PHP Language - Printing Avery Labels from a web site

Author

Printing Avery Labels from a web site

FredBear

2007-04-17, 3:57 am

I am just coming to grips with php, Dreamweaver and MySQL and I want to make
a facility available for the members of the group I am creating my web site
for. I want them to be able to print-out a list of address labels, using
standard Avery labels, on their home PC's using the data from my MySQL
tables. I am not yet sufficiently au fait with php to manage to code it
myself so I wondered if anybody knew of any Dreamweaver extensions, add-ins
or tutorials which would do the trick. I have had a good look at what is on
the web but I can't find very much about it.

Any ideas?
--

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

Sean

2007-04-17, 7:58 am

"FredBear" <ThisIsNotMyAddress@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:13290j3c18spc85@corp.supernews.com...
>I am just coming to grips with php, Dreamweaver and MySQL and I want to
>make a facility available for the members of the group I am creating my web
>site for. I want them to be able to print-out a list of address labels,
>using standard Avery labels, on their home PC's using the data from my
>MySQL tables. I am not yet sufficiently au fait with php to manage to code
>it myself so I wondered if anybody knew of any Dreamweaver extensions,
>add-ins or tutorials which would do the trick. I have had a good look at
>what is on the web but I can't find very much about it.
>
> Any ideas?
> --
>
>
> (\__/)
> (='.'=)
> (")_(")
>

Presumably you just need to create a HTML table to match the dimensions of
the labels, that can then be printed...... as you can specify the column
widths and row heights in cm this should be fairly easy to construct.

Adding code in PHP to create this on the fly from a database would also be
fairly easy, as you are only looping through a recordset to insert the data
into the cells of the table.

Peter Fox

2007-04-17, 7:58 am

Following on from Sean's message. . .
>
>Presumably you just need to create a HTML table to match the dimensions of
>the labels, that can then be printed...... as you can specify the column
>widths and row heights in cm this should be fairly easy to construct.
Is the wrong answer.

Use PDF

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the adhesive company came unstuck
peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

Sean

2007-04-17, 7:58 am

"Peter Fox" <peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html> wrote in
message news:gO2Y2LAAFKJGFwvd@eminent.demon.co.uk...
> Following on from Sean's message. . .
> Is the wrong answer.
>
> Use PDF
>
> --
> PETER FOX Not the same since the adhesive company came unstuck
> peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
> 2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
> Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

Wrong? ... How?

PDF is an alternative to HTML, I would agree ... and would even concede that
it's a better alternative, IF the guy can find (or be given) the appropriate
code examples to complete the task, but HTML wouldn't be "wrong",
particularly if he's new to the coding that it would take to complete the
job.

Peter Fox

2007-04-17, 7:58 am

Following on from Sean's message. . .
>
>"Peter Fox" <peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html> wrote in
>message news:gO2Y2LAAFKJGFwvd@eminent.demon.co.uk...
>
>Wrong? ... How?
Try it yourself and you'll find out.
>
>PDF is an alternative to HTML, I would agree ... and would even concede that
>it's a better alternative, IF the guy can find (or be given) the appropriate
>code examples to complete the task, but HTML wouldn't be "wrong",
>particularly if he's new to the coding that it would take to complete the
>job.
HTML is not an alternative - it's a crap suggestion by somebody who
doesn't know what they're talking about.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the exam marking business failed
peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

Sean

2007-04-17, 7:58 am

>>Wrong? ... How?

> Try it yourself and you'll find out.

An HTML table to represent a sheet of Avery Labels (with PHP) could be done
in your sleep ... assuming that you have a "basic" knowledge of HTML and
PHP.

Even with a PDF format you've still got to create some sort of table or
something in columns to match the layout.
[color=darkred]
[color=darkred]
> HTML is not an alternative - it's a crap suggestion by somebody who
> doesn't know what they're talking about.

There's nothing like being constructive ... and that's nothing like
constructive.

