CakePHP 2.x Generate PDF files plugin

Generate PDF files with the CakePHP

This plugin provides next features:

• Generate PDF files

Installation

1. Install the Plugin using composer: composer require anklimsk/cakephp2-tcpdf

2. Add the next line to the end of the file app/Config/bootstrap.php:

   CakePlugin::load('CakeTCPDF', ['bootstrap' => true, 'routes' => true]);

Using this plugin

1. In your Model:

   • Create the following methods:

     public function getExportConfig() {
         $header = [__('Field label 1'), __('Field label 2'), __('Field label 3'), __('Field label 4')];
         $width = [35, 20, 10, 15];
         $align = ['L', 'L', 'C', 'R'];
         $fileName = __('Export file');
     
         return compact('header', 'width', 'align', 'fileName');
     }
     
     public function getExportData($conditions = []) {
         ...
         $result = [
             'Group header (List name)' => [
                 'Sub header' => [
                     [
                         'Field value 1',
                         'Field value 2',
                         'Field value 3',
                         'Field value 4',
                     ]
                 ]
             ]
         ];
     
         return $result;
     }

2. In your Controller:

   • Add the RequestHandler component to AppController, and map pdf to the CakeTCPDF plugin, e.g.:

     public $components = [
         ...,
         'RequestHandler' => [
             'viewClassMap' => [
                 'pdf' => 'CakeTCPDF.Pdf'
             ]
         ]
     );

   • Add to your controller action:

     public export($id = null) {
         if (!$this->RequestHandler->prefers('pdf')) {
             throw new BadRequestException(__('Invalid export type');
         }
     
         $conditions = [];
         if (!empty($id)) {
             $conditions['Model.id'] = $id;
         }
         $exportConfig = $this->Model->getExportConfig();
         $exportData = $this->Model->getExportData();
     
         $this->set(compact('exportConfig', 'exportData'));
     }

3. In your View:

   • Create a link to the a action with the extension .pdf, e.g.:

     $this->Html->link('PDF file', ['ext' => 'pdf']);

   • Place the View templates in the subdirectory Pdf, e.g.: app/View/Invoices/Pdf/index.ctp

   • Use the CakeTCPDF.exportPdfTable element in your View file, e.g.:

     if (!empty($exportConfig)) {
         extract($exportConfig);
     }
     
     if (!isset($orientation)) {
         $orientation = PDF_PAGE_ORIENTATION;
     }
     
     if (isset($fileName)) {
         $this->setFileName($fileName);
     }
     
     $this->tcpdf->setPageOrientation($orientation, TRUE, PDF_MARGIN_BOTTOM);
     $this->tcpdf->options['footerText'] = $this->tcpdf->getAliasNumPage();
     
     // set font
     $this->tcpdf->SetFont(PDF_FONT_NAME_DATA, 'B', PDF_FONT_SIZE_DATA);
     // set default font subsetting mode
     $this->tcpdf->setFontSubsetting(true);
     
     //set margins
     $this->tcpdf->SetMargins(PDF_MARGIN_LEFT, PDF_MARGIN_TOP, PDF_MARGIN_RIGHT);
     $this->tcpdf->SetHeaderMargin(PDF_MARGIN_HEADER);
     $this->tcpdf->SetFooterMargin(PDF_MARGIN_FOOTER);
     
     $this->tcpdf->AddPage();
     $this->tcpdf->setPrintFooter(true);
     echo $this->element('CakeTCPDF.exportPdfTable', compact('exportConfig', 'exportData'));

   • Use the CakeTCPDF.exportPdfTableContent element in your View file, e.g.:

     echo $this->element('CakeTCPDF.exportPdfTableContent', compact('exportConfig'));