Create a PDF with own style

[FrancescoDiMuro]

Good morning
I was looking around the forum if there were some customizable solutions about creating a PDF from "0" to something like a report...
What I'd like to do is something with a header ( 2 logos and a title ), with a table which contains data read from a file
At the moment, I was working with HTML, since I know it and it's very simple to do a table with some data inside...
But know, I'm a bit stuck about the exporting the HTML page to PDF... And, here too, if someone knows how to do it, please, I'm here listening
Thanks guys
 

[Gianni]

Hi @FrancescoDiMuro, You can use this UDF:

in the ZIP file there is also a folder with some examples of use (also to make tables).

For further example of use you can also have a look to this post where this udf is used to build a calendar.

[FrancescoDiMuro]

Can anyone help me with this UDF? 
There's no much help in the Examples...
Thanks  

EDIT:
Mainly, I'd like to know how to create a table...
I read data from a file formatted in this way:
Text1;Text2;Text3;Text4;
And, for each text, I need to create a cell with the corresponding text ( 1, 2, 3, 4... n)
So, I have the table...
If anyone else have used this library before, please help me.
Thanks again  

Edited March 28, 2017 by FrancescoDiMuro
Need some help...

[funkey]

I used something like this some time ago, but then I ported it to C because of speed.

Hope this helps.

 

expandcollapse popup

#include "..\MPDF_UDF.au3"
#include <Array.au3>
;set the properties for the pdf
_SetTitle("Demo Table PDF in AutoIt")
_SetSubject("Demo Table PDF in AutoIt, with formating")
_SetKeywords("pdf, demo, table, AutoIt")
_OpenAfter(True);open after generation
_SetUnit($PDF_UNIT_CM)
_SetPaperSize("CUSTOM", 841.890, 595.276); A4 landscape
_SetZoomMode($PDF_ZOOM_FULLPAGE)
_SetOrientation($PDF_ORIENTATION_PORTRAIT)
_SetLayoutMode($PDF_LAYOUT_CONTINOUS)

Global $aCSV = _CSVReadToArray("Test.csv", ',')
;~ Global $aCSV = _CSVReadToArray("Table.txt", ';')
ReDim $aCSV[UBound($aCSV, 1)][UBound($aCSV, 2) - 1]

_Array2DTransposeAU3($aCSV)

;initialize the pdf
_InitPDF(@ScriptDir & "\Example_Table.pdf")

;=== load used font(s) ===
;fonts: Garamond
_LoadFontTT("_CalibriB", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI, $PDF_FONT_BOLD)
_LoadFontTT("_CalibriI", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI, $PDF_FONT_ITALIC)
_LoadFontTT("_Calibri", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI)

Global $MaxRowsPerPage = 30

_InsertTable($aCSV, 1.5, 1.5, 0, 0, $MaxRowsPerPage, 0x000000, 0x00000)
;~  $sTit = "Sample pdf table generated with AutoIt"
;~  _SetTextRenderingMode(1)
;~  _InsertRenderedText((_GetPageWidth()/_GetUnit())/2, _GetPageHeight()/_GetUnit()-1.5, $sTit, "_CalibriI", 32, 100, $PDF_ALIGN_CENTER, 0xbbbbbb, 0x202020)
;~ _SetTextRenderingMode(0)

_ClosePDFFile()

Func _InsertTable($aCSV, $iX, $iY, $iW = 0, $iH = 0, $iRowsPerPage = 30, $lTxtColor = 0x000000, $lBorderColor = 0xdddddd)
    Local $iCols = UBound($aCSV, 1)
    Local $iPages = Ceiling(UBound($aCSV, 2) / $iRowsPerPage)
    Local $iRest = Mod(UBound($aCSV, 2), $iRowsPerPage), $iSub = 1
    Local $iPgW = Round(_GetPageWidth() / _GetUnit(), 1)
    Local $iPgH = Round(_GetPageHeight() / _GetUnit(), 1)
    If $iW = 0 Then $iW = $iPgW - 2 * $iX
    If $iH = 0 Then $iH = $iPgH - 2 * $iY