Steve

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

"Sean" <sean.anderson@[nospam]oakleafgroup.biz> wrote in message
news:1176812575.894766@kestrel.skynet.co.uk...
| >>Wrong? ... How?
|
| > Try it yourself and you'll find out.
|
| An HTML table to represent a sheet of Avery Labels (with PHP) could be
done
| in your sleep ... assuming that you have a "basic" knowledge of HTML and
| PHP.
|
| >>> Use PDF
|
| Even with a PDF format you've still got to create some sort of table or
| something in columns to match the layout.
|
| >>PDF is an alternative to HTML, I would agree ... and would even concede
| >>that
| >>it's a better alternative, IF the guy can find (or be given) the
| >>appropriate
| >>code examples to complete the task, but HTML wouldn't be "wrong",
| >>particularly if he's new to the coding that it would take to complete
the
| >>job.
|
| > HTML is not an alternative - it's a crap suggestion by somebody who
| > doesn't know what they're talking about.
|
| There's nothing like being constructive ... and that's nothing like
| constructive.

this world is becoming more and more crowded with whining babies! forget the
packaging of the suggestion and take it for what it's worth. PDF is
FORMALIZED, HTML is completely UNDEVELOPED when it comes to PRINTING. you
are 90% certain to have printed what you expect to have printed using
pdf...html is a crap-shoot. grow up and quit being defensive. his suggestion
is SPOT-ON.

and sean...i'm sure the guys at alt.php.sql just XXXXing L O V E to have
posts thrown their way that have absoXXXXingLutely nothing to do with their
context!

Sean

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

> grow up and quit being defensive. his suggestion is SPOT-ON.
>
> and sean...i'm sure the guys at alt.php.sql just XXXXing L O V E to have
> posts thrown their way that have absoXXXXingLutely nothing to do with
> their
> context!
>
>

It was only the fact that the guy had just ruled out HTML and said Use PDF
.... with no reasoning as to why. I don't mind being told that I am wrong and
am perfectly happy to accept when that happens, but it would be nice to have
some sort of explanation, if not for my benefit, but for the original
poster, too.

That's all on that.

Perhaps we should return to the original subject line ...

Someone with some PDF knowledge could post some kind of example of how you
might interpret a database query on a webpage into the label format that the
original poster has requested.

strawberry

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

On Apr 17, 2:16 pm, "Steve" <no....@example.com> wrote:
> "Sean" <sean.anderson@[nospam]oakleafgroup.biz> wrote in message
>
> news:1176812575.894766@kestrel.skynet.co.uk...
> | >>Wrong? ... How?
> |
> | > Try it yourself and you'll find out.
> |
> | An HTML table to represent a sheet of Avery Labels (with PHP) could be
> done
> | in your sleep ... assuming that you have a "basic" knowledge of HTML and
> | PHP.
> |
> | >>> Use PDF
> |
> | Even with a PDF format you've still got to create some sort of table or
> | something in columns to match the layout.
> |
> | >>PDF is an alternative to HTML, I would agree ... and would even concede
> | >>that
> | >>it's a better alternative, IF the guy can find (or be given) the
> | >>appropriate
> | >>code examples to complete the task, but HTML wouldn't be "wrong",
> | >>particularly if he's new to the coding that it would take to complete
> the
> | >>job.
> |
> | > HTML is not an alternative - it's a crap suggestion by somebody who
> | > doesn't know what they're talking about.
> |
> | There's nothing like being constructive ... and that's nothing like
> | constructive.
>
> this world is becoming more and more crowded with whining babies! forget the
> packaging of the suggestion and take it for what it's worth. PDF is
> FORMALIZED, HTML is completely UNDEVELOPED when it comes to PRINTING. you
> are 90% certain to have printed what you expect to have printed using
> pdf...html is a crap-shoot. grow up and quit being defensive. his suggestion
> is SPOT-ON.
>
> and sean...i'm sure the guys at alt.php.sql just XXXXing L O V E to have
> posts thrown their way that have absoXXXXingLutely nothing to do with their
> context!

have a look at FPDF (www.fpdf.org). They have scripts over there for
creating labels, and it's pretty easy to add your own once you figure
it out a bit.

Jerry Stuckle

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

Sean wrote:
>
>
> An HTML table to represent a sheet of Avery Labels (with PHP) could be done
> in your sleep ... assuming that you have a "basic" knowledge of HTML and
> PHP.
>
>
> Even with a PDF format you've still got to create some sort of table or
> something in columns to match the layout.
>
>
>
> There's nothing like being constructive ... and that's nothing like
> constructive.
>
>
>

Sean,

The problem with HTML is it is a fluid layout, and he needs an
absolutely fixed one.

For instance, the user may not be using the default font size - on my
laptop with a high res screen, I use a larger than normal font. On my
desktop with it's 21" screen, I use a smaller than normal font. And my
default printer font is not the same.

