Module Pages2Pdf

[Can]

Wow, just checked those examples on github. they're looking really good..maybe I'll change my custom mpdf thing to your wirepdf. 

But I'm doing screencasts for the customer and we're going live pretty soon, so no time right now..

nice work again wanze headsup

[gebeer]

Great input, thanks Wanze!

At the moment I'm waiting for the go from my client. They haven't signed off the project yet. So I'm still in the research phase. Once I start real work on the project I surely will consider your recommendations and will then keep you updated on my progress.

WirePDF module looks promising.

Have you ever experimented with client side PDF creation libraries like https://github.com/MrRio/jsPDF ?

Cheers

Gerhard

[Wanze]

Thanks Can, good luck with your project

The new version is now merged into the master branch, I also updated the README on GitHub.

With v.1.1.1, a new config option was introduced: Creation mode
This setting controls when the PDF files are generated and stored for caching purposes. The default value is still "on click", right before downloading a PDF file.

Now, the PDF files can also be created when saving pages in the ProcessWire admin. This new option is preferable if the PDFs are heavy and need some time for processing - the clients won't have to wait for it.

Please post any problems or questions regarding updating the module to the new version in this thread.

[Wanze]

Great input, thanks Wanze!

At the moment I'm waiting for the go from my client. They haven't signed off the project yet. So I'm still in the research phase. Once I start real work on the project I surely will consider your recommendations and will then keep you updated on my progress.

WirePDF module looks promising.

Have you ever experimented with client side PDF creation libraries like https://github.com/MrRio/jsPDF ?

Cheers

Gerhard

You're welcome.

I don't have any experience with client side PDF creation tools. I have done some work with TCPDF in the past and now mPDF because the HTML/CSS support is better though still limited. If you need very complex layouts then maybe it is better to not use HTML at all but the native stuff from these libraries, e.g. positioning the cursor and output text/shapes/images exactly where you need it.

Personally, I prefer a server-side solution because JS can be manipulated by the visitor, not sure how to deal with saving PDF files then. On the other hand, if the PDF files are always created "on the fly", why not - if enough browser support is given.

[gebeer]

@Wanze

I set up a quick and dirty test for jsPDF library here: http://jspdf.webseiten-fuer-alle.de/

Underneath "Choose example" select "**NEW: addHTML()" and you will see the result instantly

It handles floating images and divs very well.

I like the way you can just drop in a complete HTML page and the result seems to be almost exactly what you see in the browser. So no more extra pdf templates. Definitely looks promising.

As for saving the pdfs, that's a good question. Browser support seems to be fine.

[nfil]

@nfil: just a quick thought: you may try to use the file:/// protocol (with three slashes), e.g.

echo "<TD WIDTH='25%'><img src=\"file:///{$someImgThumb->filename}\" width=\"{$someImgThumb->width}\" height=\"{$someImgThumb->height}\" /></TD>";

Haven't tested and don't know if it can work with mpdf, - just a quick thought.

@horst Thanks horst but the file:/// protocol doesn't seem to work but I will keep the tip in mind for other use in PW 

[Wanze]

hello wanze. Thanks for the update. I have tested it, but now it does not render the images, I have this is my template:

if (count($page->images)) {
$someImages = $page->images->slice(0, 4);
foreach ($someImages as $someImg) {
	$someImgThumb = $someImg->size(290, 195);
	echo "<TD WIDTH='25%'><img src=\"{$someImgThumb->url}\" width=\"{$someImgThumb->width}\" height=\"{$someImgThumb->height}\" /></TD>";
}
}

I followed your instructions, is there some other way to render the images?

update: the new updated module was not generating the images in MAMP is working fine on a live host.

I can now also view the pdfs as a guest on the live host, in the previous version, even after saving the page as a superuser, after login off I could not view the pdfs in the live host. It seems to be working very well now. Thanks again waze for this great module.

