TallPDF .NET

asp:review

TallPDF .NET

Add virtually any PDF functionality to your project withthis versatile component.

By Michael Riley

One of the cool things about Extensible Style LanguageFormatting Objects (XSL:FO) is its ability to output its results to PortableDocument Format (PDF). Unfortunately for .NET developers, most implementationsof this transformation have been written primarily for Java. Realizing thisdeficiency, .NET component developer TallComponents has filled the void with aPDF generator, TallPDF .NET, that is much easier to use than XSL:FO, and it'swritten from the ground up as a native .NET assembly. Consequently,TallComponents wrote this component not for the compliant-at-heart, but ratherthe .NET developer looking to solve a business problem quickly. Although thismight certainly put off the open standards purist, it will turn on the PDF .NETcomponent seekers.

TallPDF .NET's assembly of 50-plus classes collectivelycontain more than 200 properties, methods, and events to generate virtually anytype of PDF document that could have been created using more traditional means.Of course, the complex documents require complex code, and TallPDF.NET is notimmune to this theorem. If you're unfamiliar with PDF document construction,you will have a steeper learning curve. And even if you're familiar with PDFprogramming, you will spend a weekend or two becoming familiar with theproduct's Document Object Model (DOM) implementation of PDF elements. Once youmake the educational investment, however, generating attractive and meaningfulPDF output is relatively easy.

The component includes samples demonstrating its mostcommon and useful calls. These code samples range from the 30 lines of a simple"Hello World" demo to a more substantial  PaySlip program of more than 120 lines that demonstrates TallPDF .NET'sability to consume XML and XSL documents to facilitate formatted data output.You'll find TallPDF .NET is most valuable for creating these more complexprograms. For instance, you can link the component to an XML data-output streamand merge it with XSLT to generate the same output as something such asApache's Cocoon project, yet you'll exert substantially less hand-coded effort.

You can address virtually any portion of a PDF documentwith this component - from creating Bezier shapes and images (BMP, JPEG, andPNG formats are supported for import) to setting the document author toapplying strong (128-bit) security for content access. TallComponents even letsdesigners extend the shape library using the Custom Shape class. This lets youcreate a library of unique and frequently incorporated shapes you can importinto the PDF document stream via an XML file. About the only thing TallPDF .NETdoesn't support is the application of digital signatures, which is somethingTallComponents should consider in future releases.

If you're seeking an easy way to provide PDF documentoutput to your end product, consider TallPDF .NET to help fulfill yourobjectives.

asp:factfile

TallComponents

Lisdodde 19

5931 TG Tegelen

Netherlands

Rating:

Phone: +31(0)77 3210942

E-mail: mailto:[email protected]

Web Site: http://www.tallcomponents.com

Price: Startsat US$399 (with evaluation discount)