Also, the printer size probably isn't exactly 8.5"x11" (assuming U.S.).
Most printers have an unprintable margin - and this margin varies in
size. The browser may attempt to shrink the page to fit in the margins,
or it may let the page overflow to the next one.

Lots of things like this can happen when you're using html. You can try
to force some of them - but html is only a *recommendation* on how to
display the page, not a *requirement*. You can't be sure you've got it
right.

A PDF, OTOH, is an exact layout and you can control the look of
everything to a very fine level. It's a much superior way to go when
you need exact placement like this.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

Rami Elomaa

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

Sean kirjoitti:
> "Peter Fox" <peterfox@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html> wrote in
> message news:gO2Y2LAAFKJGFwvd@eminent.demon.co.uk...
>
> Wrong? ... How?
>
> PDF is an alternative to HTML, I would agree ... and would even concede that
> it's a better alternative, IF the guy can find (or be given) the appropriate
> code examples to complete the task, but HTML wouldn't be "wrong",
> particularly if he's new to the coding that it would take to complete the
> job.

I would agree that pdf in this case would be more suited, since it's
better suited for printing than html. With pdf you can define better the
layout of the print, with html the results aren't as precise. Html is
suitable for publishing material that looks good or at least acceptable
in most media (screen, print, handheld, etc.). When the target medium is
print, then pdf is absolutely the best choice, because it's intended to
be used in printing. Furthermore, pdf is not an alternative to html.
They do have similarities, like they both are ways of presenting a
document, but they are suited for different media.

--
Rami.Elomaa@gmail.com

"Wikipedia on vähän niinq internetin raamattu, kukaan ei pohjimmiltaan
usko siihen ja kukaan ei tiedä mikä pitää paikkansa." -- z00ze

Michael Daly

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

Sean wrote:

>
> There's nothing like being constructive ... and that's nothing like
> constructive.

Pdf is a better alternative - it's too bad that some people don't have
the communication skills required to say that without sounding like an
ass. But I guess an ass is bigger than a fox and that's what he values.

Mike

Steve

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

| Pdf is a better alternative - it's too bad that some people don't have
| the communication skills required to say that without sounding like an
| ass.

or he spoke his mind - 'ass' being relative to one's own sensitivity...which
i've already stated, more and more skins are thinning every day. buck up! i
believe he said almost word for word, 'pdf is a better alternative'...if no
one else got that because they got their feelings hurt, cry to momma.

jesus christ!

and quit it with the XXXXing cross posting...do you really think that
alt.php.sql could give a rat's ass about a presentation layer question?!!!

Michael Daly

2007-04-17, 6:57 pm

Steve wrote:
> | Pdf is a better alternative - it's too bad that some people don't have
> | the communication skills required to say that without sounding like an
> | ass.
>
> believe he said almost word for word, 'pdf is a better alternative'

What he wrote _exactly_ (you can check it yourself) was

If you think that's effective communication, then you're no doubt the
same kind of ass.

[color=darkred]
> and quit it with the XXXXing cross posting...do you really think that
> alt.php.sql could give a rat's ass about a presentation layer question?!!!

cry to momma.

Cheers,
Mike

Steve

2007-04-17, 9:58 pm

"Michael Daly" <MichaelDaly@foo.bar> wrote in message
news:JeydneKW2Yrv1rjbnZ2dnUVZ_j6dnZ2d@ma
gma.ca...
| Steve wrote:
| > | Pdf is a better alternative - it's too bad that some people don't have
| > | the communication skills required to say that without sounding like an
| > | ass.
| >
| > believe he said almost word for word, 'pdf is a better alternative'
|
| What he wrote _exactly_ (you can check it yourself) was

what he wrote _exactly_ (you can check it yourself) was

'Use PDF'

in his first reply.

second reply...

| > > it's a crap suggestion by somebody who doesn't know what
| > > they're talking about.

and he's right.

| If you think that's effective communication, then you're no doubt the
| same kind of ass.

let's see, if 'crap' is offensive and 'doesn't know what they're talking
about' is too, would it be best - since everyone is so XXXXing
think-skinned - to say:

i'm so terrible sorry you're under the impression that html is less
problematic, even advantagous, to use in lieu of pdf. perhaps you simply
have overlooked some very important details that i will outline now...as
others have done, oh dear boy.

