can't print to pdf from FF (maybe Java problem?)

Margorita · 05-14-2009, 08:53 AM

1st, I don't speak geekspeak, so please pardon me if I explain my problem weird.

We use a virtual terminal/portal to process our credit cards. It is all browser based.

After running the credit card, a button at the bottom of the screen allows you to view the receipt.

When you press the button, a new window is spawned that has no menu items (file, edit etc.)

Within the body of this window, in addition to the information from the receipt, there is a button to press if you want to PRINT.

If you press the print button, the print dialog box appears and you are able to choose a printer.

Now here is where my problem comes in.....

(1st I'm running Win 2000 SP4)

If I do all of the above from Internet Explorer (IE ver 6.0.2800.110616 SP1 with 128-bit encryption) and print to a .pdf file, it works great.

But if I do all the the above in Firefox (3.0.10), the pdf document is garbage.

What is it about FF and printing to pdf that is different from IE?

I think that it has something to do with javascript, but I really don't know.

I've also noticed this problem with my browser based accounting package, NOLAPRO. Some of the reports I print, the body will be fine, but the headers will be garbage, almost like the template is written in 1 language and the body is pulled forward in another.

I have my FF set to open pdfs in another tab and have the adobe plugin.

Is there some other plug-in I need in order to print to an adobe file?

I've asked the tech support person at my credit card processor, but they only handle tech support questions with respect to processing the credit card transaction. They aren't programmers. And I can't get to the programming guys to ask anything.

I can provide screen shots, or whatever one might need to help diagnose this problem.

HELP!!!!!!!!!

Margorita · 05-27-2009, 02:34 PM

Undocked Windy,

By saying I don't speak Geek, I meant no insult. I wish I could understand everything you guys talk about on this forum, but I don't. I only meant to take me through it in baby steps, please.

in answer to your 2nd comment

My Firefox (ver 3.0.10) running on a Windows 2000 (SP4) PC, will not print certain webpages to a pdf file.

But I figured it out on my own...

If you print to Adobe Distiller it will work. Distiller is the main engine for turning PostScript files into PDF documents.

In Internet Explorer, this function is part of the IE Programming, but not in Firefox.
Therefore, one must use Distiller 1st.

05-14-2009, 08:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Margorita Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win2000 SP4	can't print to pdf from FF (maybe Java problem?) 1st, I don't speak geekspeak, so please pardon me if I explain my problem weird. We use a virtual terminal/portal to process our credit cards. It is all browser based. After running the credit card, a button at the bottom of the screen allows you to view the receipt. When you press the button, a new window is spawned that has no menu items (file, edit etc.) Within the body of this window, in addition to the information from the receipt, there is a button to press if you want to PRINT. If you press the print button, the print dialog box appears and you are able to choose a printer. Now here is where my problem comes in..... (1st I'm running Win 2000 SP4) If I do all of the above from Internet Explorer (IE ver 6.0.2800.110616 SP1 with 128-bit encryption) and print to a .pdf file, it works great. But if I do all the the above in Firefox (3.0.10), the pdf document is garbage. What is it about FF and printing to pdf that is different from IE? I think that it has something to do with javascript, but I really don't know. I've also noticed this problem with my browser based accounting package, NOLAPRO. Some of the reports I print, the body will be fine, but the headers will be garbage, almost like the template is written in 1 language and the body is pulled forward in another. I have my FF set to open pdfs in another tab and have the adobe plugin. Is there some other plug-in I need in order to print to an adobe file? I've asked the tech support person at my credit card processor, but they only handle tech support questions with respect to processing the credit card transaction. They aren't programmers. And I can't get to the programming guys to ask anything. I can provide screen shots, or whatever one might need to help diagnose this problem. HELP!!!!!!!!!

05-27-2009, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Margorita Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win2000 SP4	Re: can't print to pdf from FF (maybe Java problem?) SOLVED Undocked Windy, By saying I don't speak Geek, I meant no insult. I wish I could understand everything you guys talk about on this forum, but I don't. I only meant to take me through it in baby steps, please. in answer to your 2nd comment My Firefox (ver 3.0.10) running on a Windows 2000 (SP4) PC, will not print certain webpages to a pdf file. But I figured it out on my own... If you print to Adobe Distiller it will work. Distiller is the main engine for turning PostScript files into PDF documents. In Internet Explorer, this function is part of the IE Programming, but not in Firefox. Therefore, one must use Distiller 1st.