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<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
[mailto:fx.php_list-bounces@mail.iviking.org] 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'>http://www.exit445.com/mvll/fpdf/tutorial/test5.php<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'>jonathan@exit445.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>http://www.exit445.com<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'>FX.php_List@mail.iviking.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_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'><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>
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<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>