Generate PCL from PDF in Java

Question

What is the best way to generate a PCL output file from an existing PDF file in java?

Answer 1

It depends on how much you want to invest, and how robust the solution needs to be. For quick and dirty, you can print from Adobe Acrobat to a file, using a PCL driver (look, mom, no Java ...).

The Java Print Service API can process PDF. Use StreamPrintService and write the stream to a file, using PCL for the output format.

If you need to have more control over the content, maybe modify it or add to it, you can use a PDF parser (this one, for instance) and print the resulting HTML from a browser that your application starts, by adding some Javascript, for example.

Answer 2

The StreamPrintService from JDK 6 does only support PS. I am still searching for a StreamPrintService which supports PCL.