Re: [hylafax-users] Somewhat OT: Need to overlay data onto form prior to faxing

[Bill Binko <bill-sender-4b2fd6@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,
I've found a number of useful Postscript utilities starting at this page:

http://www.watsys.unh.edu/ScienceTechTalks/TechToolsFiles/Postscript-PDF/ps-epslist.html

Hope this helps.
Bill

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004, Jim Moseby wrote:

> I am trying to overlay a preprinted form with form data.  In researching
> this I have found the following articles:
>
> http://www.hylafax.org/archive/2002-04/msg00055.html
>
> This article describes exactly what I want to do, but doesn't go into detail
> about HOW to do it.
>
> http://www.hylafax.org/FAQ/Q701.html
>
> This article describes watermarking a document with a single line of text,
> like "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL".  Not really what I am looking for, but on
> the right track.
>
> I have managed to use ImageMagic tools to do what I am trying to do via the
> following procedure:
>
> 1.  Convert form from .ps to TIFF (only done once)
> 2.  Convert overlay data from ASCII to postscript
> 3.  Convert overlay data from postscript to gif w/ transparent background
> 4.  Composite form with data, save to TIFF
> 5.  Fax resultant TIFF file
>
> The main problem with this is getting the data to align properly on the
> form, the time and horsepower it takes to make the conversions and
> composites, and the size of the resulting files.  If we were to do this in
> any volume, it would quickly swamp the server.  This also is limited to
> single page faxes without further coding.
>
> What I need instead is a simple tool to overlay two postscript files.
> Something like:
>
> "psoverlay <formfile.ps> <datafile.ps> <compositefile.ps>",  where
> formfile.ps is watermarked on every page.
>
> I can probably learn some postscript, and hack up a program to this, but
> before I set about re-inventing the wheel, does anyone know if such a tool
> already exists?  I would think this to be a popular feature if it were added
> to Hylafax as part of the sendfax program.
>
> Thanks!
>
> JM
>
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