Rating: 4.5
Version tested: 1.0
SWF Printer Pro is a virtual printer that can convert any printable document into PDF, standalone flash presentation format (SWF), as well as JPG.
There are several freeware virtual printer programs 
reviewed on Freewaregenius that convert printable documents into PDFs (PrimoPDF, Bullzip PDF Printer, and PDF Creator, the latter having the ability to convert to image formats as well). What’s interesting about SWF Printer Pro is that it can convert to flash format (SWF) in addition to PDF and JPG’s. Here are some notes on this program:
- Converts anything you can print: installs as a virtual printer, and if your document allows for printing then it can be converted no matter what format it is.
- SWF navigation: you can either set a time period for transitioning the SWF flash file from one page to the next that will apply to all pages (no, you cannot set it for each page individually) or choose to wait for user input before going to the next page. In this case SWF Printer Pro provides a number of pre-set navigation buttons to choose from, and will allow you to customize the placement of these on the page.
- SWF options: you can set the size and margin of the SWF presentation, set background color for transparent areas. Other options: whether or not to set ’full screen mode’, whether or not to allow scaling/enable right click menu/allow keyboard navigation. You can even choose an audio file (MP3 or WAV) to use as background soundtrack. For some reason the resulting SWF files that I generated lacked the .SWF extension in the file names, but worked great once I added that manually into the filename.
- PDF options: include meta info for the document (author, keywords, descriptions, etc.), security options (permissions, protection strength), master and user level password protection. A handful of other options as well such as margins, orientation, etc.
- Print to JPG: generates a separate JPG file for each page in your document. Surprisingly, no options available in this case; by default it generates large hi-res Jpegs that you can subsequently reduce in size if you need to.
- Freeware: not just for personal use but, interestingly, business use as well. I am guessing that there used to be two versions of this program (SWF Printer and SWF Printer Pro) but that at this point the developers are offering the Pro version for free.
- Silent mode: is a mode whereby you can print straight into your default options without having to go through the options menus every time. Unfortunately, setting this up requires manually going in and changing the registry, which I found rather strange (instructions here). On the other hand this option is (apparently) geared towards developers and isn’t something most user would want anyway.
Wish list:
- Different Quality settings: would have been great, especially if they also displayed a preview of the predicted size of the generated file(s). As it is the different DPI quality settings that can be changed from the printing preferences strangely do not seem to have any effect on the quality or size of the generated files.
The verdict: the fact that this program does all three of PDFs, JPGs and SWF sends it high up on my list of must-install programs (it does a great job with all 3 formats.) It is the only freeware virtual printer that I know of that does SWF. If you work with SWF files especially or you want to create SWF files from all manner of source documents then this program is for you.
Compatibility: Windows 2000, XP, VISTA.
Go to the program page to get the latest version (approx 1.76 megs).
As of 1 Dec 07 the version is 1.20. Also, the product’s home page specifically states it generates PDF and SWF files. No mention is made of JPG files. [This may have already been mentioned in the first comment, but its not being in English makes it impossible for me to say for certain.] From this I assume that either they have removed this option from the current version, or it is an “undocumented feature”. Perhaps I will install it one of these days and find out for myself…
Les S: I personally install and test every piece of software before reviewing it on Freewaregenius. You don’t have to install it one of these days and find out for yourself; I already told you in the review that it does (output JPG files)
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I love this site, but this piece of software is driving me crazy today.
1. I went to the home site to download and the junk about “silent mode” (which it later explains is for developers – although it previously states “Automation via “silent” mode (for both end-users and software developers)” almost put me off. All I need is a GUI where I can choose options, press go and forget it.
2. I download the program and start to install.
3. I’m asked to insert my Windows XP disk into the A-drive!
(a) Who has an XP disk anyway – it’s all installed mirrors with a recovery disk nowadays, and
(b) the A Drive? Please!!?
4. It appears the install program can’t find “Unidrv.dll” although it is on my system already (Version 5.1.2600). Is this a WIndows 98 installer?
5. I go in search of a later version of the dll (Version 5.2.3790) and point the installer to load it from my desktop.
6. Installer complains the file isn’t XP Certified, but I have the option to stop installing – “STRONGLY RECOMMENDED” – or continuing.
7. I continue and get multiple error messages – including not being able to find the dll on the desktop. The setup happily continues though, until I get a finish button.
8. Click finish and Firefox opens and loads to a page explaining how to use the software. Useful if the software had installed properly, this has been such a waste of time.
9. I’ve bought from this company before, their software installed easily enough, but it’s such a shame that I can’t get this program to work.
PS For the benefit of Les S above, the 1st message reads something like…
“SWF Printer Pro 1,0 is a typical type of application that you install in your PC as a virtual printer to convert your archives into PDF.
The difference with SWF Printer Pro 1,0 is that it is capable of converting into PDFs and SWF”
English isn’t the most common language on the Web anymore. That translation took about 30 seconds and it’s worth making the effort.
SWF Printer Pro is great for SWF. However PDF files become much larger then PDF Creator http://www.freewaregenius.com/2006/12/03/pdfcreator/
Never mind.If you don’t like the above product that we will offer a better one.Nemo PDF Converter 4.0 converts PDF to Word/RTF and Word/Excel to PDF for uses of different situations with speed and 100 accuracy. It keeps intact of the original files and supports batch conversion. You can either batch convert files from the converter or from the button integrated in your documents with ease. Moreover, its user-friendly interfaces will make you a veteran from a new user in minutes.
http://www.nemopdf.com/index.html
This would not install on Windows 7 – 64bit – It said unsupported version of windows.
Hope they update it to Windows 7.
Anthony Russo
http://www.anthonyrussoblog.com/Anthony
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso