New Fax C++/ActiveX User Strings

January saw the addition of priority faxing in the Fax C++/ActiveX toolkit. Also at this time, Fax C++/ActiveX was expanded to include a user string with each fax object.

What is a fax object user string? The user string can be any string of up to 260 characters and can be uniquely assigned to each and every fax object. As a reminder, a fax object is a unique identifier associated with every fax. Developers can set a variety of different properties for each fax object which dictate how that fax will be routed, manipulate and sent by the Fax C++/ActiveX.

The new user strings functionality of Fax C++/ActiveX has a nearly unlimited number of uses. For example, consider the following example:

A fax server or similar application where users can submit jobs to an internal queue. By assigning a user string to each fax object, the application can identify which user sent the fax. The application can parse the queue and search for specific user strings in order to:·

Cancel the fax (delete it from the queue)
Add additional pages to the fax
Change the priority for the fax
Duplicate the fax object to send it to more than one recipient
And much more

Prior to the inclusion of user strings in the Fax C++/ActiveX, it was up to the developer to implement a solution to track and label different fax objects. By utilizing user strings, developers can add a wide range of new functionality to their existing applications.

User strings can be manipulated using the GetUserString and SetUserString functions/methods available in version 11.03 and higher of the Fax C++/ActiveX. Developers can visit the Black Ice website at http://www.blackice.com to download the latest evaluation version of the Fax C++/ActiveX and try it for themselves.

AutoPrint and BatchConverter samples Enhanced PDF Printing

The Black Ice Printer Driver Resource Toolkits include both AutoPrint and BatchConverter sample applications which demonstrate how to send any MS Office or PDF file to the Black Ice printer drivers programmatically. Using these samples as a starting point, developers can develop service based and batch printing applications which can use the Black Ice printer driver to generate the desired output without any user interaction.

The AutoPrint and BatchConverter samples were originally written and release to work with Adobe Acrobat Reader 5. Since their initial release, Adobe has released to new major versions of Acrobat Reader, and in the process have changed the way that Acrobat behaves.

The latest release of the Black Ice printer drivers, version 9.03, include enhanced AutoPrint and BatchConverter samples which allow developers to harness the features and functionality of the latest Adobe releases with their own applications.

Developers can download the latest evaluation version of the Black Ice printer drivers to test the new functionality for themselves. Maintenance subscribers and request their free upgrade to the latest release by contacting the Black Ice sales department directly.