HTML to PDF on the fly

[Glasgow]

I have an application that effectively does a mail-merge using HTML templates. The end result is a series of HTML files which are ready to print or email containing data substituted at run-time. The files can be uploaded to a web site, emailed or printed off and thrown into window envelopes.

A customer has requested that we produce the same output but as PDF files. What would be the best way of going about this? I'd like to keep the logic and templates much as is then just convert the final HTML to PDF programmatically 'at the last minute'.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

I'd say you'd need an application that sets up a PDF printer / writer, and then you can simply print your web pages to it.

I'd ask in the forum for whatever OS you are using for the most appropriate software.

Hope this helps,
Dan



Coedit Limited - Delivering standards compliant, accessible web solutions

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[Glasgow]

Thanks Dan - I had considered and rejected that option on the basis that I assumed I'd have to have the file physically open in a browser before 'printing' it but you've set me thinking. I will report back!

 

[Glasgow]

Thanks for making me stop and think. And normally this is my best time of the day!

I use pdf995 as a pdf printer and realise now that I had jotted down some notes about how to use it to generate pdf's on the fly. On exploring those notes and the links within them this morning I realise that this may be my best option:

http://www.omniformat.com/

OmniFormat is a free document conversion utility which allows dynamic conversion and image manipulation of over 75 file formats including HTML