RE: [PHP] Printing on a local printer

(local = on the client machine) I like the postscript option. Sharing the printer or using sockets throught the internet? Hhmm, I don't think I can do this because of firewall/security reasons. Simon. > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Uttech [mailto:MikeUttech@Mediaone.Net] > Sent: zondag 24 december 2000 1:38 > To: php-general@lists.php.net > Subject: Re: [PHP] Printing on a local printer > > > Now, depending what you interpret 'local' as, I could be way > off on this. > > I've been watching this thread all day, and was surprised > that no-one has > suggested the following. > > Assuming that 'local' means local to the server: > > A shell script that dumps a postscript format to a the printer. > > Assuming that 'local' means another machine: > > Share the printer on the machine, and send a postscript > format to > that printer. > > You could even go as far as writing a program on the other > machine that > listens on a socket, checks the source of the connection, and > then prints > the data it receives to the printer. > > > Just my take on the problem. > > > Sincerely, > > Mike > > At 06:19 PM 12/23/00, you wrote: > >Hmmm, you guys are making it sound more difficult than it sounds..... > > > >I am freelancer and made the ordering software for a small > E-commerce site.. > >(www.perfectbody.nl) > > > >In the above example the problem was that when an order was > made COD (cash > >on delivery) there > >needs to be printed 3 papers. > > > >The first is the shipping paper, which must be done on a > matrix printer > >because it has 4 layes paper with carbon paper in between. > >The second is the paper which the post-man takes with him to > pay the sender > >of the package > >The last is the bill that the receiver gets from the company.. > > > >Because the shipping paper is on a chain, it is necessary to > print very > >exactly.. > > > >There are two approaches: 1 is to create a HTML document > which should be > >printed by hand.. Nice thing about this is that > >you can print this from any machine without any aditional software. > > > >The other option which is far better, is to generate a PDF > file. I used this > >approach.. > >For each paper we have a seperate printer. Because there > were some old 486 > >machines laying around I used one for every printer. > >(This was easier and cheaper time-wise than installing and > fiddling with an > >extra printer ports for one machine.) > > > >The PDF's are generated and when an order is made the 3 > machines start > >processing there jobs and prints all papers.. > >The nice thing about PDF's is that they can be stored away > easily in an > >database to exactly get an copy of all papers when problems arrive. > > > >Only problem with the above setup, is that it's a bit spooky > because when > >someone else in the world places an order the printers start to > >print an order no-one knows about or has ever seen.. :-) > >This also creates an problem when some joker places 1000 > fake orders.. :-) > > > >Well, the PDF generation can be done with PDFlib of > ClibPDF.. The printing > >can be done with ghostscipt.. > >PDFlib is compiled into PHP, it shouldn't be hard to ask an > administrator to > >do this.. You need access to the printer port, if you can > get this, you will > >probably also have > >the possibilities to install such a package if needed.. > > > >Nice thing when generating PDF's, is that you can also enbed > barcode fonts.. > >With this you can give the client a barcode number when he > makes his orders > >which is then > >also printed on the shipment papers.. > > > >Well, hope this helps.. > > > >Bye Bye > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > >-- > >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 > > > -- > 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 >