How to create a PDF-Document on the fly?

Created by . Last modified on 2003/08/05.

How to create a PDF-Document on the fly?

 Please report comments and bug-reports to: [email protected]

 - Please note: This script works only for pages where
   anyonmous has the right to view...

 - Download and install 'htmldoc' from 
   "http://www.easysw.com/htmldoc/":http://www.easysw.com/htmldoc/

 - Copy the following script as "html2pdf.py" to
   your Zope-Installation-Path/Extensions::

# HTML2PDF - converts HTML to PDF
# Needs 'htmldoc' from Easy Software Products
# Send comments to [email protected]

import AccessControl, cgi, os

def html2pdf(self):
    """ html2pdf converts a HTML-Page to a PDF-Document """

    securityContext=AccessControl.getSecurityManager()

    if securityContext.checkPermission('View', self):

        QUERY_STRING = ''

        for (key,value) in self.REQUEST.form.items():
            if QUERY_STRING:
                QUERY_STRING=QUERY_STRING + '&'

            QUERY_STRING = QUERY_STRING + "%s=%s" % (key, cgi.escape(value))

        URL = self.absolute_url()

        if QUERY_STRING:
            URL = URL + "?" + QUERY_STRING

        (stin,stout) = os.popen2('htmldoc --footer " : " --webpage -t pdf --quiet --jpeg "%s"' % URL)
        stin.close()
        pdf = stout.read()
        stout.close()

        self.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-type','application/pdf')
        self.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-disposition','inline; filename="%s.pdf"' % (self.getId()))

        return pdf

    else:
        raise AccessControl.Unauthorized


 - Add an External Method to your Root-Folder with 
   'Id / Module Name / Function Name = html2pdf'

 - To create a PDF-Document on the fly, add '/html2pdf' to a ZOPE-URL. That's all!