Printing To PDF In WinXP

[bostonman]

Back in 2021 I posted a question regarding printing to PDF on an Win98 machine - it was for an oscilloscope that runs Win98.

During this time, I tried a few programs: CutePDF, Doro, PDFCreator and PrimoPDF

The only one that worked was CutePDF.

Since then I've upgraded to XP on the scope, but CutePDF doesn't seem to work on XP. Since I know the others didn't work either, I'm wondering if anyone knows a good (free) one that I can try.

[HwAoRrDk]

CutePDF should work on Windows XP - I used to use it back then.

You're not trying to use the latest version are you? It doesn't support XP any more. Although they still have a link to XP-compatible older version on their site.

[gamalot]

I didn't try:

https://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

http://www.pdf995.com/

[bostonman]

Bullzip doesn't seem to work - shows an invalid Win32 application

The issue I had with Cute and PDF995 is that after I select it (adding a printer), the next screen shows that I need to select a printer name/manufacture. I don't know which to select because I don't see anything related to Cute or PDF995.

The one I use to like was PrimoPDF, but I couldn't get that to work on XP either.

[alm]

My solution for embedded platforms like that is not to risk affecting operation by installing any software, but set up a PDF network printer on a server / NAS and access this printer over the network from the scope, like this. From my time of maintaining Windows XP systems I don't remember them as the most robust things once a bunch of random software got installed. Especially software that adds their own permanently-resident services and tray icons.

[bostonman]

I don't have a server, but this is also an oscilloscope where it's not always in an area that has network access - plus it's running XP leaving it susceptible to viruses.

[T3sl4co1l]

I had an XP machine with PDFCreator, worked fine. Don't recall if it was licensed or free...

Want to say CutePDF is fine as well, not sure what version though.

Tim

[bostonman]

I've tested these on another old XP machine before bogging down my oscilloscope and none seem to work. Maybe conflicts exist and it would work fine on the scope.

[Sredni]

I don't remember what printer I chose with CutePDF, maybe Generic? But CutePDF (older versions) does work with XP.
The name I see when I try to print is "CutePDF Writer".
Try choosing the most generic printer you find in the list.

[Ian.M]

I used to use Ghostscript on my XP systems for PDF conversion and print to PDF functionality. I ran v 9.02.

v 9.50 was the last version capable of running on Win XP as they migrated to Visual Studio 2019 as of v 9.52.   You may want to drop back further to v 9.27 as v 9.50 introduced several new features which were buggy and rapidly patched in the newer releases you cant use.  The filename of the 32 bit Windows installer for that would be "gs927w32.exe".

As you would be using 'Print to FILE:', which normally pops up a rather unfriendly filename dialog, and the scope probably doesn't have a keyboard connected, you may also need  mfilemon to automate that.  See https://kutana.fogbugz.com/?W2013

[alm]

it's running XP leaving it susceptible to viruses.

I didn't say it should have internet access or that any other Windows machine should be on that network. That's what VLANs are for. But suit yourself in what works best for you. I try to treat test equipment with Windows as any other piece of test equipment and keep software installations / modifications to an absolute minimum.

[HwAoRrDk]

The issue I had with Cute and PDF995 is that after I select it (adding a printer), the next screen shows that I need to select a printer name/manufacture. I don't know which to select because I don't see anything related to Cute or PDF995.

You seem to be describing trying to install it via "Add a printer" wizard. That's not how it works. You just run the CutePDF setup program and it adds a printer called "CutePDF Writer" for you.

[c64]

I use doPDF

[BeBuLamar]

I create PDF on my WinXP machine using Adobe Arcrobat 5.0.

[bostonman]

Cute PDF seems to work. For whatever reason it wasn't on another XP machine (but I don't really care since I already have another program installed that works).