CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phppdf
Amir
Amir

Reputation: 1979

what should I do to be able to create large PDF files without error?

I'm creating a pdf file on fly using fpdf of PHP from the database but when there are a lot of data in my db , either the file cant be created completely and just half of it comes out, or nothing will happen or I get run-time error what should I do to be able to create large PDF files without error?

large pdf :

The code is like :

require('lib\fpdf.php');
require ('lib\pdf.php');
include ('lib\bukaDb.php');

$pdf = new PDF('P','pt','A4');
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','',8);
$pdf->AliasNbPages();
$pdf->Open();
$pdf->setY($pdf->tMargin);

for ($i=0; $i<count($var); $i++){   
//Do something , show data
//$pdf->Ln(20);
}

// Finally, produce the PDF!!

$pdf->Output();

And my table has hundreds of rows, I cant use set time limit function, any other recommendation?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 5341

Answers (3)

ariefbayu
ariefbayu

Reputation: 21979

Move you script to crontab and set saved pdf as file. Once your script finished, set it to send email telling you that the process finished.

As rough pseudo-code:

require('lib\fpdf.php');
require ('lib\pdf.php');
include ('lib\bukaDb.php');

$pdf = new PDF('P','pt','A4');
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','',8);
$pdf->AliasNbPages();
$pdf->Open();
$pdf->setY($pdf->tMargin);

for ($i=0; $i<count($var); $i++){   
//Do something , show data
//$pdf->Ln(20);
}

// Finally, produce the PDF!!
$savefile = "/path/to/output/dir/output.pdf";
$pdf->Output($savefile,'I');

mail('[email protected]', 'PDF Generator', "PDF has been generated at $savefile");

Then, all you have to do is, save it to somewhere on your server and set it's path as crontab:

/path/to/php/cli/php /path/to/your/saved/php/pdf_generator.php

Please note that you have to:

  • make sure your $savefile directory is writable by script.
  • use php cli, not by accessing script via browser as it will also affected by time limit.

Upvotes: 1

Udo G
Udo G

Reputation: 13141

We create PDF files (using fpdf) with hundreds of pages without any problem, so I guess it's your code that is collecting / displaying data that causes the request to time out.

When your HTTP request takes long to complete (more than 10 seconds) then it's probably your script simply taking too much time to complete.

I really think the problem is what happens inside that for loop. Try to create a simple dummy PDF with about the same amount of pages. If that works, you know that you have to search the problem inside the for loop.

Upvotes: 1

Wander Nauta
Wander Nauta

Reputation: 19695

Your script is probably timing out. Try disabling the built-in time limit:

set_time_limit(0);

If you host your site or app on a shared-hosting server though, make sure you are allowed to do this. Some web hosters (including mine) frown upon using lots of server resources for tasks like this.

Upvotes: 2

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