BULLSHIT !!! effective communication is like wit; the more direct and simply
stated, the more effective. sorry, sean obviously wants to stay in his
comfort zone by boasting of html, states he doesn't know how to generate
pdf's, yet 'thinks' he can be objective in his opinion without understanding
the benefits/detriments of *both*. THAT is bullshit...which leads to the
truth in:

| > > it's a crap suggestion by somebody who doesn't know what
| > > they're talking about.

'crap' by any other name? does sean know what he's talking about?

sorry...fox is right.

| > and quit it with the XXXXing cross posting...do you really think that
| > alt.php.sql could give a rat's ass about a presentation layer
question?!!!
|
| cry to momma.

exactly...lead the way, moron!

Jerry Stuckle

2007-04-17, 9:58 pm

Michael Daly wrote:
> Steve wrote:
>
> What he wrote _exactly_ (you can check it yourself) was
>
>
> If you think that's effective communication, then you're no doubt the
> same kind of ass.
>
>
>
> cry to momma.
>
> Cheers,
> Mike

Mike,

Don't worry about the reject from alt.anal.orifices. He's just a troll.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

FredBear

2007-04-18, 7:57 am

Thanks for all the input, People, but I am now running out of the will to
live reading through it all so I have devised a new strategy.

I am going to do a mail merge in MS Word and upload it to my web site each
time I add a new name to the database.

The users can then print their Avery address labels straight from the Word
Document. Not an entirely elegant solution but one which will work.

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

Steve

2007-04-18, 7:57 am

"FredBear" <ThisIsNotMyAddress@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:132bv2dffo07325@corp.supernews.com...
| Thanks for all the input, People, but I am now running out of the will to
| live reading through it all so I have devised a new strategy.
|
| I am going to do a mail merge in MS Word and upload it to my web site each
| time I add a new name to the database.
|
| The users can then print their Avery address labels straight from the Word
| Document. Not an entirely elegant solution but one which will work.

if you're server is windows and you have office installed, just use COM()
and create a word object. perform whatever operations need to take place.
then, set the headers appropriately for the browser and echo word's results.
you don't need to break out of php to do any of that.

cheers.

Captain Paralytic

2007-04-18, 6:57 pm

On Apr 18, 12:09 pm, "FredBear" <ThisIsNotMyAddr...@Yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thanks for all the input, People, but I am now running out of the will to
> live reading through it all so I have devised a new strategy.
>
> I am going to do a mail merge in MS Word and upload it to my web site each
> time I add a new name to the database.
>
> The users can then print their Avery address labels straight from the Word
> Document. Not an entirely elegant solution but one which will work.
>
> (\__/)
> (='.'=)
> (")_(")

Funny you should mention mail merge.
You can in fact mail merge into Word with a direct connection to a
MySQL database on the web. The MySQL database just replaces the Excel
Sheet or Access DB. I'll try to root out an example of this as I have
successfully managed this in the past.

Geoff Berrow

2007-04-18, 6:57 pm

Message-ID: <1176902089.699511.10970@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com> from
Captain Paralytic contained the following:

>Funny you should mention mail merge.
>You can in fact mail merge into Word with a direct connection to a
>MySQL database on the web. The MySQL database just replaces the Excel
>Sheet or Access DB. I'll try to root out an example of this as I have
>successfully managed this in the past.

I could use that...

--
Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
0011011010110110010001101111011001110010
11
1001100011011011110010111001110101011010
11

Captain Paralytic

2007-04-18, 6:57 pm

On Apr 18, 2:37 pm, Geoff Berrow <blthe...@ckdog.co.uk> wrote:
> Message-ID: <1176902089.699511.10970@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com> from
> Captain Paralytic contained the following:
>
>
> I could use that...
>
> --
> Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
> 0011011010110110010001101111011001110010
11
> 1001100011011011110010111001110101011010
11

I'll have a poke around this evening and if I can find it I'll pop it
up on the web somewhere.

FredBear

2007-04-18, 6:57 pm

Geof,

Have a look at:
http://torque.oncloud8.com/archives/000160.html

I just tried it out and it works fine.

"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog.co.uk> wrote in message
news:sn7c23t4utttg0dtmv9pkbfrahg7s8j2up@
4ax.com...
> Message-ID: <1176902089.699511.10970@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com> from
> Captain Paralytic contained the following:
>
>
> I could use that...
>
> --
> Geoff Berrow 0110001001101100010000000110
> 0011011010110110010001101111011001110010
11
> 1001100011011011110010111001110101011010
11

Aerik

2007-04-19, 6:58 pm

> for. I want them to be able to print-out a list of address labels, using
> standard Avery labels, on their home PC's using the data from my MySQL
> tables. I am not yet sufficiently au fait with php to manage to code it
>

After all the flames have died down:

Perhaps absolutely positioned divs? If you get the sizes and
proportions right, then it's just a matter of setting the margins
properly in the browser.

