RE: [PHP] Printing on a local printer

He needed to print out some forms, and IIRC it was in a controled environment, so javascript shouldn't really be a problem. BUT, if he can produce images (create image of a form? eh, ugly), he can produce PDF documents, as well. IF his server is win32 based, and IF either of the two PDF libs can't be used on that platform, he would have to resort to spending one hell of a budget on Adobe Distiller or what it's called, and create the documents in that through COM. But this discussion isn't leading nowhere, because we don't know what system's he running, whether he can use / buy the Adobe software, etc... At 18:10 23.12. 2000, James Moore wrote the following: -------------------------------------------------------------- >Well then we are into dcom.. it requires the user to have to correct com >objects and also you probably to be running a win 2k server then use com to >create the word document.. let the user download it (maybe its even possible >with com to force this to happen) and load it into their version of word but >I really doubt this is possible.. I can see so many security things in there >that I dont think you could do it like that.. maybe creating an image is an >option then using javascript print() (which 99% of the time in 99% of >browsers is disabled for obvious reasons) the other option is Java appelets >or somesuch but thats the best I can come up with.. its not easy as it can >be used malicously I would be in favour of creating a nice HTML page and >makeing the user choose file->print from their menu.. thats what we normally >do in shoppingcart systems with orders and loose the horrible pre printed >orderforms. > >James > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Cynic [mailto:cynic@mail.cz] >> Sent: 23 December 2000 17:01 >> To: James Moore; Kraa de Simon; Kraa de Simon; Php-General (E-mail) >> Subject: RE: [PHP] Printing on a local printer >> >> >> James, >> >> this is nice, but the guy was looking for a way to CREATE >> PDF documents WITHOUT pdf_* functions. PLUS he wanted to >> print them on the client, not the server, and I hesitate >> to assume it's gonna be one machine. >> >> >> At 17:59 23.12. 2000, James Moore wrote the following: >> -------------------------------------------------------------- >> >If itsa all running on a local computer then you might also want >> to look at >> >COM in PHP to open up your acrobat doc and print it out.. Its >> very possible >> >but I wouldnt want to be the person doing it as your going to be >> using a lot >> >of code that hasnt been used thourghly so might run into the odd querk.. >> >rember to report any you find but somthing like >> > >> ><?php >> >// Get Data Here... >> > >> >$pi = pdf_open(...); >> >// Create PDF here using PDF_* functions >> >// save PDF >> > >> >$ai = new COM(application.acrobat); >> >$ai.open(pdf file); >> >$ai.print(); >> >$ai.close(pdf file); >> >?> >> > >> >That would print on the server computer.. you would need dcom >> etc otherwise >> >and Im totally unfamiliar with that but hopefully that will give you a >> >pointer in the right direction (PS all my functions are probably >> wrong and >> >are just there to give psudo code). >> > >> >James >> >-- >> >James Moore >> >PHP Quality Assurance Team >> >jmoore@php.net >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Cynic [mailto:cynic@mail.cz] >> >> Sent: 23 December 2000 15:58 >> >> To: Kraa de Simon; Kraa de Simon; Php-General (E-mail) >> >> Subject: RE: [PHP] Printing on a local printer >> >> >> >> >> >> No, you cannot.[*] >> >> You need a software that will _create_ the PDF's. You wouldn't >> >> be able to use mysql_* functions in PHP if MySQL client wasn't >> >> compiled into PHP. When you want to create PDF documents from >> >> within PHP, you need a software that will do it, and compile >> >> PHP with support for that software. You can either use PDFLib >> >> or CLibPDF. >> >> >> >> * You could probably create PDF documents from within PHP >> >> _without_ either of these _provided_ you: >> >> 1) were on windows, >> >> 2) had software from Adobe capable of creating PDF files >> >> (not Acrobat Reader - it's called Reader for a reason) >> >> 3) that software had COM interface >> >> But I'm not sure about this, so don't cite me. :) >> >> >> >> >> >> At 16:43 23.12. 2000, Kraa de Simon wrote the following: >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >But I can use the pdf_* functions _without_ installing >> >> additional products >> >> >like pdflib? >> >> > >> >> >When I use pdf_open() is a new PDF file opened in Acrobat or >> something??? >> >> > >> >> >Huh??? >> >> > >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> >> From: Cynic [mailto:cynic@mail.cz] >> >> >> Sent: zaterdag 23 december 2000 16:38 >> >> >> To: Kraa de Simon; Php-General (E-mail) >> >> >> Subject: Re: [PHP] Printing on a local printer >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> I reckon your hair will turn white on this, unless you use >> >> >> PDFLib (or the other one) to generate the files. And it might >> >> >> even then. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> At 16:22 23.12. 2000, Kraa de Simon wrote the following: >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >Hi, >> >> >> > >> >> >> >A customer wants data from an html form printed on a local printer. >> >> >> > >> >> >> >We are talking about pre-printed forms; so only data like >> >> >> name, address, >> >> >> >price must be send to the printer. >> >> >> > >> >> >> >How could/should I handle this using PHP? >> >> >> > >> >> >> >I can't think of anything else of displaying the fields on >> >> >> the screen in the >> >> >> >right positions and use browser capabilities to print the screen? >> >> >> > >> >> >> >But than I'm sure I will have problems with offset/layout of >> >> >> the fields and >> >> >> >I don't like this solution. >> >> >> > >> >> >> >Any advice/help will be appreciated! >> >> >> > >> >> >> >Simon. >> >> >> > >> >> >> >-- >> >> >> >PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> >> >> >To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net >> >> >> >For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net >> >> >> >To contact the list administrators, e-mail: >> >> >> php-list-admin@lists.php.net >> >> >> ------end of quote------ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> >> >> Cynic: >> >> >> >> >> >> A member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who taught >> >> >> that virtue constitutes happiness and that self control is >> >> >> the essential part of virtue. >> >> >> >> >> >> cynic@mail.cz >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> >> >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net >> >> >> For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net >> >> >> To contact the list administrators, e-mail: >> >> >> php-list-admin@lists.php.net >> >> >> >> >> ------end of quote------ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> >> Cynic: >> >> >> >> A member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who taught >> >> that virtue constitutes happiness and that self control is >> >> the essential part of virtue. >> >> >> >> cynic@mail.cz >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net >> >> For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net >> >> To contact the list administrators, e-mail: >> php-list-admin@lists.php.net >> ------end of quote------ >> >> >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> Cynic: >> >> A member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who taught >> that virtue constitutes happiness and that self control is >> the essential part of virtue. >> >> cynic@mail.cz >> >> >> >> -- >> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net >> For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net >> To contact the list administrators, e-mail: php-list-admin@lists.php.net ------end of quote------ ____________________________________________________________ Cynic: A member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who taught that virtue constitutes happiness and that self control is the essential part of virtue. cynic@mail.cz