As we know mPDF is a poplular PHP library. We can generate PDF files from UTF-8 encoded HTML using this PHP library. It is mainly based on FPDF and HTML2FPDF.
We can stratify the following steps for the use of mPDF library in the Yii2 framework -- Installing mPdf library
- Importing mPdf library into controller file
- Creating actions using object of mPDF class
- Creating view file for pdf content
- Generating and accessing pdf file by end user
1. Installing mPdf library
Mpdf manual installation without composer
The mPdf version 7 does not advice for manual installation without composer so it is discouraged and not officially supported. The new mPdf uses many dependencies for libraries and classes.You need to install those dependencies also in the Yii2 framework. Please visit at "How to install mPdf manually in Yii2 framework" for manual installation and explanation for the steps.
Mpdf auto installation using composer
Yii2 mPDF Tutorial : How to install mPDF library using composer? -We will use composer for installing the mPDF library in our Yii2 application. All dependencies (libraries and classes) will be automatically installed in Yii2 applicaiton folder by composer itself. Please write the following code for installing the mPDF in the command window in your project folder directory -
composer require mpdf/mpdf "dev-master" //above command will install the mpdf via github (https://github.com/mpdf/mpdf) //For example in my case(yii2cms is the yii project folder name) - C:\xampp\htdocs\yii2cms>composer require mpdf/mpdf "dev-master" //or (if you donot want to update dependencies)
composer require --ignore-platform-reqs mpdf/mpdf "dev-master"
//Then -
composer update
2. Importing mPdf library into controller file
Now, we will import or call the mpdf library into a controller by using the code "use Mpdf\Mpdf;". Here for demo purpose, we will use the SiteController controller. You can create or use own controller as per your requirement.Controller File Path - Yii2Project/frontent/controllers/SiteController.php
namespace app\controllers;
use Yii;
use yii\filters\AccessControl;
use yii\web\Controller;
use yii\filters\VerbFilter;
use app\models\LoginForm;
use app\models\ContactForm;
use Mpdf\Mpdf; //Importing the mpdf library installed by composer
class SiteController extends Controller {
3. Creating actions using object of mPDF class
Now, we will write the action code in the above controller class for generating the pdf file using the mpdf library. We need to create an object for mPDF. The object will be used for calling the mpdf method to show or download html content into a view file. Following are the code -
// action for pdf file showing in the browser
public function actionAboutPdf(){
$mpdf = new mPDF();
$mpdf->WriteHTML($this->renderPartial('aboutpdf')); // Assigning the view file having html content
$mpdf->Output();
exit;
}
// action for pdf file for download
public function actionForceDownloadAboutPdf(){
$mpdf = new mPDF();
$mpdf->WriteHTML($this->renderPartial('aboutpdf')); // Assigning the view file having html content
$mpdf->Output('AboutPdf.pdf', 'D'); // download pdf file forcely named as - "AboutPdf.pdf"
exit;
}
You can check in detail for the function renderPartial() at "View rendering process in yii2 framework".
4. Creating view file for pdf content
Now, we will create a view file in which we will use HTML content for generating the pdf file.View File Path - Yii2Project/frontend/views/site/aboutpdf.php
5. Generating and accessing pdf file by end user(Yii2 pdf generator)
The pdf file can be shown publically to the end user, in two ways as explain below -Using direct link in the browser
Copy and paste below urls as per your choice to print or download.For show in browser as pdf format -
http://infotokri.infinityfreeapp.com/yii2cms2022/frontend/web/index.php?r=site%2Faboutpdf
For download the article as pdf format -
http://infotokri.infinityfreeapp.com/yii2cms2022/frontend/web/index.php?r=site/force-download-about-pdf
By using action(site/about-pdf, site/force-download-about-pdf) url in a link
For example using below Yii2 HTML helper anchor code or Yii2 URL helper code.
//For button - showing in the browser
<?= Html::a('Show in PDF format', ['site/about-pdf'], ['target'=>'_blank', 'class'=>'btn btn-info']) ?>
or
<a href="<?= Url::to(['site/about-pdf']); ?>" target="_blank" class="btn btn-info">Show in PDF format</a>
//For force download button
<?= Html::a('Download in PDF format', ['site/force-download-about-pdf'], ['target'=>'_blank', 'class'=>'btn btn-info']) ?>
or
<a href="<?= Url::to(['site/force-download-about-pdf']); ?>" target="_blank" class="btn btn-info">Download in PDF format</a>
We have shown these two buttons in the demo as like screenshot below -
You can check and view them at the link below.
Demo - see it in live environment | Download Source
Best Books for Web Development in PHP
1
Programming PHP : Creating Dynamic Web Pages
Book Description
It's the new and updated version of this book - Fourth Edition - that teaches you everything you need to know to build effective web applications using the latest features in PHP 7.4.
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It teaches to apply common web application techniques, such as form processing, data validation, session tracking, and cookies.
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You can learn about secure scripts, error handling, performance tuning and other advanced topics in this book.
You can get a quick reference to PHP core functions and standard extensions in this book.
Book details
Format: Kindle Edition, PaperbackRating: 4.6 out of 5
Author: Kevin Tatroe, Peter Macintyre
Print Length: 540 pages
Publication Date: 27 March 2020
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2
PHP Web Development with Laminas
Book Description
This book teaches how to build fully secure and functional e-commerce applications with PHP using the next generation Zend Framework-Laminas. You can learn to develop modern object-oriented applications with PHP by using Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) aided by mature reusable components.