Simpler still (maybe even simpler than your Word / mail merge
solution): Find or create a template in Excel for your labels. In
all the cells, put in formulas pointing to the second sheet. On the
second sheet create an external data source that pulls from an html
table. The html table is dynamicly generated by php and holds your
data. It doesn't matter what the formatting of the table is, all the
formatting is done in excel. To get a new list of labels, in Excel
right click in the external data source and click "refresh". Easy.

Aerik

Jerry Stuckle

2007-04-19, 9:57 pm

Aerik wrote:
>
> After all the flames have died down:
>
> Perhaps absolutely positioned divs? If you get the sizes and
> proportions right, then it's just a matter of setting the margins
> properly in the browser.
>

Doesn't work. You don't know the characteristics of the printer (i.e.
margins, etc.).

A 1/2 inch top or bottom margin makes a big difference on a 2"x3"
mailing label.

> Simpler still (maybe even simpler than your Word / mail merge
> solution): Find or create a template in Excel for your labels. In
> all the cells, put in formulas pointing to the second sheet. On the
> second sheet create an external data source that pulls from an html
> table. The html table is dynamicly generated by php and holds your
> data. It doesn't matter what the formatting of the table is, all the
> formatting is done in excel. To get a new list of labels, in Excel
> right click in the external data source and click "refresh". Easy.
>
> Aerik
>
>

Same problem.

HTML is a recommendation only. It is not suited for exact positioning
like the op requires.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

Good Man

2007-04-19, 9:57 pm

Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote in
news:CJydnYcuic1Kk7XbnZ2dnUVZ_t7inZ2d@co
mcast.com:

> HTML is a recommendation only. It is not suited for exact positioning
> like the op requires

No doubt about it, PDF is the way to go. I've had to go through this exact
scenario, and quickly came to the conclusion that generating a PDF to be
printed on labels is far, far superior than trying to get it right with CSS
for print.

Creating PDFs in PHP is dead easy. Once you figure out where on the page
your labels are, you just run a loop!

Dead simple, quick, and always the right size.

Captain Paralytic

2007-04-21, 3:57 am

On 20 Apr, 03:11, Good Man <h...@letsgo.com> wrote:
> Jerry Stuckle <jstuck...@attglobal.net> wrote innews:CJydnYcuic1Kk7XbnZ2dnUVZ_t7inZ2d@
comcast.com:
>
>
> No doubt about it, PDF is the way to go. I've had to go through this exact
> scenario, and quickly came to the conclusion that generating a PDF to be
> printed on labels is far, far superior than trying to get it right with CSS
> for print.
>
> Creating PDFs in PHP is dead easy. Once you figure out where on the page
> your labels are, you just run a loop!
>
> Dead simple, quick, and always the right size.

Do you have/know a good example of this that you could share?

Captain Paralytic

2007-04-21, 3:57 am

Steve

2007-04-21, 3:57 am

| >| > and quit it with the XXXXing cross posting...do you really think that
| >| > alt.php.sql could give a rat's ass about a presentation layer
| >question?!!!
| >|
| >| cry to momma.
| >
| >exactly...lead the way, moron!
| >
|
| We must all hope you get better quite soon.
| Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

oh robear...yet another. lest i say it again, the opportunists who show up
at a feeding frenzy come bearing teeth. i believe you left your too, in the
small cup of water on the sink in your bathroom. not only did you leave your
teeth, you are how many days late? this thread has been dead for quite some
time. does that mean you only eat off scraps? no, i imagine you are a bottom
feeder - requiring neither teeth nor timing.

:)

Paul Lautman

2007-04-21, 3:57 am

Good Man wrote:
> Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote in
> news:CJydnYcuic1Kk7XbnZ2dnUVZ_t7inZ2d@co
mcast.com:
>
>
>
> No doubt about it, PDF is the way to go. I've had to go through this
> exact scenario, and quickly came to the conclusion that generating a
> PDF to be printed on labels is far, far superior than trying to get
> it right with CSS for print.
>
> Creating PDFs in PHP is dead easy. Once you figure out where on the
> page your labels are, you just run a loop!
>
> Dead simple, quick, and always the right size.

Do you have/know of any good examples?

