TfrxHotPDFExport

FastReport 4 / FastReport VCL adapter

FastReport 4 / FastReport VCL PDF export filter that uses HotPDF as the underlying PDF backend instead of FastReport's own built-in PDF writer. Intended for projects that already embed HotPDF and want a single PDF backend across the whole application

Delphi declaration:

type

  TfrxHotPDFExport = class(TfrxCustomExportFilter)

  published

    property Compressed: Boolean default True;

    property Title, Author, Subject, Keywords: string;

    property PageRange: string;

    property PDFVersion: TPDFVersType default pdf17;

    property PDFACompliance: string;

    property PDFXCompliance: string;

    property CompressionLevel: TPDFCompressionLevel default clDefault;

    property RenderDPI: Integer default 200;

    property ExportMode: TfrxHotPDFExportMode default hemPageMetafile;

    property AutoCreateURL: Boolean default False;

    property FontEmbedding: Boolean default True;

    property NotEmbeddedFonts: TStrings;

    property ActivateProtection: Boolean default False;

    property UserPassword, OwnerPassword: string;

    property CryptKeyLength: THPDFKeyType default k40;

    property ProtectOptions: THPDFProtectOptions default [];

    property EncryptMetadata: Boolean default True;

  end;

Description

TfrxHotPDFExport descends from TfrxCustomExportFilter, so it slots into the regular MyReport.Export(MyExportInstance) workflow without any FastReport core changes. The unit calls RegisterComponents('FastReport 4.0 Export Filters', [TfrxHotPDFExport]), so the filter shows up in the IDE component palette once the unit is added to a package

The adapter can export through one of three modes:

1. Start creates a fresh THotPDF instance and sets the document metadata (Title / Author / Subject / Keywords / PDFVersion / Compression)

2. PageRange optionally filters the FastReport pages before HotPDF page objects are sized or filled

3. StartPage sizes the new HotPDF page in points to match the FastReport report page's millimeter dimensions

4. hemPageMetafile keeps the original whole-page preview capture path and imports it through ShowEnhancedMetafile

5. hemObjectCanvas asks FastReport to draw each prepared view to an intermediate page metafile before HotPDF imports that page

6. hemNativeObjects maps supported prepared views directly to HotPDF page calls for selectable memo text with background, alignment, clipping, character spacing, and frame styling, raster picture image XObjects, simple shape geometry, line strokes, and view URL annotations

7. Finish calls EndDoc and copies the temp PDF to the caller-supplied Stream if needed

Properties

Compressed - HotPDF stream compression on (default True). Set False for diagnostic PDFs (~5x larger files).

Title / Author / Subject / Keywords - document metadata. When Title is empty the adapter falls back to Report.Name so the PDF always has a non-empty title

PageRange - optional one-based page filter using the same syntax as HotPDF page operations, such as 1, 1,3-5, or an empty string for all pages

PDFVersion - the PDF specification level the document should target. Defaults to pdf17

PDFACompliance and PDFXCompliance - forward HotPDF standards-conformance gates into the generated report PDF. Callers still prepare any required ICC profile, OutputIntent, tagging, or prepress assets through the normal HotPDF workflow before relying on the final conformance claim

CompressionLevel - FlateDecode level. Defaults to clDefault

RenderDPI - pixel density used when rasterising the FastReport page through TMetafileCanvas. Higher = crisper text and lines but larger metafile and PDF. 96 is FastReport's native screen DPI; 200 (default) gives print-quality results without enormous files

ExportMode - chooses whole-page metafile export, per-object canvas export, or native-object export for the currently mapped FastReport view classes

AutoCreateURL - forwards to THotPDF.AutoCreateURL so native memo text can create URI annotations for detected URLs

FontEmbedding and NotEmbeddedFonts - forward the usual HotPDF font embedding policy into the generated report PDF

ActivateProtection, UserPassword, OwnerPassword, CryptKeyLength, ProtectOptions, and EncryptMetadata - forward HotPDF password-security settings when encrypted report output is required

Typical workflow

Exp := TfrxHotPDFExport.Create(nil);

try

  Exp.FileName := 'Report.pdf';

  Exp.Title := 'Monthly Statement';

  Exp.PDFVersion := pdf17;

  Exp.PDFACompliance := '3B';

  Exp.PageRange := '1,3-5';

  Exp.RenderDPI := 200;

  Exp.ExportMode := hemNativeObjects;

  Exp.AutoCreateURL := True;

  Exp.FontEmbedding := True;

  Exp.NotEmbeddedFonts.Add('Courier New');

  Exp.ActivateProtection := True;

  Exp.CryptKeyLength := aes256;

  Exp.OwnerPassword := 'owner';

  Exp.UserPassword := 'viewer';

  Exp.ProtectOptions := [prPrint, prInformationCopy];

  frxReport1.Export(Exp);

finally

  Exp.Free;

end;

Capabilities preserved

Whole-page and object-canvas modes preserve vector and raster page content rendered by FastReport's standard layout engine. Native-object mode currently preserves supported memo text as PDF text with background, horizontal and vertical alignment, and frame styles; picture views as image XObjects; simple shapes as PDF geometry; line views as strokes; and view URLs as URI link annotations. Document-level metadata is preserved in every mode

Limitations

FastReport-specific PDF features that require additional structural mapping (AcroForm fields, named destinations, and document outlines) are not propagated by this adapter. PDF/A and PDF/X gate properties are forwarded to HotPDF, but standard-specific assets such as OutputIntent profiles remain the caller's responsibility

Packaging note

The adapter is distributed as an opt-in add-on rather than a dependency of the main HotPDF*.dpk packages, so projects without FastReport do not pull in FastReport units

See also: TQRHotPDFExportFilter, TppHotPDFDevice, dxHotPDFExportReportLink, THPDFPage.ShowMetafile, Enhanced EMF/WMF Support