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You will learn how to build the basic structure of a PHP web application divided into layers. You can understand the MVC components of Laminas and be able to take advantage of the Eclipse platform as a method to develop with Laminas.
Books teach to explore how object-relational mapping is implemented with Laminas-DB, behavior-driven development concepts to sharpen your skills, how to build complete models and reusable components, practice testing How to Create HTML Forms With Laminas-Forms.
By the end of this web development book, you will be able to build completely secure MVC applications in PHP language using Laminas.
Book details
Format: Kindle EditionAuthor: Flávio Gomes da Silva Lisboa
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
Enhanced typesetting: Not Enabled
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3
Getting started with Laravel 9, master the most popular PHP framework
Book Description
This book is for all those who want to build their first application in Laravel 9. This book provides a step-by-step introduction to the writing framework, gets to know its most relevant aspects and focuses above all on practice.
Using this book you will be able to build any basic application with the framework. There are total 19 chapters in this book. Using this book, you will be able to know what are the required software to install Laravel for different operating systems.
In this book you can learn - project creation, database configuration, routing, view controllers, redirection, directive and templating engines in the form of blades, model building, CRUD applications etc.
You can learn to perform common eloquent operations that can be applied to databases using query builders. You can learn how to generate test data using classes.
You can also learn the file upload process. You can learn how to use REST APIs through CRUD type applications in VU3 using Axios requests and web components with Oruga UI.
You can also learn how to configure Browsersync with Laravel to automatically reload applications. You can learn how to protect an app in Vue with the login required to access its various modules using SPA authentication or Laravel Sanctum tokens.
Book details
Format: Kindle EditionRating: 1 out of 5
Author: Andrés Cruz Yoris
Print Length: 453 pages
Publication Date: 8 May 2022
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported
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4
Learning Drupal as a framework: Your guide to custom Drupal 9. Full code included
Book Description
This book uses PHP> 7.4. This course teaches you about the advanced concepts of Drupal 9, object-oriented PHP and Symfony components.
After the course, you will be able to build a variety of robust and scalable software solutions.
This book discusses advanced topics such as custom entities, entity forms, access controls, events, caching, workflows, and more when building real software.
It gives you powerful and ready-to-use snippets for your next Drupal project with +2400 lines of custom code.
Book details
Format: Kindle EditionRating: 5 out of 5
Author: Stef Van Looveren
Print Length: 282 pages
Publication Date: 17 July 2022
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported
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5
Getting started with CodeIgniter 4
Book Description
This book is for anyone who wants to build their first applications in CodeIgniter 4 a popular PHP framework, this writing offers a step-by-step introduction to the framework, knowing the most relevant aspects of it, and is focused above all on practice.
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This book has a total of 15 chapters and consists of explanations and practices. It teaches you how to run the framework, how to configure a database, how to create the first components, how to use of migrations for table management, working with the MVC, how to prepare CRUD application, how to use the routes, grouped routes, their options, and the different types.
You can learn about the use of the session and also of the flash session to save data and present it to the user. You can learn to manage views in a reusable way. You can learn about how to work with HTML forms and apply validations from the server side in CodeIgniter. You can learn about the authentication module with the login interface, and how to build a Rest Api type CRUD that can be consumed with JSON or XML.
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Book details
Format: Kindle EditionAuthor: Andres Cruz
Print Length: 328 pages
Publication Date: 13 May 2022
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Screen Reader: Supported
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X-Ray: Not Enabled
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FAQ - Frequently Asked Question
How do I download Yii?
You can install Yii using the composer software, which does everything automatically that need to set up Yii on your computer or server. This is recommended and the best way to install Yii on your computer or server.
You can also install and set up Yii by downloading the application template archive file from Yii's official website on your computer or server.
How set Yii framework in xampp?
You can install Yii2 using the composer software. For this, you need to navigate at the htdocs folder in the xampp installation directory before running the installation command using composer. The following command need to write to install Yii2 basic or Yii2 advanced application template -
For basic template -
C:\xampp\htdocs>composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-basic yii2project
For installing advanced template -
C:\xampp\htdocs>composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-advanced yii2project
How do I install Composer on Windows 10?
You need to download and run "composer-setup.exe" from "https://getcomposer.org". It will install the latest composer version and set up your PATH environment variable so that you can simply call 'composer' from any directory.
Now for verifying the composer installation, please press the combination of Windows and “R” key for opening the “Run” dialog box. Now write “cmd” in the open box for opening the command window. You need to write the command : “composer –v” and press the enter key. It will show composer version screen.
How do I know if Composer is installed on Windows?
Please press the combination of Windows and “R” key for opening the “Run” dialog box. Now write “cmd” in the open box for opening the command window. You need to write the command : “composer –v” and press the enter key.
If this command shows you the Composer Version screen, it means that Composer is already installed on your computer.
How do I run yii2 advanced project on localhost?
Open the command window and navigate at the Yii2 project folder(e.g. yii2cmstest) at where you want to install and setup the Yii2 advanced template. Now run the following composer command for installing the Yii2 advanced template automatically.
For Advanced application(with backend and frontend folder structure) -C:\xampp\htdocs>composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-advanced yii2cmstest
After successfull installation you need to open the browser and enter the following URL(including project folder) for opening the Yii advanced template page.
http://localhost/yii2cmstest/backend/web/
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