jerrygarciuh has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Monsignors,

Any monks using PDF::Template to generate PDFs? I have been using the pretty good PHP 'module' phpPDF but am looking to migrate to a Perl solution.

Am including in my current readings the following: Generating PDF and HTML 2 PDF. I am most interested in any advice other monks may have. My end product is the daily new handout at the Audubon Zoo and it includes several jpegs of ads and coupons and is printed on a pre-printed background which requires tight control over test positioning and formatting. Anyone with similar projects? Any modules to seek out or avoid?

Any advice greatly appreciated!


TIA
jg
_____________________________________________________
"Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures - in this century, as in others, our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing people together."   Wind, Sand, and Stars
  Antoine-Marie-Roger de Saint-Exupery

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Anyone using PDF::Template?
by josera (Beadle) on Aug 24, 2005 at 08:30 UTC
    Hello:
    I have been working in a project where the output has to be a PDF also, i was searching tools, to convert from HTML to PDF, i found a lot of tools (html2ps looks very good), but the simplest solution that i've found is to use LATEX. I generate a TEX file and call pdflatex and i obtain the output in PDF with the cover, the table of contents, chapters, etc.
    I hope that could be of help to you
    Yours sincerely
    josera
[reply]
      OP writes:
      and is printed on a pre-printed background which requires tight control over test positioning and formatting.
      So, the latex option is out of the play, because you cannot fine control the layout with tex.

      I recommend XSL-FO and FOP for the job.


      holli, /regexed monk/
[reply]
        I'd stick to holli's idea, we've got experience with pdf::api2, latex templates using html::template, html2ps, but nothing beats XSL-FO and FOP.
        Also, your xml can be easily converted to other formats as well.

        "We all agree on the necessity of compromise. We just can't agree on when it's necessary to compromise." - Larry Wall.
[reply]
        Thanks folks! Looking into getting FOP installed today. If it works out I'll post back here in a week or so.

        Thx
        jg
        _____________________________________________________
        "Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures - in this century, as in others, our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing people together."   Wind, Sand, and Stars
          Antoine-Marie-Roger de Saint-Exupery
[reply]
[d/l]
Re: Anyone using PDF::Template?
by dragonchild (Archbishop) on Aug 26, 2005 at 15:20 UTC
    Yeah, plenty of companies are using it. I'm the maintainer, so please ask any questions you want.

    Currently, it does require PDFlib to be completely useful. There is a version written by autrijus that uses PDF::API2 instead of PDFlib as the rendering engine and he says it's completely transparent, but I haven't used it.

    My criteria for good software:
    1. Does it work?
    2. Can someone else come in, make a change, and be reasonably certain no bugs were introduced?
[reply]

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