PDF output option for Dashboards, Active, Reports or Stories

[RichardP]

Hi..

As most of you are likely aware - C11 does not currently support the option of exporting an Active Report, or Dashboard or Story to PDF.
I would suspect that this is a common ask from many developers/clients.
We have asked IBM and the advice for now is to Vote on the Enhancement request and take a screen capture :0(

What I was wondering about is if anyone was aware of a 3rd party app that could capture the a webpage and auto-save to PDF?
Yes, I know I could do a screen shot - crop in paint...paste into Word - and save in PDF - but we can't ask our users to go thru this step.

Anyone aware of any software that could work in this fashion?

Thanks in advance

[RichardP]

I should mention I have already tried via Control Panel - Add PRINTER - adding a AdobePDF printer - where you can PRINT to this Virtual Printer which then saves your Webpage as a PDF....
I also tried installing the Adobe Acrobat DC IE Toolbar extension which offers a toolbar button to "Convert Webpage to PDF..." option
Also tried Win2PDF - all with mixed and not useable results.
i.e. only 1/2 of the webpage captured, some text looks to be in Latin, and  dashboard images are not always rendered.

In the event - I find a workable solution until a true Export to PDF option is available from within the product   - I'll re-post.

[petercah]

I heard a rumor that this will be a key feature of 11.0.8

I also heard a rumor that 11.0.8 will be released before the end of 2017.

[hardstep]

Looks like R8 was released yesterday / today - https://www.ibm.com/communities/analytics/cognos-analytics-blog/introducing-cognos-analytics-11-0-8/

[MFGF]

I heard a rumor that this will be a key feature of 11.0.8

I just looked at R8, and this isn't something that has been added...

MF.

[brandynabel]

There are many tools out there that can render an output from a webpage, I believe PhantomJS has a tool to go to PDF. If you could get the output from Cognos into one of these toos they could be rendered to PDF and you would have more control of how these items are then rendered than just trying to print the page from the browser.

[RichardP]

I just looked at R8, and this isn't something that has been added...

MF.

Thanks - yes I looked as well....
I  confess I read the following from the release notes with great anticipation until I read the 2nd last word..

"More output options for reports with the ability to save and output a report as XML format.." 

[RichardP]

There are many tools out there that can render an output from a webpage, I believe PhantomJS has a tool to go to PDF. If you could get the output from Cognos into one of these toos they could be rendered to PDF and you would have more control of how these items are then rendered than just trying to print the page from the browser.

Thanks - I'll take a look at PhantomJS and follow up.

[Jeff H.]

I tried this method in 11.0.9:

View your dashboard and then select the fullscreen option (2 diagonal arrows) which is in the top right by your preferences. Once in fullscreen use ALT - PRINTSCREEN or CTRL - C. Paste into MS Word and then save as PDF.

I'm loathe to tell users to do this but that's the best I can offer until they release the print option as an enhancement.

[RichardP]

Just wanted to provide a quick update.... 

YES the option to Export your Dashboard to PDF is available in C11.0.11 and later....
We never landed on C11.0.10 - so not sure if it first became available in C11.0.10 or C11.0.11..
Anyway...
The implementation is different than say Report Studio where the PDF option is built into the product.
the Dashboard PDF option uses the PDF capability of your Browser.

In our environment we use Internet Explorer 11.0.9 as our Browser standard...  and we are currently using Windows 7.
IE under Windows 7 does not have a built in PDF option.
However, at least using my home laptop which has Windows 10 - IE under Windows 10 DOES have a built a in PDF option.

Saying that - I assume you could install some type of PDF Add-on to IE or <browser of choice> if they do not have a builtin PDF capability...
In our environment, that isn't am option as they admin locks down the IE settings.

So just wanted to pass on that in order to use the DASHBOARD PDF option - you must be using a version of a Browser that supports PDF.