Create a PDF document template

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This document describe how to create your own module to generate different documents that match your needs (for proposals, invoices, etc...) Tutorial is based on commercial proposals used as example but can be used for any type of document.

To know how to build an ODT template, see page Create an ODT document template. Building a PDF template require PHP development knowledge, but not building an ODT template.

Prerequisite

  • Dolibarr: 3.0+
  • Knowledge in PHP development

Find a model near your need

In Dolibarr, test existing models by going to the module setup area and by clicking on the "preview" logo.. Among existing models, find the one that is the nearest of your need. In this example, we suppose it's the template "azur" (corresponding to file pdf_propale_azur.modules.php).

FYI, all models are in htdocs/includes/modules, into subdirectory propale for commercial proposals, facture for invoices, commandes for orders, etc...

Create your new template

For security, we will retain the original models. For the example, we assume we creates a new module we call 'mycompanyblue' and inspired by the module 'azur':

  • Copy and paste file pdf_propale_azur.modules.php
  • Rename the copy into pdf_propale_mycompanyblue.modules.php
  • Edit and make the following changes in the code:
  1. Rename 'Class pdf_propale_azur { ' into 'Class pdf_propale_mycompanyblue { '
  2. Rename 'Function pdf_propale_azur ($db=0)' into 'Function pdf_propale_mycompanyblue ($db=0)'
  3. For invoices, rename 'crabe' in '$this->name = "crabe";' to change the modelname.
  4. Save file. Now template is available in the list of models into Dolibarr
  5. Test this model (see previous section) before going further ...

Customize content of your new template

Customize the template created. Still in file pdf_propale_mycompanyblue.modules.php, search function 'Function _pagehead (&$pdf, $fac)'. It manages the display of the header.

Library for PDF manipulation

The library used to create PDF documents in PHP language is called FPDF and can be found into htdocs/includes/fpdf/fpdf/fpdf.class.php. It's also in this class you can find all different methods used to generate different parts of documents.

Templates instantiate this class FPDF and used its method, combined with data of invoice, order, or other kind of data.

We can generraly find the following calls into templates that generated PDF documents:

  • $pdf->SetFont() - Define the font to use for the text
  • $pdf->SetXY() - Define position (X,Y) for next text that will be output onto page
  • $pdf->MultiCell() - Draw a box containing text. Used to output any text
  • $pdf->GetY() - Return current Y position
  • $pdf->SetDrawColor() - Set the color to use for new text to write - ie black (0,0,0) or white (255,255,255)
  • $pdf->Rect() - Drwa a rectanle whose top left corner coordinates ared defineds by two first parameters and bottom right corner is defined by two following parameters that are relative values

Frame of scripts

During the development of version 2.2, the scripts used for generating PDF documents had the following methods (taking as example the model "crabe") inside the class with the model's name:

  • pdf_crabe() - Creator of the object pdf
  • write_pdf_file() - General method for generating the file. This method calls all the following ones after initializing some variables
  • _pagehead() - Method for drawing the heading of the document, including in general the logo, the title of the document (and the date) as well as the frames of the issuer and the addressee of the document
  • _tableau() - Method for drawing the details table (products, services,...)
  • _tableau_info() - Method for drawing the table containing information list present in the bill
  • _tableau_tot() - Method for drawing table of Totals
  • _tableau_versement() - Method for drawing table of payment rules
  • _pagefoot() - Method for drawing bottom of the page

Examples of customization

  • Add following instructions
$pdf->Image('\www\htdocs\dolibarr\document\societe\logo.jpg', 10, 5, 60.00);

With this example: 10=abscissa, 5=ordinate, 60=with of logo

  • If logo is on or outside existing text, remove exisiting text by commenting the code that output the text or by changing its position.

Insert text

Most comme function to use 

$pdf->setX(float a); // set current x position
$pdf->setY(float b); // set current y position
$pdf->setXY(float a,float b); // fixe les positions x et y courantes
$pdf->SetTextColor(0,0,200); // fixe la couleur du texte
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',14); // fixe la police, le type ( 'B' pour gras, 'I' pour italique, '' pour normal,...)
$pdf->MultiCell(60, 8, 'Mon texte", 0, 'L'); // imprime 'Mon texte' avec saut de ligne

Note: Origin for setXY functions are the top left corner of page.

More information

http://www.fpdf.org/?lang=en

Activate your new model

In page Home => Setup => Modules =>

  • activate your module
  • eventually, set it as the default model.
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