PDF document/report generation in PHP/Java/C++. Overview of FPDF Library
PDF document/report generation in PHP/Java/C++. Overview of FPDF Library.
Read the en
tire short-note first before following any links/urls in the short-note
Generating reports are an essential part of most business applications. In standalone, and client server based applications, you can use tools like Crystal Reports, and Quick Reports to generate reports. For web-based business applications, you can sure use these tools for report generation provided that you can make these tools connect to the data source of your web-applications. You will usually require to write an another application for report generation and viewing. This report generation application usually cannot be embedded in the web-applications.
The above is not the end of the world: You may have options to use Crystal Reports with PHP. Also, embed reports in PHP/Web-applications:
According to: http://bytes.com/topic/php/answers/1346-using-crystal-reports-php, Two options:
Another alternative can be, you can use PDF generation libraries such as FPDF, PDFLib to create reports for your web-applications. These reports can be embedded into your web-applications. FPDF is free. It has support for PHP, Java, C++, and others. A list will be provided below.
FPDF Features (Reference: http://fpdf.org)
Colors Links TrueType, Type1 and encoding support Page compression Please check the memory optimization class in the scripts section of the fpdf web-site: http://fpdf.org/en/script/script18.php" target="new">Memory Optimization. I would recommend to use this class (modify the base class to support memory optimization in the light of this class) from the beginning. Take a closer look at the Scripts section of the FPDF web-site (http://fpdf.org). Take a look at all the scripts and classes. Try to get high level ideas on them. So that you can relate your problem to the scripts if any.
Another note is that, in the scripts section, you will see many functionality that you may encounter in your applications. Now, in the scripts section, many of them create new classes for that particular function extending the base FPDF class. It's better that you think it early than diving into coding. You may want to create your own class extending FPDF class and add all the functions (from the scripts section) to your class and make use of these functions. Anothe related approach can be, you may want to use Mixins concept in PHP (http://www.advogato.org/article/470.html), to make use of the features as provided in different classes in the scripts section (as PHP does not support Multiple Inheritance).
Check the functions as provided in the Manual section of the fpdf web-site. First, lightly check each of the functions (in terms of: name, parameter, what it does, what it returns, limitations, any other similar functions or not, which one is the best, which one is fit for which situation....). Then try the examples, run them, alter them, and check the outputs. Not a must, but memorizing syntax and function names exactly will improve your productivity/efficiency, and hence, reduce the cost of your employers.
FPDF and PDF Generation Related Links (Reference: http://www.fpdf.org)
Read the en
tire short-note first before following any links/urls in the short-note
Generating reports are an essential part of most business applications. In standalone, and client server based applications, you can use tools like Crystal Reports, and Quick Reports to generate reports. For web-based business applications, you can sure use these tools for report generation provided that you can make these tools connect to the data source of your web-applications. You will usually require to write an another application for report generation and viewing. This report generation application usually cannot be embedded in the web-applications.
The above is not the end of the world: You may have options to use Crystal Reports with PHP. Also, embed reports in PHP/Web-applications:
According to: http://bytes.com/topic/php/answers/1346-using-crystal-reports-php, Two options:
- 1. If you run PHP on Windows, call Crystal Reports as a COM object.
- 2. Regardless of your OS, you should still be able to use Crystal Reports' Web services. Learn the specs, get yourself a copy of NuSOAP, and you should be all set...
Another alternative can be, you can use PDF generation libraries such as FPDF, PDFLib to create reports for your web-applications. These reports can be embedded into your web-applications. FPDF is free. It has support for PHP, Java, C++, and others. A list will be provided below.
FPDF Features (Reference: http://fpdf.org)
- Selection of measure unit, page format and margins
- Page header and footer management
- Automatic page break
- Automatic line break and text justification
- Image support (JPEG, PNG and GIF)
Colors Links TrueType, Type1 and encoding support Page compression Please check the memory optimization class in the scripts section of the fpdf web-site: http://fpdf.org/en/script/script18.php" target="new">Memory Optimization. I would recommend to use this class (modify the base class to support memory optimization in the light of this class) from the beginning. Take a closer look at the Scripts section of the FPDF web-site (http://fpdf.org). Take a look at all the scripts and classes. Try to get high level ideas on them. So that you can relate your problem to the scripts if any.
Another note is that, in the scripts section, you will see many functionality that you may encounter in your applications. Now, in the scripts section, many of them create new classes for that particular function extending the base FPDF class. It's better that you think it early than diving into coding. You may want to create your own class extending FPDF class and add all the functions (from the scripts section) to your class and make use of these functions. Anothe related approach can be, you may want to use Mixins concept in PHP (http://www.advogato.org/article/470.html), to make use of the features as provided in different classes in the scripts section (as PHP does not support Multiple Inheritance).
Check the functions as provided in the Manual section of the fpdf web-site. First, lightly check each of the functions (in terms of: name, parameter, what it does, what it returns, limitations, any other similar functions or not, which one is the best, which one is fit for which situation....). Then try the examples, run them, alter them, and check the outputs. Not a must, but memorizing syntax and function names exactly will improve your productivity/efficiency, and hence, reduce the cost of your employers.
FPDF and PDF Generation Related Links (Reference: http://www.fpdf.org)
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