[RESOLVED] Forms to PDF/Word Doc

focus310

Hello:

I have a client who is a director for a home for under priviledged girls. They have a number of forms which need to be completed and submitted to the state and other agencies. They currently have approximately 20 forms. Right now, everything is being done manually and they would like to automate the admission process.

The girls are referrred to as the "clients". All of the forms contain the same demographic information. We are planning to create online forms for data entry which will then store the information in a database. With the demographic information in a database, I can pre-populate a lot of the information from form to form.

After the form is submitted and processed, the results will be formatted for appearance. Once the results appear on the screen all formatted is it possible to:
1. Save the formatted screen in a Word or PDF document?
2. Store the the Word/PDF document in a directory for the specific client? Each girl would have their own directory with their forms.

3. Is there a way, while achieving #2, I can store the file location in a table so if a form is needed in the future, they will be able to retrieve it?
4. Print the results screen for mailing?

If this is possible, where and how would I begin?

Thank you for all advice and input.

etully

Yes all of that is possible but you need to ask yourself if storing the PDF/DOC file is really necessary. If you can generate it when needed, then why waste the disk space storing a formatted version of what's already in the database? Moreover, what if the client's information changes? You would need to regenerate the PDF/DOC, delete the old PDF/DOC, and re-save the new formatted version. Why bother? What is gained by storing it? The answer is nothing.

There are many open source PDF generators. We use one called PDFlib that is not free.

As to your last question, where should you begin? First, make sure that the form / database is working to your satisfaction. (It probably is already but I'm just making sure). Then choose a PDF generator and learn to use it - they tend to be pretty easy. Last, write a script called "generate-pdf.php" that (A) opens the database, (😎 reads the client's data, (C) builds and displays the PDF.

Then, you never need to remember where a client's PDF is stored. It's stored right here:

http://www.yourdomain.com/path/to/generate-pdf.php?id=123456

As for how to print it, you can either print it when you open it or you can investigate "cups" and find out how to initiate a system command from PHP that will print a file to a specific printer.

focus310

Hello:

Thank you for the reply.

They have to store the form because it is required by law. The government agencies don't care if the form is computer generated but whatever is sent to them must be stored whether it is printed or stored as a file. They get randomly audited so they have to be able to produce what was sent. If the client information changes, that's not a problem because a new form needs to be submitted anyway. They have to keep a historical copy of everything that is sent.

My database stores the demographic information for each client. I created the forms with PHP so I can populate the demographic portion of the form so the person doesn't have to type it in everytime.

Now, it's a matter of submitting the form and having it saved/converted into a PDF file.

Do you have any recommendations on PDF generators?

Thank you again.

etully

http://www.fpdf.org/

focus310

Thank you very very much for the link. It is extremely helpful.