    Local $iColW = $iW / $iCols
    Local $iRowH = $iH / $iRowsPerPage
    Local $lRGB
    For $k = 0 To $iPages - 1
        _BeginPage()
        _SetColourStroke($lBorderColor)
;~      _Draw_Rectangle($iX, $iY, $iW, $iH, $PDF_STYLE_STROKED, 0, 0xfefefe, 0.01)
        _SetColourStroke(0)
        If $k = $iPages - 1 Then $iSub = $iRowsPerPage - $iRest + 1
        For $i = $k * $iRowsPerPage To ($k + 1) * $iRowsPerPage - $iSub
            For $j = 0 To $iCols - 1
                If $k = 0 Then
                    If $i = 0 Then
                        $lRGB = 0xbbbbbb
                    Else
                        $lRGB = 0xfefefe
                    EndIf
                Else
                    $lRGB = 0xfefefe
                EndIf
                _SetColourStroke($lBorderColor)
                _Draw_Rectangle($iX + $j * $iColW, $iY + $iH - ($i - $k * $iRowsPerPage + 1) * $iRowH, $iColW, $iRowH, $PDF_STYLE_STROKED, 0, $lRGB, 0.01)
                _SetColourStroke(0)
                Local $sText = $aCSV[$j][$i]
                Local $sLength = Round(_GetTextLength($sText, "_Calibri", 10), 1)
                $lScale = Ceiling(0.75 * $iColW * 100 / $sLength)
                _SetColourFill($lTxtColor)
;~              _SetTextHorizontalScaling(80)
                _DrawText($iX + $j * $iColW + $iColW / 10, $iY + $iH - ($i - $k * $iRowsPerPage + 1) * $iRowH + ($iRowH - 10 / _GetUnit()) / 2, $sText, "_Calibri", 10, $PDF_ALIGN_LEFT, 0)
;~          _SetTextHorizontalScaling(50)
                _SetColourFill(0)
            Next
        Next
        _EndPage()
    Next

EndFunc   ;==>_InsertTable


Func _CSVReadToArray($sFile, $sSeparator, $sQuote = '"')
    Local $hFile = FileOpen($sFile, 0)
    Local $sText = FileRead($hFile)
    FileClose($hFile)
;~  $sText = StringReplace($sText, "Intern", "Raumtemp")
    $sText = StringReplace($sText, "." & @YEAR, "." & "12")
    Local $aArray
    If StringRight($sText, 1) = @LF Then $sText = StringTrimRight($sText, 1)
    If StringRight($sText, 1) = @CR Then $sText = StringTrimRight($sText, 1)

    If StringInStr($sText, @LF) Then
        $aArray = StringSplit(StringStripCR($sText), @LF, 2)
    ElseIf StringInStr($sText, @CR) Then ;; @LF does not exist so split on the @CR
        $aArray = StringSplit($sText, @CR, 2)
    Else ;; unable to split the file
        If StringLen($sText) Then
            Dim $aArray[1] = [$sText]
        Else
            Return SetError(2, 0, 0)
        EndIf
    EndIf
    $aArray = _Array1DTo2D($aArray, $sSeparator)
    ReDim $aArray[UBound($aArray, 1)][UBound($aArray, 2) - 1]
    Return $aArray
EndFunc   ;==>_CSVReadToArray

