Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Versions Used:

PDFCreator v1.1.0; Note: PDFCreator is a separate

LabVIEW 2010

Windows 7

Step 1: Open PDFCreator ActiveX_lv10.llb

Step 2: Open “Print PDF Using PDFCreator

Step 3: Browse for refnum.ctl if LabVIEW

is just notifying that you pointed to a

be updating dependencies with new p

Step 4: The run arrow in LabVIEW may be broken,

PDFCreator ActiveX Class. If this is the case continue on to the next step otherwise if the run arr

broken jump to Step 14.

To update the link we need to browse to the ActiveX class again to create a reference for LabVIEW and

then update the refnum control to point to this new class.

Step 5: Go to the block diagram of “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” by navigating to

Window >> Show Block Diagr

Step 6: Double click on the “PDFCreator Open.vi” and open its block diagram by entering CTRL+E

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Last updated:

January 2011

PDFCreator is a separate download/install

Step 1: Open PDFCreator ActiveX_lv10.llb

: Open “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi”

: Browse for refnum.ctl if LabVIEW does not find it and Ignore the Load Summary Warning which

is just notifying that you pointed to a refnum.ctl that was not at the location that it expected and it will

be updating dependencies with new path.

: The run arrow in LabVIEW may be broken, , as it may not be able to connect/find the

PDFCreator ActiveX Class. If this is the case continue on to the next step otherwise if the run arr

ed to browse to the ActiveX class again to create a reference for LabVIEW and

then update the refnum control to point to this new class.

: Go to the block diagram of “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” by navigating to

Window >> Show Block Diagram or entering the shortcut CTRL+E

: Double click on the “PDFCreator Open.vi” and open its block diagram by entering CTRL+E

does not find it and Ignore the Load Summary Warning which

that was not at the location that it expected and it will

, as it may not be able to connect/find the

PDFCreator ActiveX Class. If this is the case continue on to the next step otherwise if the run arrow is not

ed to browse to the ActiveX class again to create a reference for LabVIEW and

: Go to the block diagram of “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” by navigating to

: Double click on the “PDFCreator Open.vi” and open its block diagram by entering CTRL+E

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Step 7: Delete the current ActiveX class reference by clicking on the wire holding SHIFT and

clicking the PDFCreator._clsPDF

Step 8: Roll over the “Automation Refnum” input for the Automation Open VI and right

when the spool appears. On the right

Step 9: From the Select Objec

PDFCreator Version 7.1 and select the

pictured below. Click OK on the dialog box.

Step 10: Back on the block diagram for PDFCreator Open.vi,

Automation vi and the Automation Refnum. Then right

of the Open Automation VI and select Create >> Constant

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Last updated:

January 2011

: Delete the current ActiveX class reference by clicking on the wire holding SHIFT and

clicking the PDFCreator._clsPDFCreator constant. Then click delete.

: Roll over the “Automation Refnum” input for the Automation Open VI and right

when the spool appears. On the right-click menu navigate to “Select ActiveX Class >> Browse…

: From the Select Object from Type Library navigate the Type Library drop

PDFCreator Version 7.1 and select the “clsPDFCreator (PDFCreator.clsPDFCreator)

pictured below. Click OK on the dialog box.

: Back on the block diagram for PDFCreator Open.vi, delete the wire between the Open

Automation vi and the Automation Refnum. Then right-click on the Automation Refnum output

of the Open Automation VI and select Create >> Constant

: Delete the current ActiveX class reference by clicking on the wire holding SHIFT and

: Roll over the “Automation Refnum” input for the Automation Open VI and right-click

Select ActiveX Class >> Browse…”

t from Type Library navigate the Type Library drop-down to

clsPDFCreator (PDFCreator.clsPDFCreator)” object as

delete the wire between the Open

click on the Automation Refnum output

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Step 11: Next right-click on the Automation Refnum indicator and select O

Step 12: Delete the Automation Refnum in the refnum.ctl and drag the Automation Refnum that

you created in Step 10 from the block diagram onto the refnum.ctl to replace the old one. Save

the ctl file and close it.

Step 13: Delete the Automation Refnum constant on the block diagram and wire the

Automation Open VI back up to the Automation Refnum indicator. Save PDFCreator Open.vi

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Last updated:

January 2011

click on the Automation Refnum indicator and select Open Type Def

: Delete the Automation Refnum in the refnum.ctl and drag the Automation Refnum that

from the block diagram onto the refnum.ctl to replace the old one. Save

ation Refnum constant on the block diagram and wire the

Automation Open VI back up to the Automation Refnum indicator. Save PDFCreator Open.vi

pen Type Def

: Delete the Automation Refnum in the refnum.ctl and drag the Automation Refnum that

from the block diagram onto the refnum.ctl to replace the old one. Save

ation Refnum constant on the block diagram and wire the

Automation Open VI back up to the Automation Refnum indicator. Save PDFCreator Open.vi

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Step 14: Back in “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” the run button should now be solid

a test.txt at a known location on your hard drive and navigate to the path in the “Original Doc Path” by

clicking on the folder icon.

Step 15: Enter path information for where you want it created and the name of the PDF.

Step 16: Click the run button.

Note: On your first run of PDFCreator a dialog will ask you if it is OK to temporarily set it as the default

printer. Click in the “Don’t ask me again

should not be any dialog boxes that appear during

Step 17: Enjoy!

Creating PDFs in LabVIEW Using PDFCreator

Last updated:

January 2011

Back in “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” the run button should now be solid

at a known location on your hard drive and navigate to the path in the “Original Doc Path” by

Enter path information for where you want it created and the name of the PDF.

: On your first run of PDFCreator a dialog will ask you if it is OK to temporarily set it as the default

on’t ask me again” box and click OK. From this point on when you run it there

should not be any dialog boxes that appear during the process.

Back in “Print PDF Using PDFCreator ActiveX.vi” the run button should now be solid . Create

at a known location on your hard drive and navigate to the path in the “Original Doc Path” by

Enter path information for where you want it created and the name of the PDF.

: On your first run of PDFCreator a dialog will ask you if it is OK to temporarily set it as the default

box and click OK. From this point on when you run it there