Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

ActivePDF-like Reports w/ Apache?

Posted by Cliff on from the nice-pretty-graphs-and-pagination dept.

Martin71a asks: "I have recently been tasked with managing our website. I come from a mainframe and VB background and have a team of 3 people to work with. Our manager is having us switch from IIS to an Apache web server later this year. In the more immediate future, I need a solution to distribute print to our customers through our website. Previously, we had developed our reports using HTML, but we need more professional looking reports with more basic printing functionality, such as paging, built in. We have been testing ActivePDF in which we develop the reports in Crystal then use ActivePDF to send [those reports] to a virtual PDF printer, which allows the user to view them. We like the solution because it doesn't require our customer to download anything, other than a PDF viewer. We've also experimented with Crystal Enterprise, although it was an older version that required either a Java plug-in, or ActiveX download. My concern is that AcitvePDF does not appear to be supported for an Apache server. Does any know of a similar solution that would be appropriate for an Apache server?"

2 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Ridicukous question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Why use a proprietary, expensive solution on a free, OSS software solution? That is cutting your nose off to spite your face.

    Nothing is wrong with plain text files. Also, Adobe infringes on the rights of OSS hackers everywhere (Dmitry, anyone?)

    Get away from teh evils of Adobe and PDF - use real formats, formats that are interoperable, open, and friendly to informaton sharing.

  2. Re:*Apache Is Dying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    We really have to admit that Apache is in decline. In all likelihood, there may be only one more (or possibly two) releases before Apache goes away forever.

    I know it is now almost a mantra set in stone that "Apache is dying". Unfortunately, the abuse of that fact by trolls has obscured the truth, that truth being that Apache really is dying.

    My main reason for moving away from Apache to Windows Server 2003 has been twofold. First, to avoid the constant licensing flipflops. And secondly, to investigate more promising and viable entries in the web server sweepstakes. Apache is no longer a legitimate player, I'm sorry to say.