Func _Array1DTo2D($a1D, $sDelim = ";", $iSeveral = 0)
    ;funkey 17.02.2010
    Local $iUbound = UBound($a1D) - 1
    Local $iTemp = 0, $iColumn = 0
    For $i = 0 To $iUbound
        If $iSeveral Then
            $iTemp = UBound(StringRegExp($a1D[$i], $sDelim & "+", 3))
        Else
            $iTemp = UBound(StringSplit($a1D[$i], $sDelim, 3))
        EndIf
        If $iTemp > $iColumn Then $iColumn = $iTemp
    Next
    Local $a2D[UBound($a1D)][$iColumn + 1]
    Local $aTemp
    For $i = 0 To $iUbound
        If $iSeveral Then
            $aTemp = StringSplit(StringRegExpReplace($a1D[$i], $sDelim & "+", $sDelim), $sDelim, 3)
        Else
            $aTemp = StringSplit($a1D[$i], $sDelim, 3)
        EndIf
        For $j = 0 To UBound($aTemp) - 1
            $a2D[$i][$j] = $aTemp[$j]
        Next
    Next
    Return SetExtended($iColumn, $a2D)
EndFunc   ;==>_Array1DTo2D

Func _Array2DTransposeAU3(ByRef $ar_Array)
    If IsArray($ar_Array) Then
        Local $ar_ExcelValueTrans[UBound($ar_Array, 2)][UBound($ar_Array, 1)] ;ubound($s_i_ExcelValue,2)-1, ubound($s_i_ExcelValue,1)-1)
        For $j = 0 To UBound($ar_Array, 2) - 1
            For $numb = 0 To UBound($ar_Array, 1) - 1
                $ar_ExcelValueTrans[$j][$numb] = $ar_Array[$numb][$j]
            Next
        Next
        $ar_Array = $ar_ExcelValueTrans
    Else
        ;MsgBox(0, "", "No Array to transpose")
    EndIf
EndFunc   ;==>_Array2DTransposeAU3

 

[mLipok]

Easier way:

1. create HTML file
2. use htm2pdf.exe to create PDF file.

mLipok

 

[FrancescoDiMuro]

@funkey & @mLipok:
Good morning guys
I'll try your script asap... Thank you for your help  

[FrancescoDiMuro]

@mLipok
The file PDF becomes unreadable... 
I can't do it thorugh htm2pdf...
Any other solution? 
Thanks  

[mLipok]

5 hours ago, FrancescoDiMuro said:

The file PDF becomes unreadable...

Post your testing code snippet.

 

[funkey]

Does my script work for you?

[Gianni]

nice example @funkey

it makes easy to print tables in full & multi page mode.

Here another example on how to put tables on the page  by passing data in an 1D or 2D array, with the possibility to positioning it where you want and with a desired dimension using the _InsertArrayTable() function.

I've also inserted a "graph paper" as background" so to be facilitated to position "stuff" on the page (as you can see the origin of the axis is on the bottom-left).

To remove the "graph paper" from the background, just comment out all lines  between _StartObject and _EndObject.

this demo uses as data  an array generated by the _GenerateMonth function that returns an 7x7 array containing a month af an year. Of course you can pass any array of your choice.

p.s. if you get this error: ERROR: _Iif() already defined
then just remove or rename the _Iif() function from the bottom of the script.
this occurs with older AutoIt versions

have fun.

expandcollapse popup

#include "MPDF_UDF.au3" ; get it here https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/118827-create-pdf-from-your-application/
#include <Date.au3>
#include <array.au3>

; ----- set the properties for the pdf -----
_SetTitle("Demo Table PDF in AutoIt")
_SetSubject("Demo Table PDF in AutoIt")
_SetKeywords("pdf, demo, table, AutoIt")
_OpenAfter(True);open after generation
_SetUnit($PDF_UNIT_CM)
_SetPaperSize("A4"); A4 vertical
_SetZoomMode($PDF_ZOOM_FULLPAGE)
_SetOrientation($PDF_ORIENTATION_PORTRAIT) ; set page vertical
_SetLayoutMode($PDF_LAYOUT_CONTINOUS)

;initialize the pdf (create the pdf file on disk)
_InitPDF(@ScriptDir & "\Example_Table.pdf")

