PdfLabelMaker
=============
Generates PDFs that can print to Avery labels.
Requires pdf-writer (gem install pdf-writer).
Example
=======
Get a collection of contacts and send them to the label maker, with the Avery code of the size labels. For example:
class ContactsController < ApplicationController
def index
@contacts = Contact.all.ordered
respond_to do |format|
format.pdf do
pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts)
send_data pdf.render, :filename => 'labels.pdf', :type => 'application/pdf'
end
format.html
end
end
end
This would be found at /contacts.pdf
Your model needs to implement a 'label_lines' method which returns an array - one element for each line to appear on the label.
class Contact < ActiveRecord::Base
def label_lines
returning Array.new do |arr|
arr << full_name
address.split("\r\n").each{|line| arr << line}
end
end
end
Options
=======
Send the label code that you want printed. Default is 'L7162' which is 16 labels per page.
pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'J8651')
This would print the J8651 format, which is 65 little labels per page.
Not all label formats are supported yet, but you could send your own if necessary. Just send a bunch of options, like this:
class ContactsController < ApplicationController
require 'pdf/writer'
include PDF
def index
@contacts = Contact.all.ordered
respond_to do |format|
format.pdf do
options = {
:columns => 3,
:labels_per_page => 30,
:left_margin => Writer.mm2pts(4),
:bottom_margin => Writer.mm2pts(25),
:label_width => Writer.mm2pts(67),
:label_height => Writer.mm2pts(26.3),
:label_padding_x => Writer.mm2pts(4),
:label_padding_y => Writer.mm2pts(3),
:gap_between_labels_x => Writer.mm2pts(4),
:font_size => 9,
:line_height => 10
}
pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'user-defined', options)
send_data pdf.render, :filename => 'labels.pdf', :type => 'application/pdf'
end
format.html
end
end
end
You can also override any of the settings, just like this:
pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'L7162', {:font_size => 20, :font => 'Times-Roman'})
Credit
======
Thanks to Nick Sieger for the example, and the code that got me started.
http://blog.nicksieger.com/articles/2006/05/26/rails-is-simpler-than-office
Copyright (c) 2008 Aimee Daniells, released under the MIT license
