Hi,

I have an app that generates a printout via Word automation (contracts) where the VFP program reads its DBFs and generates a text file. Next it activates Word to read that text file and merge it with a model document. Each time the program is run it generates a single printout generated by Word which is produced based in the multi line text file (each line contains information to generate one contract).

The volume of contracts is increasing an the app user asked me if I could generate not a printout, rather a PDF file (one PDF file for each contract) that could be later sent by email.

What should the best way to go?

I imagined two ways of doing that, albeit I'm not sure it could be accomplished or they are the best ones:

1) Instead of generating a multi line text file, the app would loop generating single line text files, that means one contract at a time. Next it would call word to perform the mail merge for each single contract, and print it to a PDF driver. Here I don't know if it is possible to inform (by program) the name of the PDF file to be generated, to the PDF driver.

2) Instead of generating a multi line text file, the app would loop generating single line text files (same as above). Next it would call Word to perform the mail merge for each single contract, and save the merged document with a suitable name. After all contracts have been generated (and saved as Word .doc files) the app would call a converter that could read all generated .doc files and convert them to PDF.

Currently the company I'm working for told me they already use the Pdf995 printer driver (http://www.pdf995.com/index.html), but I have no experience with it. This could be used for option (1) above?

Also, in the Pdf995 web site there is a reference to OmniFormat (http://www.omniformat.com/), that is a a free document conversion utility which allows dynamic conversion and image manipulation of over 75 file formats including HTML, DOC, XLS, WPD, PDF, JPG, GIF, TIF, PNG, PCX, PPT, PS, TXT, Photo CD, FAX and MPEG. This could be used for option (2) above?

I thank you very much for any ideas, references and/or comments.

Regards,

Fernando