<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Jonathan,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>One thing that helps me when I'm using FPDF/FPDI to fine tune content to fit specific places on a template is to put a nice red border on my cells and text blocks, so I can see their complete "footprint" on the page, regardless of the content I'm drawing within them. (If you're already drawing cell borders with FPDF, you may not need to do this everywhere.) Then take the borders off when you're ready to go live.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Other things that trip me up:</DIV><DIV>* Losing track of the x/y location of the "cursor" while I'm creating the page.</DIV><DIV>* Mixing inches and points and having content land in the wrong spot, or completely off the page.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>If you are building a PDF with a tight layout, you may generate literally hundreds of sample PDFs while you fine tune the piece.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Dale</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Oct 2, 2007, at 11:16 AM, Steve Winter wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"> <DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">The other thing which occurred to me while I was off on a run was, have you considered using FPDI, and creating a pdf template which has the actual form in it, ie the template that the teachers would have written on with a pen, and then using FPDF to overlay the FMP content onto that form...??...might be easier than creating the form on the fly as well (for one thing then you don’t have to worry about boxes lining up exactly ;-)<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Cheers<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Steve<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman""=""> <HR size="2" width="100%" align="center" tabindex="-1"> </SPAN></FONT></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><B><FONT size="2" face="Tahoma"><SPAN lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Tahoma"><SPAN lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Tahoma"> fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org [<A href="mailto:fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org">mailto:fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org</A>] <B><SPAN style="font-weight:bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Steve Winter<BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, 2 October 2007 4:28 p.m.<BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight:bold">To:</SPAN></B> '<ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on">FX.php Discussion List</ST1:PERSONNAME>'<BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: [FX.php List] Precision Printing alternatives</SPAN></FONT><FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman""=""><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="2" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Hi Jonathan,<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">In my view FPDF really is your best bet, and based on the alternatives you’ve come up with, your only bet... <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">This has been the answer to every web-based printing problem that I’ve come across because it doesn’t matter what OS or what printer the end user has, the outcome is still the same... I’ve used it for reports, letters, certificates, filling in forms (where the output from FMP has to go onto a government issued form) etc etc<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">You are however correct that establishing the template can be time consuming, that said, once it’s done, it’s done and will work flawlessly on every system...<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Someone mentioned the other day that part of the issue with FPDF was that you have to specify everything based on XY co-ordinates, however I personally believe that is one of its strengths since it allows you to put content precisely where you want it... in a job that I’ve just been working on for a commercial printer we’re using it in combination with a Flash application to create print-ready files from data which is manipulated in flash, the content output to php and the pdf generated pixel perfect...<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">In answer to your FPDF question, to get text to wrap in a field use Multicell see <A href="http://www.fpdf.org/en/doc/multicell.htm">http://www.fpdf.org/en/doc/multicell.htm</A> for details...<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Cheers<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Steve<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">-----Original Message-----<BR> From: fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org [<A href="mailto:fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org">mailto:fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org</A>] On Behalf Of Jonathan Schwartz<BR> Sent: Tuesday, 2 October 2007 4:10 p.m.<BR> To: <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on">FX.php Discussion List</ST1:PERSONNAME><BR> Subject: [FX.php List] Precision Printing alternatives</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-family:Arial"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Hi Folks,<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">(There's a question at the end of this long email recap)<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">I'm still going in circles on my school progress report project.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">The problem goes back to printing report cards after teachers enter <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">student data. There are 200+ teachers in 6 schools. The input side <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">has been intended to be web based using fx.php. No problems there. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">The output side is the real challenge. I didn't originally think so, <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">but I do now.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Earlier on this list, I inquired about using FPDF and I received good <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">reviews for that method. However, in attempting to set that up, I <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">now see the expertise in FPDF required and time involved in getting <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">the template set up. It could take 100 hours...or more....just for <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">the template.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">If you'd like to see the test, it appears below. I have placed the <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">same simplified sample "cell module" in 4 places on a page. Have not <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">figured out how to wrap text inside a cell. That's what the 4th <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">example was trying to do, and where I gave up...<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><A href="http://www.exit445.com/mvll/fpdf/tutorial/test5.php">http://www.exit445.com/mvll/fpdf/tutorial/test5.php</A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">The SECOND alternative is to distribute a runtime FMP file that <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">allows teachers to import data from the server and then use it to <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">print the Progress Reports. (You can't use a runtime to connect to <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">the server).. I guess I could use the Excell spreadsheet php class <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">to do the export. This alternative is lousy in that it involves <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">input in one place and output in another....with steps in between.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">I thought of a THIRD alternative. I believe that all the school's <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">printers are networked and visible on the network across the <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">district. Perhaps if I used a single FMP CLIENT connected to the <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Server at headquarters. and then script the printing of progress <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">reports from the FMP client to the remote printers. There's a recipe <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">for disaster.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Of course, a FOURTH alternative is to purchase 200 copies of <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">FileMaker. There's not budget for that.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">THE QUESTION:<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">That being said...how do php and mysql systems print data to paper? <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">I must be missing some huge piece of the puzzle. Without better <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">alternatives, I'm thinking of walking away from this "opportunity".<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">J<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">-- <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Jonathan Schwartz<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Exit 445 Group<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><A href="mailto:jonathan@exit445.com">jonathan@exit445.com</A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><A href="http://www.exit445.com">http://www.exit445.com</A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">415-381-1852<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">_______________________________________________<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">FX.php_List mailing list<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><A href="mailto:FX.php_List@mail.iviking.org">FX.php_List@mail.iviking.org</A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><A href="http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list">http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list</A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">No virus found in this incoming message.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Checked by AVG Free Edition. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.37/1042 - Release Date: 1/10/2007 6:59 p.m.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><FONT size="2" face="Arial"><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <BR><P><FONT size="2">No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR> Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.37/1042 - Release Date: 1/10/2007 6:59 p.m.<BR> </FONT> </P> <BR><P><FONT size="2">No virus found in this incoming message.<BR> Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR> Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.37/1042 - Release Date: 1/10/2007 6:59 p.m.<BR> </FONT> </P><DIV><FONT size="2" face="Arial"> </FONT> <BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><P><FONT size="2">No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR> Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.37/1042 - Release Date: 1/10/2007 6:59 p.m.<BR> </FONT> </P></O:SMARTTAGTYPE><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________________</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">FX.php_List mailing list</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="mailto:FX.php_List@mail.iviking.org">FX.php_List@mail.iviking.org</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list">http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list</A></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>