I asked a version of this question earlier, but I'm in need of other solutions, so this is a more pointed question.
I'm in need of a server-based solution for converting ppt files to pdf files.
This solution can either sit on the current web server as a console command-triggered service, it can be integrated into the C# code of the web all, or it can be it's own server.
It also can't be based off of Libreoffice or Openoffice, as those two have problems converting SmartArt. I'm currently using Libreoffice.
I've tried Powerpoint console commands (/pt) combined with a PDF print driver (PDFCreator) but I can't get that to work from C#. The related question for that issue is here
I've tried a .vbs script, but that briefly opens the powerpoint window.
The script, from this answer, is here.
Option Explicit
Sub WriteLine ( strLine )
WScript.Stdout.WriteLine strLine
End Sub
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa432714(v=office.12).aspx
Const msoFalse = 0 ' False.
Const msoTrue = -1 ' True.
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/bb265636(v=office.12).aspx
Const ppFixedFormatIntentScreen = 1 ' Intent is to view exported file on screen.
Const ppFixedFormatIntentPrint = 2 ' Intent is to print exported file.
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff746754.aspx
Const ppFixedFormatTypeXPS = 1 ' XPS format
Const ppFixedFormatTypePDF = 2 ' PDF format
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff744564.aspx
Const ppPrintHandoutVerticalFirst = 1 ' Slides are ordered vertically, with the first slide in the upper-left corner and the second slide below it.
Const ppPrintHandoutHorizontalFirst = 2 ' Slides are ordered horizontally, with the first slide in the upper-left corner and the second slide to the right of it.
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff744185.aspx
Const ppPrintOutputSlides = 1 ' Slides
Const ppPrintOutputTwoSlideHandouts = 2 ' Two Slide Handouts
Const ppPrintOutputThreeSlideHandouts = 3 ' Three Slide Handouts
Const ppPrintOutputSixSlideHandouts = 4 ' Six Slide Handouts
Const ppPrintOutputNotesPages = 5 ' Notes Pages
Const ppPrintOutputOutline = 6 ' Outline
Const ppPrintOutputBuildSlides = 7 ' Build Slides
Const ppPrintOutputFourSlideHandouts = 8 ' Four Slide Handouts
Const ppPrintOutputNineSlideHandouts = 9 ' Nine Slide Handouts
Const ppPrintOutputOneSlideHandouts = 10 ' Single Slide Handouts
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff745585.aspx
Const ppPrintAll = 1 ' Print all slides in the presentation.
Const ppPrintSelection = 2 ' Print a selection of slides.
Const ppPrintCurrent = 3 ' Print the current slide from the presentation.
Const ppPrintSlideRange = 4 ' Print a range of slides.
Const ppPrintNamedSlideShow = 5 ' Print a named slideshow.
' http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff744228.aspx
Const ppShowAll = 1 ' Show all.
Const ppShowNamedSlideShow = 3 ' Show named slideshow.
Const ppShowSlideRange = 2 ' Show slide range.
'
' This is the actual script
'
Dim inputFile
Dim outputFile
Dim objPPT
Dim objPresentation
Dim objPrintOptions
Dim objFso
If WScript.Arguments.Count <> 2 Then
WriteLine "You need to specify input and output files."
WScript.Quit
End If
inputFile = WScript.Arguments(0)
outputFile = WScript.Arguments(1)
Set objFso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If Not objFso.FileExists( inputFile ) Then
WriteLine "Unable to find your input file " & inputFile
WScript.Quit
End If
If objFso.FileExists( outputFile ) Then
WriteLine "Your output file (' & outputFile & ') already exists!"
WScript.Quit
End If
WriteLine "Input File: " & inputFile
WriteLine "Output File: " & outputFile
Set objPPT = CreateObject( "PowerPoint.Application" )
objPPT.Visible = True
objPPT.Presentations.Open inputFile
Set objPresentation = objPPT.ActivePresentation
Set objPrintOptions = objPresentation.PrintOptions
objPrintOptions.Ranges.Add 1,objPresentation.Slides.Count
objPrintOptions.RangeType = ppShowAll
' Reference for this at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff746080.aspx
objPresentation.ExportAsFixedFormat outputFile, ppFixedFormatTypePDF, ppFixedFormatIntentScreen, msoTrue, ppPrintHandoutHorizontalFirst, ppPrintOutputSlides, msoFalse, objPrintOptions.Ranges(1), ppPrintAll, "Slideshow Name", False, False, False, False, False
objPresentation.Close
ObjPPT.Quit
Another method I tried has this: The problem with this is similar, it opens a (smaller) window briefly.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.IO;
namespace ConsoleApplication4
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
String sourceFilename = args[0];
String destinationFileName = args[1];
if (!File.Exists(sourceFilename))
{
throw new FileNotFoundException(string.Format("The specified file {0} does not exist.", sourceFilename), sourceFilename);
}
try
{
Microsoft.Office.Interop.PowerPoint.Application app = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.PowerPoint.Application();
app.Presentations.Open(sourceFilename,Microsoft.Office.Core.MsoTriState.msoFalse,Microsoft.Office.Core.MsoTriState.msoFalse,Microsoft.Office.Core.MsoTriState.msoFalse).SaveAs(destinationFileName, Microsoft.Office.Interop.PowerPoint.PpSaveAsFileType.ppSaveAsPDF);
app.Quit();
}
catch (Exception e)
{
throw new Exception(string.Format("Unable to convert {0} to {1}", sourceFilename, destinationFileName), e);
}
}
}
}
