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The task I have is pretty basic: Generate a PDF label with some barcodes. To get there is a bit of a mission though, mostly due to the availability (or lack of) tools.
I create an html template and have wkhtmltopdf convert it to pdf. Easy enough, but having precise layout and positioning in html isn't always that easy.
Generating code39 and 128 barcodes is relatively easy with JsBarcode. Except when it doesn't want to display once converted to pdf. Then you find out you have to set both the script and html to utf-8 encoding and then it works.
Generating a 2D pdf417 type barcode is relatively easy with a javascript library, except it fails to display once converted to pdf by wkhtmltopdf. So I find a .Net Core library that can generate the barcode as a png, convert the bytes to a base64 image and use that in the html by replacing placeholder text.
Another hurdle was wkhtmltopdf suddenly becoming very slow after being pretty fast in the past. Finally tracked down the issue to spoolsvc and my default printer being a network printer that's not connected anymore. Once removed the conversion works at a decent speed again.
In short, what should be an easy task had lots of complications and workarounds, some quite weird and difficult to track down, but in the end I learned some interesting things 
modified 23-Dec-20 7:29am.
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Then add all the fun you can have with Zebra label printers. 
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Never stop dreaming - Freddie Kruger
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That's why I use Avery label sheets and run 'em through my laser printer.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Well, for manual work that's better, but if you want to automate a bit it's not so fun any more.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Never stop dreaming - Freddie Kruger
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I haven't had to deal with those too much. I've had to work with the Intermec label printers (with the label done in Crystal Reports), but it wasn't too bad.
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When you're handling Crystal reports everything else is great.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Never stop dreaming - Freddie Kruger
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Double fun when using Clipper!
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Okay,
so we printed labels to go on Damaged Vehicles being kept outside.
They were rubberized and considered "weather-proof"... (Are you guessing how this ends?)...
Turns out, I never bothered to check the operating temperature of the adhesive (okay, I did, but
since it was 10 below Freezing, I thought we were fine).
Windchill can get much colder. so, on a windy morning, we go outside to see about 1,000 Labels flying around, and bunching on the ground and the near the fence. Panic Sets in...
At this point, the conversation the other day (When we put the label on, should we remove the GREASE PEN marker of the Lot #) came to mind, and one was GREATFUL that we decided to leave it on, just in case.
At this point, we revert to PAPER labels with aggressive adhesive and a larger, more forgiving barcode font.
Oh, don't make me think of labels...
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the paragraph would be so much easier to read, if you split it after every 3-4 lines/sentences.
Just a suggestion. 
modified 23-Dec-20 7:34am.
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Done
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Thank you.
I was going to delete my post because I realized how much of a jerk I sounded after re-reading it. I will edit the OP to be more civilized.
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I was thinking I should split it up while I was writing it
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As soon as someone mentions PDF I start to panic 
For a standard it's incredibly difficult and tooling is sparse or expensive.
Recently went the wkhtmltopdf route too.
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My condolences 
It has quite a number of 'quirks'.
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I tend to use a barcode font when I want to generate a barcode. It means that I need to calculate the checksum, but that is easy to do. The only issue is the lack of control of the barcode height.
When using Windows I use Bullzip to print to PDF, or Windows 10 has a built-in print to PDF option. The only issue is using WMI to select the printer (and filename.) I guess in your case you would also have to specify the page size.
Putting it all together to make a report - now that is where it gets... interesting.
Good work in getting everything working.
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You're in good company!
Quote: It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.
-– Albert Einstein
-Bob
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Naughty manic Satan is darkly humorous (3,5)
// TODO: Insert something here Top ten reasons why I'm lazy
1.
modified 23-Dec-20 3:42am.
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Please tell me you aren't looking for "BAD SANTA"! 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Yep, I am 
// TODO: Insert something here Top ten reasons why I'm lazy
1.
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A leeetle too simple, no? 
OK, I'm up Xmas eve.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Who better to comeup with another theme based?
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Yeah you're right.
I was going to say demon or devil to hide it a bit more but then I wasn't sure if the CC rules allowed an anagram of a substituted word or not.
I took little a gamble on people not remembering a 17 year old film and the fact, surprisingly, of how few people (that I know) know the satan/santa anagram.
// TODO: Insert something here Top ten reasons why I'm lazy
1.
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There have been many CCCs where a synonym had to be found for part, or all, of an anagram.
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Suggestions on what to use as a dynamic HTML5 wysiwyg editor to replace Dreamweaver would be appreciated.
Thank you for your suggestion
David Mills
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I just heard about this: Live Server - Visual Studio Marketplace[^] when i asked nearly the same question here earlier (i can't remember if it was yesterday or today i asked)
It shows a live preview using a real browser on the right hand side, while you edit tags on the left so it's not a true wysiwyg editor in the sense that i think most people would think of the term, but it might be enough for what you need, and it's nice to have VS code integration if you already use it.
Real programmers use butterflies
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