Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter

V6.0 for Formatter is now available! Web Interface V6.0 is compatible with Formatter V6.3 or later. Contact us for a free trial.

Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter is a software package that allows users to remotely access Formatter to format and generate PDFs with a Java command-line program when it is running on a server. Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter now supports Linux.

The Docker image for the combination of Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter Server & 64-bit Linux Formatter V7.0 is also available:

Web Interface for Formatter features:

  • Simplified client access to Formatter Server License via the internet
  • Includes a server program, client program, and folder monitoring service
  • Designed in Java, server and client programs communicate over TCP sockets using a custom protocol
  • Greatly reduced development time and simplified support
  • Allows for cross-platform communication such as Windows client to Linux server connection and vice versa

Normally, in order to use Formatter that runs on a server from a client machine, you would need to develop the application (.NET, Java, etc.) on the server side to transfer files via the Internet and connect to Formatter through a programming interface. With Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter, all development work is done for you! You can format and generate PDF files remotely without developing applications on the server side. It eliminates the need to undertake an expensive and complicated development effort. Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter equips Folder Monitoring Service that will allow you to obtain the conversion result only by throwing a target file into the specified folder and will notify you when the conversion finishes.

Overview

Formatter V6.3 or later is required. System requirements depend on Formatter.

No need to develop an application for the server

Simply install Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter on the server running Formatter, it's that easy.

Easy to use on the client side

By installing the software provided by Antenna House on the client side a lot of the work is already done for you. All you need to do is take the code provided by Antenna House and make it part of your client application. Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter builds the command that sends XML data and an XSL or CSS stylesheet to the server where the Server License of Formatter is installed and all processing takes place.

Formatting documents on the server side

On the server side, the xml data is transformed into XSL-FO using an XSLT processor on the server. Then Web Interface for Formatter starts Formatter and finally returns the PDF to the client machine. To create PDF from XML you don't need Formatter installed at the client machine.

When the server receives HTML, HTML with CSS stylesheet or XML with CSS stylesheet, it is transformed using Formatter and returns the PDF to the client machine. To create PDF from XML/HTML you don't need Formatter installed on the client machine.

Folder Monitoring Service

By using Folder Monitoring Service on the client side, Formatter can be used more easily. That is, the conversion result can be obtained by dropping a target file into the specified folder.

Referenced Media Files

The client has an -xds-parse-media option that can be used with FO files to automatically upload referenced media files without having to prepare a separate data XML file.

Folder Monitoring Service is a service on the client side that detects the documents copied to the specified folder automatically and outputs the conversion result to the specified folder using Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter.

Folder Monitoring Overview

Once the folder monitoring service starts any files in the monitoring folder are processed.
The service then detects the creation of new files and processes those. For each processed file the folder monitoring service will create the necessary commands to connect to the web server of Web Interface V6.0 and store the results returned from the web server into the output folder.

In order to use Folder Monitoring Service, the target files being converted should be ZIP archived and put in the target folder as one file. Folder Monitoring Service finds and processes a file automatically, and puts the conversion result on the output folder.

The following files can be included in the archive for conversion.

  • Target documents (xml, xsl, fo, html, css, wml, etc.)
  • Command File
  • External reference file (images, etc.)

The following enhancements have been made to V6.0 of the Web Interface for Formatter:

  • Compatible with Formatter V6.4, V6.5, V6.6, V7.0, V7.1, V7.2, V7.3, V7.4
  • Supports Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022
  • Supports Linux 
  • Supports cross-platform communication such as Windows client to Linux server connection and vice versa
  • xdscmd changed to work similarly to Formatter command line client
  • Option to automatically upload images and media if the input is an FO file
Supported Systems  
Windows 32-bit and 64-bit versions

Windows 10 (32-bit/64-bit version)
Windows 11
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2022

Linux 32-bit and 64-bit versions Formatter V6.3 to V6.6 is built with GCC4.1.X
Formatter V7.0 to V7.2 is built with GCC 4.8.
(The runtime library libstdc++.so.6 or a binary compatible library is required for Formatter to work)

Pricing

TYPE OF LICENSE PRICE
Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter $3,000
Annual Maintenance $600

Licensing

  • Formatter V6.3 Server license or later is required in order to use the Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter.
    If you are using Formatter V6.2 or earlier, an upgrade is required.
  • There is no need to install Formatter on client side.
  • Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter is only available to licensed users of Formatter Server Licenses.
  • The Server component of the Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter can run only on a computer that is running a registered Formatter Server License and not on other computers directly or indirectly accessible to the computer Formatter is installed on.

How To Buy

Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter can be purchased directly from Antenna House or through one of our Resellers. For more information see Purchasing Assistance.

Support for the Web Interface V6.0 for Formatter is provided during the 90 day warranty provided with Formatter and then as part of the Annual Maintenance Contract for the Formatter License it is being used with.