Export as PDF using Calc

users
#1

Hi,
I am using Calc (actually soffice) in a headless manner (using
—headless). I am running it on a server that doesn’t have X server and
communicating with soffice using JOD converter.

Generally it hasn’t been a problem, however when I export the
spreadsheet to PDF, wide spreadsheets get truncated and take multiple
pages, which is highly undesirable.

However, when I run the same program on my local dev machine, which
has X server running, the output PDF gets auto scaled to a certain
extent.

Can you please direct me how to get auto scaling on server that
doesn’t have X server running? When running in headless mode, what OS
setting are picked up by LibreOffice. What do I need to set them on my
server?

I have spent couple of days trying out different options, e.g. using
Xvfb on my server with different screen sizes, but to no avail.

Any help is appreciated.
TIA,

Sunil

#2

Sunil,

When I have exported a document to a pdf file the conversion using the
default page such as A4, US Letter, etc. to paginate the document. Also,
normally the pagination uses the default orientation (portrait or
landscape).

The issue is why are your using a pdf document and not using ods format
or even another format for your documents. The pdf format is often used
for file sharing when the recipient is expected to only view the results
and not edit them.

Also, which version of LO are you using and which OS are you using; it
sounds like Linux?

#3

Hi Jay,
Thanks for the response. I am using Linux and tried LO 3.5 and 4.0 but
same behavior. I want to share the doc and the recipient might not
have LO hence the need to convert to PDF.

Any insights will be appreciated.
Sunil

#4

Hi Jay,
Thanks for the response. I am using Linux and tried LO 3.5 and 4.0 but
same behavior. I want to share the doc and the recipient might not
have LO hence the need to convert to PDF.

Any insights will be appreciated.
Sunil

Sunil,

Try export/saving as xls or xlsx instead of pdf. xls is probably the
better format for MSO users because MS apparently likes to tweak the
xlsx format with every MSO release. This will preserve the formatting
and the formulas.

If format and formulas are not important to the others you can save as a
csv file. The problem is some users might panic when the import wizard
opens in their spreadsheet program.

I am not sure how do this when working headless.

Jay

#5

Even though you are running headless, it may require CUPS-PDF to be setup on the server. You may also have to set defaults for CUPS.

See this article to get an idea of what may be needed.
http://thismightbehelpful.blogspot.com/2008/09/remote-access-to-cups-web-interface.html

Hope this helps, as I am not sure this will actually answer your problem.

#6

You should please use ods to promote LO; the native format can be seen
on numerous spreadsheet software such as gnumeric and m$excel.

Does m$ continue to remove formulae from spreadsheets and show only the results?

If yes and your recipient does not need to view formulae, only
results, native format ods will be acceptable to m$excel

#7

The OP may want his spreadsheets available on machines that don't have
*any* spreadsheet software, hence the need for pdf. I think we should
try and solve that issue, not suggest alternative formats.

#8

For the original question - exporting it to PDF without truncating. . . .
I tend to export it to PDF but set my paper size to a larger size, like
8.5 by 14 or 11 by 17 inches, then print it out with the printer option
of shrinking the page to fit the paper size you need. Since I use
CUPS-PDF for Linux and doPDF for Windows, I can export the document to
PDF of a larger size and then use the external PDF "printers" to shrink
the larger page size to a letter page size.

I have done this many times with a Writer document and a few time with a
Calc graphics printout.