topic Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality in ArcGIS Viewer for Flex Questions

FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:12:46 GMT

Hi all,

using the ExportWebMaptask function of the new print widget. Much nicer than the old one, but wondering if there is some way to make the image quality better?

I see the task has options to set the dpi and image size:

"exportOptions": {  "dpi" : 300,  "outputSize" :  [   500,   500  ] }

But, is there a way to modify the JSON string being sent to the task to overcome the default 96 dpi setting?

Thanks again,

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:16:07 GMT

Any ideas?

Seems that since it takes the export options as input, one should be able to "modify" it or change that setting. In fact, seems that this should be a printwidget.xml config option.

deault 96 dpi is decent for a monitor, but way sub-par for most print jobs. Seems that 266 should be the default as not many printers have a linefeed of more than 133 and would maximize most printer capabilties.

If nothing else, anyone know where the JSON string for the printTask is being generated?

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

BjornSvensson — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:52:47 GMT

... new print widget. Much nicer than the old one, but wondering if there is some way to make the image quality better?

Could you show an example?
What layers are you printing?
If using image data, what image format are you using (does changing it to use png32 improve it)?

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

BrianOevermann — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:19:26 GMT

Bjorn,

I, too, have users screaming for better print resolution. I have attached a sample that illustrates what I believe Rhett is also experiencing. I have attempted to add the dpi setting from exportOptions to the widget but have been unsuccessful so far. I have a feeling that I am inserting the dpi setting in the wrong place within the ExportWebMapForm.mxml

Could you point Rhett, I, and probably many others in the right direction?

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

DasaPaddock — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:24:50 GMT

You can update ExportWebMapForm.mxml to set the DPI by setting the exportOptions property on the PrintParameters.

See:
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/flex-api/apiref/com/esri/ags/tasks/supportClasses/PrintParameters.html#exportOptions

e.g.

        <esri:PrintParameters id="printParameters"                               format="{formatsDDL.selectedItem}"                               layoutTemplate="{layoutTemplatesDDL.selectedItem}"                               map="{hostBaseWidget.map}"                               preserveScale="{scaleCheckbox.selected}">             <esri:exportOptions>                 <esri:ExportOptions dpi="300"/>             </esri:exportOptions>             <esri:layoutOptions>                 <esri:LayoutOptions id="layoutOptions"/>             </esri:layoutOptions>         </esri:PrintParameters>

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:46:26 GMT

Thanks Dasa,

Sorry I didn't get examples posted, been pretty hectic around here.

Maybe it's just an issue if you live in Washington 😮

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

JasonStanton__GISP — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:01:41 GMT

Dasa,

Thank you so much for your solution! How would we be able to pick from a (short) drop-down list of options rather than set the DPI for the default? I'm not a developer so I can 'tinker' with things, but this is WAY beyond my knowledge.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!!

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

BrianOevermann — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:02:03 GMT

Thank you, Dasa.

It turns out that I had the right location, and even the right line of code after all. I just failed to wrap it in the <esri:exportOptions>... </esri:exportOptions> wrapper. Doh! I guess I wrongly assumed that I didn't need to wrap it since it was only one parameter.

JStanton's idea for a pick list of dpi values (or just an input box for entering a value) is something that could be useful in certain situations, though I don't have an immediate need (nor time) to look into it. If it is an easy "add", I would love to see it. If it is more complex (and I suspect it may be), this could be a great, "quick enhancement" to the next version of the print widget. I would also make a pitch to have a dpi (or dpi pick list) added to the config file for the "non-developers" out there. Just a thought.

Thanks again for the quick solution, Dasa.

@Rhett: Maybe all of the rain is short-circuiting our code here in Washington! Ha!

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 18:02:32 GMT

So I added this to the ExportWebMapForm.mxml

   <esri:exportOptions>
    <esri:ExportOptions dpi="{dpiDD.selectedItem}"/>
   </esri:exportOptions>

also added this:

 <mx:FormItem id="printDPI"
     label="Select DPI"
     width="100%"
     includeInLayout="true"
     visible="true">
  <s:DropDownList id="dpiDD" width="100"
    labelField="dpi"
    selectedIndex="0">
   <s:ArrayList>
    <fx:Object dpi="96"/>
    <fx:Object dpi="266"/>
    <fx:Object dpi="300"/>
   </s:ArrayList>
  </s:DropDownList>
 </mx:FormItem>

This puts the dropdown list for dpi on the print screen and executes with no errors. However, the new dpi value is not being passed as a parameter. Anyone know what I am doing wrong and how to make it pass this value as a parameter?

