We’ve put together some answers to common questions:


I’m a Lotus Notes Administrator. What do I need to install on users’ workstations?

There is no client installation. SWING PDF Converter is a standard Lotus Notes database (NSF), so it can be hosted on a Domino server. Once it has been copied into the data directory (or a subdirectory) on your Domino server, and has been signed, its PDF icon is ready to be deployed to users by email. Open the application and go to the “Toolbar Icon Installation”. From there, you will be able to send an email to individual users or groups. Once they receive the email and confirm your request, the PDF icon will be added to their Notes toolbars.

SWING PDF Converter requires no printer driver, Office, Adobe, or DLL files installation.

I’m a business user. Can I add the PDF icon to my Notes toolbar?

Yes. Simply copy the NSF file into your Notes data folder, sign it with your user ID, and open the application from the Lotus Notes client. Within the “Toolbar Icon Installation” section, click on the Add button to add the PDF icon to your Lotus Notes toolbar.

I’m a Lotus Notes Developer. Can I deploy the PDF functionality within my application?

Absolutely. Just grab the PDF Converter libraries and other design elements, and insert them into your Notes/Domino applications. Employ the LotusScript API to convert Notes documents to PDF (or create PDFs using custom layouts - see “Alternate Forms“). This way, SWING PDF Converter becomes a seamless part of your application, and you don’t need to install our product separately.

How does SWING PDF Converter compare with other PDF tools?

SWING PDF Converter natively integrates with Lotus Notes, either as a toolbar add-on or as a component for developing custom applications (client-based or web-based).

Unlike other tools, SWING PDF Converter doesn’t require a client side installation of a printer driver nor DLL files. It is delivered as a standard Lotus Notes NSF file.

With SWING PDF Converter you can:

  • Export multiple documents/emails at once
  • Include file attachments to resulting PDFs (either in their native format, or converted to PDF)
  • Save collections of Notes documents/emails to self-contained PDF packages
  • Render Notes-specific design elements such as embedded views
  • Rely on a smart “fit to page” function that automatically adjusts the size of images and tables, ensuring no information is lost
  • Convert HTML content (including content created with online rich-text editors)
  • Use original forms or create alternate page layouts using Domino Designer
  • Centrally deploy and manage through configuration documents
  • Add PDF capabilities to your applications using LotusScript API
  • Run the conversion on server for scheduled tasks or web-based applications
  • Install the PDF Converter NSF on any Domino server (both 32 and 64-bit platforms are supported)

Which Lotus Notes versions are supported?

Lotus Notes/Domino R6.5, 7.x, 8.x are supported.

I’d like to archive my emails — what should I do?

Select one or more email messages and click on the PDF Converter icon in the Lotus Notes toolbar. Then, choose the conversion options or leave defaults in place to start the conversion. You can create either separate PDF files (one file per each email) or a compact, searchable PDF Package.

What is a PDF Package?

A PDF Package is a single PDF file which acts as a container for other documents or email messages. SWING PDF Converter users can export multiple documents or emails into a PDF Package. File attachments within the email messages or Notes documents are automatically embedded into the PDF - either in their native format, or converted to PDF.

The resulting PDF package also contains a view with columns from the original Notes view (e.g. Date, From, To, Subject), so users can sort, search and navigate through documents/emails with ease - all this inside Adobe Reader.

PDF Packages are also known as PDF Portfolios.

Do you support RichText fields?

Yes. SWING PDF Converter converts Notes documents including RichText fields.

What about file attachments?

File attachments can be stored within the resulting PDFs either in their native format or automatically converted to PDF format. Converted files can be either attached or appended to the PDF.

Are there any form design elements that are not supported?

The following elements are not currently supported:

  1. Layout regions - We suggest using Alternate Forms in this case.
  2. Computed text - We suggest using “Computed for display” fields, or Alternate Forms.
  3. RichText Lite fields - We suggest using Alternate Forms with RTLite replaced with RichText Fields. Simply copy your original form with all elements, change RTLite’s to RTF’s and you’re set.

What is an Alternate Form?

An Alternate Form is an optional Notes form which is aimed to replace the original form when a PDF is being created. This way, you may want to optimize your Alternate Form’s page layout for print/PDF (e.g. letters, faxes, certificates and so on), while leaving the original form for data entry.

Do you support XPages?

Domino XPages cannot be converted directly. Instead, you can design a separate Notes form for PDF conversion. While interactive XPages are optimized for the web, these additional forms should be optimized for print and PDF. This is a great way to produce print-quality output from Domino web applications.

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