Hi nfil,

Thanks and good to hear that it works on the live host. Though it's strange that it does not work locally, images are working fine here, also using MAMP. Using the file:// protocol should not be necessary. Another possibilty could be that you'v seen a cached version, if you enable the debug mode the module makes sure you always get a fresh PDF file.

[nfil]

Yes Wanze, thanks for keeping an excellent support. After a few tests I think it was indeed related with cache, it is working now in MAMP with PW 2.4.8 but at the time I was uploading the site from MAMP to a live server and noticed some weird behaviour using MAMP. I copied the live host version today and tested it today again on MAMP and it works flawlessly. 

[nfil]

I've this image that is printed to the pdf if the value of the field is filled in the backend and its above 500000 but there are two variables, if one is not populated it will go to the next condition and print the value. How do I go about this one? Thanks.

  // image for output
  $visalogo = $pages->get("/")->logo_eurovisa;
  // if visavalue_b field is not populated it will show visavalue_a
  $visavalue_a = $page->price_a;
  $visavalue_b = $page->price_b;
  $count = "count()>1";
  // $visavalue_b is populated now check if it is greater than 500000
  if ($visavalue_b->($count)>=500000) {
    echo "<img src=\"{$visalogo->url}\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" />"; 
    } else {
  if ($visavalue_a>=500000); { echo "<img src=\"{$visalogo->url}\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" />"; 
  }
 }

[nfil]

It should be something like this, count is for numberOfimagesChildren etc but I'm a newbie.

// image for output  
$visalogo = $pages->get("/")->logo_eurovisa; 
// if visavalue_b field is not populated it will show visavalue_a  
$visavalue_a = $page->price_a;  $visavalue_b = $page->price_b;  
// value is populated and greater than  
if(empty($visavalue_b)) {  $va = $visavalue_a>=500000;  
if ($va)   echo "";  }  $vb = $visavalue_b>=500000; 
if ($vb) {  echo "";  }

Sorry for being a bit off topic.

[Wanze]

It should be something like this, count is for numberOfimagesChildren etc but I'm a newbie.

// image for output  
$visalogo = $pages->get("/")->logo_eurovisa; 
// if visavalue_b field is not populated it will show visavalue_a  
$visavalue_a = $page->price_a;  $visavalue_b = $page->price_b;  
// value is populated and greater than  
if(empty($visavalue_b)) {  $va = $visavalue_a>=500000;  
if ($va)   echo "";  }  $vb = $visavalue_b>=500000; 
if ($vb) {  echo "";  }

Sorry for being a bit off topic.

Hi nfil,

I'm not sure, what's the issue? Is it the image that is not working?

If it is not related to mpdf, try to put your code in a "normal" Pw template under /site/templates/ and check if it works there.

When everything's correct, this module should render the same output. If there are differences, that is due to limited HTML/CSS support, but the images should work.

The first code example contains some errors, for example you can't write this:

$count = "count()>1";
  // $visavalue_b is populated now check if it is greater than 500000
  if ($visavalue_b->($count)>=500000) {

The second example contains no image output?

Sorry I don't have time to debug, I'm away some weeks from tomorrow and I need to pack all my stuff

If you have questions to general stuff Pw or PHP related, I'm sure other members can help you in this awesome forum somwhere.

Cheers

[nfil]

Hello wanze in the second example I was writing it on a tablet and some code was lost.

It's a over complicated snippet by a newbie like me to check if a field is empty than render another, also checking if both of these fields are higher or equal to 500000

  // image for output
  $visalogo = $pages->get("/")->logo_eurovisa;
  // if visavalue_b field is not populated it will show visavalue_a
  $visavalue_a = $page->price_a;
  $visavalue_b = $page->price_b;
  // value is populated and greater than
  if(empty($visavalue_b)) {
  $va = $visavalue_a>=500000;
  if ($va) 
  echo "<img src=\"{$visalogo->url}\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" />";
  }
  $vb = $visavalue_b>=500000;
  if ($vb) {
  echo "<img src=\"{$visalogo->url}\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" />";
  }

[benbyf]

hey guys, im using Pages2Pdf v1.0.1 and its been great as far, I have two questions:

• firstly: my pdf html is creating blank pages inbetween images randomly: http://nicegrp.co.uk/dev/hs/site/assets/files/1536/main-gallery-pdf-1536.pdf

echo '<table>';
  foreach($images as $image){
    $imageSmall = $image;
    echo '<tr><td><img id="'. $image->basename . $image->created .'" src="'. $imageSmall->url. '" /></td></tr>';
  }
echo '</table>';

<style>
.head {
	font-family: Times;
	font-weight: bold;
	font-size: 13pt;
}
table{
	text-align: center;
	vertical-align: middle;
	padding: 0;
	width: 100%;
}
img{
	margin: 0 auto;
}
</style>

• Is there a way of bypassing the cache and making a request for a new pdf everytime? so that it creates a pdf with a timestamp maybe?

[Wanze]

Hi, im on mobile sorry for short answers.

1) not sure why it happens. You could try to update the module. The new pdf engine behind has better html and css support. You'd need to separate your css into a separate css file thought, see instructions on one of my earlier posts.

2) setting the cache time to zero will always generate a new pdf file.

Cheers

[nfil]

Hello wanze.

I have a datetime field in my page with the Date/Time Output Format Code j/n/y

PW outputs the formatted date, yet Pages2Pdf will not render the j/n/y format.

 

Have you tried creating a pdf with a datetime field? Or am I doing something wrong. Thanks.

 

update: I get different results, this was probably due to PW dev 2.4.5 I tested your module with PW 2.5 and seems to be fine. 

[Alfred]

For anyone getting a screen full with “Warning: Cannot modify header information”

This is because you probably have Processwire in debug mode ($config->debug = true;)

Thx WillyC this old thread gave the answer

And thank you too Wanze for this great module.

Alfred

[lsag]

Hello.

i'm trying to install this module, but i have an error: 

Module is not installable because not all required dependencies are currently met.

says it need the module "WirePDF". In the documentation, says: 

WirePDF

This module is a wrapper around the mPDF library. It is used by the Pages2Pdf module to create and store the PDF files, but can also be used independently to create/store/download PDF files.

how do i create this wrapping, and make the module work?

thanks

[Wanze]

Hi Isag,

The WirePDF module is included in Pages2Pdf, you should find it in your modules list.

After installing "WirePDF", you should be able to install "Pages2Pdf"... I'm not sure why this is not working out of the box, I thought that ProcessWire would install the dependencies automatically, if available. What version of Pw are you running?

Cheers

[horst]

@wanze: this may depend of the increased or somehow changed usage of modules cache since PW 2.5.

@Isag: Just for testing: I would try to hit refresh in the modules section manually. And then give it a new go.

@wanze: Maybe you can add a $this->modules->resetCache(); to the first line of your install routine?

@Isag: which PW version you are using? PW 2.5.??

[hellomoto]

@lsag: I had the same issue trying to install via classname just now, on v2.5, but it installs fine if you just download from the module page and manually upload to your PW.

[hellomoto]

and it works great!

[apeisa]

Wanze, just wanted to say thanks for this module - worked without any flaws. Very easy to setup!

[lsag]

Hello. Could someone tell me what i have to put in this template file? is it like a normal processwire template?

checking the default template, i see 

$page->body

shouldn't this get me the entire content of the <body> tag? instead i get, as the only content, the page's url.

Thanks for the patience to this noob

[Wanze]

H Isag,

In the template files inside /site/templates/pages2pdf you put the markup that is rendered in the PDF file. It's like a "normal" ProcessWire template.

The $page->body does not output the content of the body tag. It outputs the value of a field called "body". This is just an example, you can output other fields and use the ProcessWire API to build your output.

Cheers

[Juergen]

Hello @ all,

I have setted up a multilanguage site and the Pages2pdf module provides the pdf for a page only in one language. Has someone tried to get one pdf-document for each language and how?

I cant figure out how this could be achieved (if it is possible).

Best regards Jürgen