Missing text fields in PDF
Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 4:54 am
Someone using my neuropsyc testing app -- created with Indy 7.1.3 -- has experienced a perplexing problem on a Mac laptop running macOS 10.12.3.
The problem is that none of the text fields appeared in the PDF generated by my app, although the text labels and graphic items did appear. She sent me a copy of the PDF, which indeed was missing the text-field information.
The app is designed to generate a PDF from a substack after (1) populating the text fields with text info stored in custom properties, and (2) inserting up to 208 PNG graphics into the display, based upon the results also stored in custom properties.
Here's the thing: At my end, the app works perfectly in generating the PDF in macOS 10.6.8 (my default OS). Moreover, I've just installed a copy of 10.12.4 (the current version of Sierra) on an external drive and found that the app generates the PDF just fine.
The Apple App Store doesn't permit us to download an older version of a macOS, so I have no way of testing whether this user's problem was specific to my customer's macOS 10.12.3.
We can rule out two possible problems:
(1) It's not a font-related problem, because the text labels (which employ the same font) are fine.
(2) It's not a problem of access to the custom properties, because the PNG graphics displayed in the PDF match those specified in the custom properties.
Was the user's experience a one-time (inexplicable) fluke, or related to a bug specific to creating a PDF either in LiveCode or in macOS 10.12.3?
Perhaps someone still running 10.12.3 can test whether there's a bug in creating PDF files.
Thanks,
jeff k
The problem is that none of the text fields appeared in the PDF generated by my app, although the text labels and graphic items did appear. She sent me a copy of the PDF, which indeed was missing the text-field information.
The app is designed to generate a PDF from a substack after (1) populating the text fields with text info stored in custom properties, and (2) inserting up to 208 PNG graphics into the display, based upon the results also stored in custom properties.
Here's the thing: At my end, the app works perfectly in generating the PDF in macOS 10.6.8 (my default OS). Moreover, I've just installed a copy of 10.12.4 (the current version of Sierra) on an external drive and found that the app generates the PDF just fine.
The Apple App Store doesn't permit us to download an older version of a macOS, so I have no way of testing whether this user's problem was specific to my customer's macOS 10.12.3.
We can rule out two possible problems:
(1) It's not a font-related problem, because the text labels (which employ the same font) are fine.
(2) It's not a problem of access to the custom properties, because the PNG graphics displayed in the PDF match those specified in the custom properties.
Was the user's experience a one-time (inexplicable) fluke, or related to a bug specific to creating a PDF either in LiveCode or in macOS 10.12.3?
Perhaps someone still running 10.12.3 can test whether there's a bug in creating PDF files.
Thanks,
jeff k