How to set what PDF printer to use for QlikView Publisher Reports in QlikView May 2021 and later

[Daniele_Purrone]

Beginning with QlikView May 2021, the QlikView Publisher no longer installs PDF-XChange and will default to Microsoft Print To PDF. 

How to generate PDF reports on a Windows 2012 server, since Print To PDF is not installed there?

Resolution

Have the PDF X-Change 3.0 installed with a previous version of QlikView. If you begin with 12.60, follow this article.

After PDF X-Change 3.0 has been installed, follow these steps:

1. Stop the QlikView Management Service
   
   
2. Using a administrator Notepad, edit:
     
   C:\Program Files\QlikView\Management Service\QVManagementService.exe.config
   
   
3. Locate the <appSettings> section
    
4. Add the line
   
   <add key="ShowPdfPrinters" value="true" />
   
   
   
5. Save the file and start the QlikView Management Service
   
   
6. Open the QlikView Management Console:
   1. Go to System
   2. Go to Setup
   3. Expand the Distribution Services
   4. Choose your Distribution Service
   5. Switch to the General tab
   6. Scroll to the Settings for QDS section
   7. You can now configure the PDF Printer using a dropdown 
      
      
      
      

      Additional third party printers have not been tested. In case of performance or stability issues, install one of the two supported printers (PDF X-Change or Microsoft Print to PDF).

Environment

QlikView May 2021 (12.60) on a Windows 2012 server

[Chernov]

Hi,

Where can I get a download link QV 2021, and get release notes of new ver?

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

Hello @Chernov 

May 2021 for QlikView has not yet been released, but you will be able to download it from our download page when available: https://demo.qlik.com/download/

All the best,

Sonja 

[Pavan81]

@Daniele_Purrone 

We recently upgraded to Qlikview server 12.6 may 2021 .  after the upgrade we are having issues with print report in the web version of the documents. the format of the report is not maintained, the the tables and charts are either big or too small and not in expected position on the page. but when the report is generated in the desktop version which also is 12.6  the report print out/generates  perfectly as it was designed in report editor.

we dont have qlikview publisher or qlikview nprinting  licenses.

the server has bullzip pdf writer  and pdf- xchange 3( which was not installed with 12.6) installed 

is their a setting that needs to be enabled for the web version to print/generate the report to use a pdf writer?

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

Hello @Pavan81 

I would recommend posting this query in our relevant QlikView forum.

Alternatively, contact Qlik Support and include a copy of the document that no longer prints correctly in 12.60.

All the best,

Sonja 

[p_verkooijen]

Hi,

On a client environment the same issue regarding wrong format, Qlik creates PDF's based on Letter instead of the A4 format set in the report.

At another client we are running W2012R2 and after upgrading to 12.6 we are not able to manually print reports from a QlikView document. The same issue as this knowledge base doc was created for no Microsoft Print to PDF printer available. Any settings to select a different PDF printer? Nothing I tried seems to work and really need a resolution.

[p_verkooijen]

QlikView May 2021 SR1 has been released, you can now set your default printer

https://da3hntz84uekx.cloudfront.net/qlikview/12.60/126020100/QlikView%20May%202021%20SR1%20Release%...

Reports fail to print
Issue ID: QV-22394
Fixes the export to pdf action parameter PDF Printer Name and adds the setting DefaultPDPrinterName that makes it possible to specify the name of a default PDF printer. The problem only exists on Windows Server 2012.

Also works on Windows Server 2019 (tested Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2019)

Steps:

• Edit the : C:\ProgramData\QlikTech\QlikViewServer\Settings.ini
• Add: DefaultPDPrinterName=PDF-XChange 3.0 somewhere below [Settings 7]
• Restart QlikView Server service

And Yes Qlik named the setting DefaultPDPrinterName instead of DefaultPDFPrinterName

[pasgalbarra]

Hi @Daniele_Purrone , @Sonja_Bauernfeind < @p_verkooijen 

I have QLikView May 2022 SR1 in a windows server 2019 and I can't find a solution to the PDF printer.

What I did was:

1)

• Stop the QlikView Management Service
• Using a administrator Notepad, edit  "C:\Program Files\QlikView\Management Service\QVManagementService.exe.config"
• Add the line
  
  <add key="ShowPdfPrinters" value="true" />

Did not work

2)

Then I  did: (did not rollback what I did first)

1. Download PDF Exchange 3. (NOTE: if the link doesn't work in your browser, copy and paste the URL http://da3hntz84uekx.cloudfront.net/pdf/9.00/7119/_MSI/QvPDFSetup.exe to a new window)
2. Ensure the Spooler (Print Spooler) service is running via Windows Task Manager
3. Run the installer downloaded in Step 1 above
4. Confirm the printer driver appears in the Devices and Printers applet under  \Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers

But the PDF Printer is empty

What should I do to fix this? should I do this?

• Edit the : C:\ProgramData\QlikTech\QlikViewServer\Settings.ini
• Add: DefaultPDPrinterName=PDF-XChange 3.0 somewhere below [Settings 7]
• Restart QlikView Server service

Should I removed what I did first (QVManagementService.exe.config)?

Thanks

[pasgalbarra]

I have QLikView May 2022 SR1 in a windows server 2019 and I can't find a solution to the PDF printer.

What I did was:

1)

• Stop the QlikView Management Service
• Using a administrator Notepad, edit  "C:\Program Files\QlikView\Management Service\QVManagementService.exe.config"
• Add the line
  
  <add key="ShowPdfPrinters" value="true" />

Did not work

2)

Then I  did: (did not rollback what I did first)

1. Download PDF Exchange 3. (NOTE: if the link doesn't work in your browser, copy and paste the URL http://da3hntz84uekx.cloudfront.net/pdf/9.00/7119/_MSI/QvPDFSetup.exe to a new window)
2. Ensure the Spooler (Print Spooler) service is running via Windows Task Manager
3. Run the installer downloaded in Step 1 above
4. Confirm the printer driver appears in the Devices and Printers applet under  \Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers

But the PDF Printer is empty

What should I do to fix this? should I do this?

• Edit the : C:\ProgramData\QlikTech\QlikViewServer\Settings.ini
• Add: DefaultPDPrinterName=PDF-XChange 3.0 somewhere below [Settings 7]
• Restart QlikView Server service

Should I removed what I did first (QVManagementService.exe.config)?

Thanks

[Sonja_Bauernfeind]

Hello @pasgalbarra 

Not being able to see any printers (as I believe that is what you meant with "did not work" on the first step?) would indicate that the service account cannot access the printer list.

To clarify what each of the steps you did do:

• Adding "<add key="ShowPdfPrinters" value="true" />" simply enabled the view in the Management Console to be able to use a drop-down to select the printer you wish to use in the Distribution Service. So this means for any pdfs to be created using the Publisher (sending documents as pdfs, etc).
• While DefaultPDPrinterName=PDF-XChange 3.0 somewhere below [Settings 7] is meant for the QlikView Server, meaning you define the printer for Expert to PDF from the AccessPoint.

If you cannot see any printers listed in the Distribution Service, then either no printers are installed, the printer spooler is offline, or you do not have permissions to view them with the service account.

All the best,
Sonja 

[nasarkhann]

Hello @Sonja_Bauernfeind ,

We have upgraded from May 2021 to May 2023 IR We have all the settings done as mentioned but the export doesn't work. Do you have any suggestions please?

[Daniele_Purrone]

Hi @nasarkhann , are you talking about export from the Access Point or generating PDF reports via the Publisher. This article is only about the Publisher.