; === load used font(s) ===
_LoadFontTT("_CalibriB", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI, $PDF_FONT_BOLD)
_LoadFontTT("_CalibriI", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI, $PDF_FONT_ITALIC)
_LoadFontTT("_Calibri", $PDF_FONT_CALIBRI)

; ----- draw graph paper on all pages ------------------------------------
; this "object" will be automatically inserted on each new page
;
_StartObject("GraphPaper", $PDF_OBJECT_ALLPAGES) ; $PDF_OBJECT_NOTFIRSTPAGE

For $i = 0 To 21 Step 0.1 ; vertical steps every 1 mm on the bottom border
    _DrawLine($i, 0, $i, 0.75, 2, 10, 0.03, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0)
Next

For $i = 0 To 29.7 Step 0.1 ; horizontal steps every 1 mm on the left border
    _DrawLine(0, $i, 0.75, $i, 2, 10, 0.03, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0)
Next

For $i = 0 To 21 ; vertical lines
    _DrawLine($i, 0, $i, 29.7, 2, 10, 0.03, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; vertical line every 1 cm along the page
    _DrawLine($i, 0, $i, 1, 2, 10, 0.03, 0x909090, 0, 0) ; mark steps every 1 cm on the bottom (a little darker)
    _DrawLine($i - 0.50, 0, $i - 0.50, 29.7, 2, 10, 0.02, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; vertical line every 1/2 cm
    _DrawLine($i - 0.25, 0, $i - 0.25, 29.7, 2, 10, 0.01, 0xF0F0F0, 0, 0) ; vertical line every 1/4 cm
    _DrawLine($i + 0.50, 0, $i + 0.50, 29.7, 2, 10, 0.02, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; vertical line every 1/2 cm
    _DrawLine($i + 0.25, 0, $i + 0.25, 29.7, 2, 10, 0.01, 0xF0F0F0, 0, 0) ; vertical line every 1/4 cm
    ; following code line writes the nr. of this cm
    _DrawText($i + 0.02, 1, $i, "_TimesT", 9, $PDF_ALIGN_LEFT, 0)
Next

For $i = 0 To 29.7 ; horizontal lines
    _DrawLine(0, $i, 21, $i, 2, 10, 0.03, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; horizontal line every 1 cm along the page
    _DrawLine(0, $i, 1, $i, 2, 10, 0.03, 0x909090, 0, 0) ; mark steps every 1 cm on the left (a little darker)
    _DrawLine(0, $i - 0.50, 21, $i - 0.50, 2, 10, 0.02, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; horizontal line every 1/2 cm
    _DrawLine(0, $i - 0.25, 21, $i - 0.25, 2, 10, 0.01, 0xF0F0F0, 0, 0) ; horizontal line every 1/4 cm
    _DrawLine(0, $i + 0.50, 21, $i + 0.50, 2, 10, 0.02, 0xD0D0D0, 0, 0) ; horizontal line every 1/2 cm
    _DrawLine(0, $i + 0.25, 21, $i + 0.25, 2, 10, 0.01, 0xF0F0F0, 0, 0) ; horizontal line every 1/4 cm
    ; following code line writes the nr. of this cm
    _DrawText(1, $i + 0.02, $i, "_TimesT", 9, $PDF_ALIGN_LEFT, 0)
Next
_EndObject()
; ------------------------------------------------------------------------

_BeginPage(); begin new page (above object is inserted automatically)
;

; insert the table on the pdf page (see header of function for parameters)
;
Local $iYear = 1962, $iMonth = 5 ; just for example
Local $aMyTable = _GenerateMonth($iYear, $iMonth) ; create an array containing wanted month
Local $fXpos = 3
Local $fYpos = 23
Local $fWidth = 8
Local $fHeight = 4
Local $dTxtColor = 0x00ff00
Local $dFillColor = 0xF0F0F0
Local $dBorderColor = 0xff0000
;
_InsertArrayTable($fXpos, $fYpos, $fWidth, $fHeight, $aMyTable, $dTxtColor, $dFillColor, $dBorderColor)
;
; draw a rectangle above the table
_SetColourStroke($dBorderColor)
_Draw_Rectangle($fXpos, $fYpos + $fHeight, $fWidth, .7, $PDF_STYLE_STROKED, 0, $dFillColor, 0.01) ; 0.01 is the thickness of the edge pane frame