Thanks,

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

DasaPaddock — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:09:00 GMT

Try:

<esri:ExportOptions dpi="{dpiDD.selectedItem.dpi}"/>

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:50:59 GMT

Thanks Dasa,

That did it.

Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to get the array values from the configxml.

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:25:25 GMT

Ok, in case someone elses wants to have the dpi option as a dropdown with the dpi values set in the configXML, her is how I did it:

Added <resolution> tag to the PrintWidget.xml:

<resolution>96,150,266,300</resolution>

In ExportWebMapForm.mxml,

added these vars:

   private var resol:String;
   [Bindable]
   private var exportDPI:IList;

made this change in the init() function:

   private function init():void
   {
    if (configXML)
    {
     printTask.url = configXML.taskurl;
     printTask.getServiceInfo();
     printButton.label = configXML.labels.submitlabel[0] || hostBaseWidget.getDefaultString("printSubmitLabel");
 //My add 
     resol = configXML.resolution;
     var resolArr:Array = resol.split(",");
     exportDPI = new ArrayCollection(resolArr);
 // End My Add        }
   }

Then added this mx FormItem:

  <s:DropDownList id="formatsDDL"
      width="100"
      dataProvider="{printTask.getServiceInfoLastResult.formats}"
      requireSelection="true"/>
 </mx:FormItem>
 <!--My add--> 
 <mx:FormItem id="printDPI"
     label="Select DPI"
     width="100%"
     includeInLayout="true"
     visible="true">
  <s:DropDownList id="dpiDD" width="100"
      selectedIndex="0"
      requireSelection="true"
      dataProvider="{exportDPI}">
  </s:DropDownList>
 </mx:FormItem>
 <!--End My add--> 
 
 <s:HGroup id="scaleFI"

Also have to add this to the printParameters:

        <esri:PrintParameters id="printParameters"
                              format="{formatsDDL.selectedItem}"
                              layoutTemplate="{layoutTemplatesDDL.selectedItem}"
                              map="{hostBaseWidget.map}"
                              preserveScale="{scaleCheckbox.selected}">
   <esri:exportOptions>
    <esri:ExportOptions dpi="{dpiDD.selectedItem}"/>
   </esri:exportOptions>
            <esri:layoutOptions>
                <esri:LayoutOptions id="layoutOptions"/>
            </esri:layoutOptions>
        </esri:PrintParameters>

This is for FV3.0. It appears in 3.1 you have to add this import as well (since I couldn't figure out how to get values from the config directly to an IList):

            import mx.collections.ArrayCollection;

Enjoy,

R_

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

PatrickMullen1 — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:25:28 GMT

Great work R_!

The drop down list option is very helpful.

For those who implemented the drop down list solution, don't forget to change the height of the widget in PrintWidget.mxml.

private function basewidget_initializeHandler():void
            {
                if (isPartOfPanel) // if widget is part of "left", "right" or "bottom" panel
                {
                    this.percentWidth = this.percentHeight = 100;
                    wTemplate.percentWidth = wTemplate.percentHeight = 100;
                }
                else
                {
                    wTemplate.width = 355;
                    wTemplate.height = 290; //Any number above 290 will give enough room.
                    wTemplate.minHeight = 168;
                }
            }

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

RhettZufelt — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:25:31 GMT

I removed the title block and added the dpi so didn't have to change the size.

If so, remember that it is a widget, as such, the height/width can be handled in the widget tag. No need to edit source:

        <widget label="Print" left="600" top="80" height="290" width="355"                
                icon="assets/images/i_print.png"
                config="widgets/Print/PrintWidget.xml"
                url="widgets/Print/PrintWidget.swf"/>

Re: FV 3 advanced print widget output quality

JasonStanton__GISP — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:27:39 GMT

Thanks to everyone who helped resolve this thread!...your time is greatly appreciated!!