Tim Roberts

2007-04-21, 6:57 pm

Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote:

>Aerik wrote:
>
>Doesn't work. You don't know the characteristics of the printer (i.e.
>margins, etc.).
>
>A 1/2 inch top or bottom margin makes a big difference on a 2"x3"
>mailing label.
>...
>HTML is a recommendation only. It is not suited for exact positioning
>like the op requires.

Yes, and that's really too bad. HTML is probably 90% of the way to being
the ideal reporting solution. With the flexibility and precision available
in CSS, it wouldn't take very much to allow it to compete with PDF for most
scenarios.

As it is, however, there's just no chance.
--
Tim Roberts, timr@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

Jerry Stuckle

2007-04-21, 9:58 pm

Tim Roberts wrote:
> Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
> Yes, and that's really too bad. HTML is probably 90% of the way to being
> the ideal reporting solution. With the flexibility and precision available
> in CSS, it wouldn't take very much to allow it to compete with PDF for most
> scenarios.
>
> As it is, however, there's just no chance.

And I'm glad there isn't. HTML is made to be a language for flexible
layouts. PDF is mean to be a fixed layout.

If you want your pages to automatically adjust to different window
sizes, HTML is the way to go. But if you want to ensure everyone sees
exactly the same thing, you should use PDF's.

As a webmaster, I prefer my pages adapt themselves to the user's display.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

Aerik

2007-04-22, 7:57 am

>
>
> Doesn't work. You don't know the characteristics of the printer (i.e.
> margins, etc.).
>
> A 1/2 inch top or bottom margin makes a big difference on a 2"x3"
> mailing label.
>
>
>
> Same problem.
>
> HTML is a recommendation only. It is not suited for exact positioning
> like the op requires.
>

Wait a minute - having done several implementations of exactly what I
described above (web data into excel for printing) - what do you mean,
"same problem"? Certainly in html there are a bunch of variables
besides the absolutely positioned divs to deal with, but I think it's
reasonable to assume the user can manage the margins in their print
setup - if not, then they're probably not equiped to load label stock
into their printer. I think the PDF is a fine suggestion, but the
level of complexity is not insignivficant (at least with the few pdf
libraries I've looked at). You've gotta learn the pdf class, get your
data into it into whatever font you choose, and get it positioned
right. Dumping it into any old html table and importing it into excel
is a piece of cake. Maybe not the *best* solution, but probably the
*simplest*.

Aerik

strawberry

2007-04-22, 7:57 am

On Apr 22, 9:18 am, Aerik <asyl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Wait a minute - having done several implementations of exactly what I
> described above (web data into excel for printing) - what do you mean,
> "same problem"? Certainly in html there are a bunch of variables
> besides the absolutely positioned divs to deal with, but I think it's
> reasonable to assume the user can manage the margins in their print
> setup - if not, then they're probably not equiped to load label stock
> into their printer. I think the PDF is a fine suggestion, but the
> level of complexity is not insignivficant (at least with the few pdf
> libraries I've looked at). You've gotta learn the pdf class, get your
> data into it into whatever font you choose, and get it positioned
> right. Dumping it into any old html table and importing it into excel
> is a piece of cake. Maybe not the *best* solution, but probably the
> *simplest*.
>
> Aerik

In that case I'd be interested to see a sample application

Jerry Stuckle

2007-04-22, 9:57 pm

Aerik wrote:
>
> Wait a minute - having done several implementations of exactly what I
> described above (web data into excel for printing) - what do you mean,
> "same problem"? Certainly in html there are a bunch of variables
> besides the absolutely positioned divs to deal with, but I think it's
> reasonable to assume the user can manage the margins in their print
> setup - if not, then they're probably not equiped to load label stock
> into their printer. I think the PDF is a fine suggestion, but the
> level of complexity is not insignivficant (at least with the few pdf
> libraries I've looked at). You've gotta learn the pdf class, get your
> data into it into whatever font you choose, and get it positioned
> right. Dumping it into any old html table and importing it into excel
> is a piece of cake. Maybe not the *best* solution, but probably the
> *simplest*.
>
> Aerik
>

I would absolutely love to see you print Avery labels on any printer
using just HTML. And BTW - I don't have Excel available, so I can't
import it. I do have Adobe Reader available, however, on my Linux system.

It's quite easy to do in a pdf. And I haven't found pdf classes that
complicated. A little studying and I was able to easily create a PDF
form for one of my clients with fpdf.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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