; draw a string on the page (we put this screen in the rectangle above the table)
Local $sMyString = _DateToMonth($iMonth, $DMW_LOCALE_LONGNAME) & " " & $iYear
_InsertRenderedText($fXpos + .2, $fYpos + $fHeight + .25, $sMyString, "_CalibriI", 14, 100, $PDF_ALIGN_LEFT, $dTxtColor, $dBorderColor)

_EndPage()

_ClosePDFFile(); write the buffer to disk

; #FUNCTION# ====================================================================================================================
; Name ..........: _InsertArrayTable
; Description ...:
; Syntax ........: _InsertArrayTable($fX, $fY[, $fW = 0[, $fH = 0[, $aData = ""[, $dTxtColor = 0x000000[, $dFillColor = 0xF0F0F0[,
;                  $dBorderColor = 0xdddddd]]]]]])
; Parameters ....: $fX                  - X position (cm from the left side of the paper)
;                  $fY                  - y position (cm from the bottom side of the paper)
;                  $fW                  - wanted table total width in cm
;                  $fH                  - wanted table total height in cm
;                  $aData               - An 1D or 2D array containing data to be inserted in the table (a simple variable as well)
;                  $dTxtColor           - [optional] Text Color. Default is 0x000000.
;                  $dFillColor          - [optional] Background Color. Default is 0xF0F0F0.
;                  $dBorderColor        - [optional] Border Color. Default is 0xdddddd.
; Return values .: None
; Author ........: Chimp
; Modified ......:
; Remarks .......:
; Related .......:
; Link ..........:
; Example .......: No
; ===============================================================================================================================
Func _InsertArrayTable($fX, $fY, $fW = 0, $fH = 0, $aData = "", $dTxtColor = 0x000000, $dFillColor = 0xF0F0F0, $dBorderColor = 0xdddddd)

    Local $aTemp[1][1]

    If Not IsArray($aData) Then
        $aTemp[0][0] = $aData
    ElseIf UBound($aData, 0) > 2 Then
        Return SetError(1) ; max 2 dimensions
    ElseIf UBound($aData, 0) = 1 Then; 1d array becomes a 2d array
        ReDim $aTemp[1][UBound($aData)]
        For $i = 0 To UBound($aData) - 1
            $aTemp[0][$i] = $aData[$i]
        Next
    ElseIf UBound($aData, 0) = 2 Then
        $aTemp = $aData
    EndIf

    $iCols = UBound($aTemp, 2) ; number of columns in the table
    $iRows = UBound($aTemp, 1) ; number of rows in the table

    Local $fPgW = Round(_GetPageWidth() / _GetUnit(), 1)
    Local $fPgH = Round(_GetPageHeight() / _GetUnit(), 1)
    If $fW = 0 Then $fW = $fPgW - $fX - 2
    If $fH = 0 Then $fH = $fPgH - $fY - 2

    Local $iColW = $fW / $iCols ; width of each single column
    Local $iRowH = $fH / $iRows ; heigth of each single row
    Local $sText

    ; _Draw_Rectangle($fX, $fY, $fW, $fH, $PDF_STYLE_STROKED, 0, $dFillColor, 0.01)

    For $i = 0 To $iRows - 1
        For $j = 0 To $iCols - 1
            _SetColourStroke($dBorderColor)
            _Draw_Rectangle($fX + $j * $iColW, $fY + $fH - ($i + 1) * $iRowH, $iColW, $iRowH, $PDF_STYLE_STROKED, 0, $dFillColor, 0.01) ; 0.01 is the thickness of the edge pane frame
            $sText = $aTemp[$i][$j]
            _InsertRenderedText($fX + $j * $iColW + $iColW / 10, $fY + $fH - ($i + 1) * $iRowH + ($iRowH - 10 / _GetUnit()) / 2, $sText, "_Calibri", 10, 100, $PDF_ALIGN_LEFT, $dTxtColor)
        Next
    Next
EndFunc   ;==>_InsertArrayTable

