XSLT/PDF Merge Validation Tool (a.k.a. PDF Tester Tool)

Overview

This tool enables a developer to test the plotting of all form elements defined by an XSLT file against an associated PDF file.

<PrintPackage> Specification

A print package contains all the information required to render a PDF form with data. There are two ways to specify a print package file using this tool:

  1. Master.xml - This is the default selection. The master file was designed to carry any and all information required to print on forms in Harmony. This file can be found in the following solution folder: Enrollment/Forms/Transforms/_Xml. There are directions located at the top of this file that specify usage. There are also comments within the file that contain additional information. Note: unless you are adding something to the file that was missing, please "Undo Pending Changes" after each use.
  2. Custom Print Package - In order to use a custom print package, simply un-check the Master.xml checkbox and use the file browser to navigate to a print package xml file. You can create your own print package file, or capture it directly from the "print form" process in debug mode. In order to capture a print package from the system, set a breakpoint in PrintPackageFormatter.CreatePrintPackage on the XPathDocument line. Then view the TextReader variable with the text viewer and copy the contents. Paste the contents into a new xml file that should then be saved to a known location. Navigate to the newly saved print package file and click "Create PDF".

"Show" Checkboxes

There are three checkboxes that allow you to customize the output display of the PDF.

  1. Grid - This is not selected by default. Use this checkbox to assist in determining coordinate values and widths associated with form elements. When this checkbox is selected, a grid will overlay the output PDF.
  2. Box - This is selected by default. Use this setting to enable/disable the bounding boxes around each of the elements in the PDF. This will assist you in the sizing of form elements.
  3. Text - This is selected by default. You will typically only need to uncheck this box when all of the other checkboxes are unchecked in order to print out a "clean" form.