The PDF Printer is a custom, GDI-based virtual printer driver for Windows, written in C++. It behaves like a physical printer to any application, but instead of producing paper output, it captures the print job and turns it into a PDF — useful for automation and workflows where you want to generate PDFs from applications that only support printing.
- Distribution includes a Microsoft Merge Module (.msm) with the reusable installer components, an example WiX project for building a Windows Installer Package (.msi), and a notification_handler.exe that can run after each print job.
- A .msm file cannot be installed on its own — it must be merged into an .msi installer, which is what actually gets deployed on end-user machines.
Printer capabilities include:
- PDF 2.0-compliant output.
- Flexible page sizes (A4, Letter, Legal, Tabloid, and custom dimensions) and both Portrait and Landscape orientation.
- Full-color or grayscale printing.
- Document security — encryption, password protection, and permission restrictions (printing, copying, editing).
- Configurable print quality, from draft to high-quality production.
- Multiple pages per physical sheet (2-up, 4-up, and similar layouts).
During setup, you can configure the printer name, GUIDs for modules and components, your license key, a command line to launch after printing, and brand-specific values like the printer name and file prefix used for generated binaries.