Func _GenerateMonth($iYear = @YEAR, $iMonth = @MON, $ISO = True)
    ; this function creates a month calendar into an 7x7 array
    Local $aMonth[7][7], $iDOW
    Local $iFirstDOW = $ISO ? _DateToDayOfWeekISO($iYear, $iMonth, 1) : _DateToDayOfWeek($iYear, $iMonth, 1)
    For $iDay = 1 To 7
        $aMonth[0][$iDay - 1] = $ISO ? _DateDayOfWeek(Mod($iDay, 7) + $ISO, $DMW_LOCALE_SHORTNAME) : _DateDayOfWeek($iDay, $DMW_LOCALE_SHORTNAME)
    Next
    For $iDay = 1 To _DateDaysInMonth($iYear, $iMonth)
        $iDOW = $ISO ? _DateToDayOfWeekISO($iYear, $iMonth, $iDay) : _DateToDayOfWeek($iYear, $iMonth, $iDay)
        $aMonth[Int(($iFirstDOW + $iDay - 2) / 7) + 1][$iDOW - 1] = $iDay
    Next
    Return $aMonth
EndFunc   ;==>_GenerateMonth


Func _Iif($fTest, $vTrueVal, $vFalseVal)
    If $fTest Then
        Return $vTrueVal
    Else
        Return $vFalseVal
    EndIf
EndFunc   ;==>_Iifx

 

[FrancescoDiMuro]

On 30/3/2017 at 1:51 AM, funkey said:

Does my script work for you?

Hey @funkey
Thanks for your code...
I didn't tried your code...
I talked with the Author of that UDF, and he told me that there are better ways to create a PDF...
I'm still trying them, but I won't give up right now, because that UDF seems ( because it is ) very complex for me...
If anyone has a suggest, please, reply to this topic
Thanks everyone for the help!

[n3wbie]

M new here

but my suggestion is to use excel udf to create excel file as per ur requirement and than use

_Excel_Export()

To get it in either pdf or xps file format

 

You can also keep a default excel template and update values instead of everytime working on formating part.

Hope this helps

[funkey]

Great example @Chimp! Thanks!

With this script everyone can easily understand and see what is possible with this UDF!

 

 

[Gianni]

Thanks @funkey

 

Good idea @n3wbie, using  _Excel_Export() can also be an handy way.

 

17 hours ago, FrancescoDiMuro said:

...... I talked with the Author of that UDF, and he told me that there are better ways to create a PDF ......

Hi @FrancescoDiMuro did you talked with @taietel ?
could you tell us what are the better ways he suggested ?? thanks.

[FrancescoDiMuro]

@Chimp
I talked with @taietel, and he suggested to me to use PDFMake... The language is Javascript, and it's a good tool... But I didn't manage with that too...
I managed with a tool in Visual Studio named CrystalReports... It's designed for creating professional reports ( even if it's not simple at all )...

@n3wbie
Thanks for your suggestion! The fact is that I can use Excel UDF because, on the machine I'm going to run my scripts, Office is not installed... So, I would have worked with ADO... But they seems difficult, and I don't have time to spend on these things ( busy, not because I don't want to ).
By the way, thank you

For everyone, thanks  
 

Edited April 7, 2017 by FrancescoDiMuro

[mLipok]

16 minutes ago, FrancescoDiMuro said:

The fact is that I can use Excel UDF because, on the machine I'm going to run my scripts, Office is not installed

Did you try OOCalc udf ?

Of course you could QuickPDF UDF but you should to know that this is commercial ActiveX product .