.

WIN2PDF

WIN2PDF can be configured to function with ABC, and is quite fast.

Using WIN2PDF

1. Download and install WIN2PDF.
2. In ABC Client Settings > Advanced Setup Options, uncheck "Auto Configure PDF Creator."
3. In ABC Client Settings > Printer Settings > PDF Printer, select the WIN2PDF printer.
4. Click the PDF link on an invoice. In the WIN2PDF save dialog, browse to Documents\My ABC Files\PDFs. Click the "PDF Options" button. On the "Document" tab, check "Auto-name Files." Check "Include Document Title." Uncheck the remaining options. Click "OK," and save the file.
5. The trial version appends an advertising page. License WIN2PDF, and you're done.

PDF Machine

PDF Machine has a free version, but when we do a no next action it takes us into the licensed category. It continues to work, but with a banner on the output PDFs.

Install PDF Machine. (Note, if doing a reinstall for an existing license, download and license versions must match.)

Using PDF Machine

1. Do printer properties on the driver. Click Preferences > Options.
2. On the general selection, set filename to pdfmachine.pdf. Choose to save a copy of the generated PDF to \documents\My ABC Files\PDFs\.
3. Set filename to {DOC}.pdf.
4. Uncheck all the selections on the bottom.
5. Click next action on the left and set Next Action to "No next action."
6. Click "OK."
7. In ABC Client Settings > Advanced Setup Options, uncheck "Auto-configure PDF Creator."
8. In ABC Client Settings > Printer Settings > PDF Printer, select the PDF Machine printer.