Automating creation of a PDF document from Word via VBA

  • Thread starter Thread starter rtrsr
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rtrsr

Is there a VBA routine that would allow me to pass keystrokes into an active
document -- as if they had been entered by a user?

I'm trying to create a routine that creates (automatically) a PDF copy of
the currently active document. The goal is to produce a PDF image of the
active document that (1) bears the filename of the active document (without
the ".doc", of course) and (2) is written in the currently active document's
folder - just by having the user invoke a hotkey or press a custom button on
the button bar.

My problem is getting VBA to pass the current document's name into the
PDF-creation system's dialog box.

I can't find a PDF creation system (at least one that I can afford) that
will let me pass the document name to it as an argument. So I propose to
"brute force" around this by simply sending the same keystrokes a user would
type into the dialog box as if they were generated from the keyboard.

I know. This is old-fashioned DOS macro programming.... I'll let you laugh
at me if you can tell me how to get VBA to do the same thing [grin]!

Rick
 
rtrsr shared this with us in microsoft.public.word.docmanagement:
I can't find a PDF creation system (at least one that I can afford)
Click to expand...

There you have it. I believe this /should/ be possible (not sure,
didn't try it) with the full Adobe Acrobat. It installs some macros,
and I would be surprised if those macros couldn't be used in some way.
 
The Adobe macros are not accessible for editing and will always prompt for
the filename (while offering the original document name) I see no way to
by-pass that without access to the Adobe code. Printing to the Adobe driver
*may* be possible but my attempts to introduce the filename in vba code
still results in a stop at the filename screen.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
 
Graham Mayor shared this with us in microsoft.public.word.docmanagement:
The Adobe macros are not accessible for editing and will always
prompt for the filename (while offering the original document name) I
see no way to by-pass that without access to the Adobe code. Printing
to the Adobe driver *may* be possible but my attempts to introduce
the filename in vba code still results in a stop at the filename
screen.
Click to expand...

I *am* surprised. I cannot imagine that such a thing hasn't been done
already, somewhere out there in the real world.
 
Amedee,

I posted a related inquiry over in the VBA-General Newsgroup. My idea there
was to brute-force a solution by passing the keystrokes for the document
name straight into the PDF-Creating dialog box - sorta like we used to do
with the "original" macros back in the Days of DOS.

I got a one-word response from "Steve Hudson - Word Heretic":

=========
SendKeys
=========

OK, I've looked this up on
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/wsmthsendkeys.asp
and, at first blush, this looks like a hopeful solution.

Do you have any experience with this? If it won't work, I'd sure like to
know it before I waste time hammering away.

Rick Rodgers
 
Graham,

I posted a related inquiry over in the VBA-General Newsgroup. My idea there
was to brute-force a solution by passing the keystrokes for the document
name straight into the PDF-Creating dialog box - sorta like we used to do
with the "original" macros back in the Days of DOS.

I got a one-word response from "Steve Hudson - Word Heretic":

=========
SendKeys
=========

OK, I've looked this up on
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/wsmthsendkeys.asp
and, at first blush, this looks like a hopeful solution.

Do you have any experience with this? If it won't work, I'd sure like to
know it before I waste time hammering away.

Rick Rodgers
 
Steve's responses can sometimes be a bit cryptic - ask if he would
elaborate.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
 
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