RE: [PHP] Printing on a local printer

Hello again, I _have_ to use the pre-printed forms so I can't generate a "browser version" and simply let the user print it. I'm on Linux and can't install pdflib or use Adobe software. Because I am in a controlled environment I could use JS. Any examples? Thanks for all your help! Simon. > -----Original Message----- > From: Cynic [mailto:cynic@mail.cz] > Sent: zaterdag 23 december 2000 18:15 > To: James Moore; Kraa de Simon; Kraa de Simon; Php-General (E-mail) > Subject: 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 > >