PDF document generation technology based on PHP and XML

Summary
This paper briefly introduces the principles of PHP, XML, PDF and other technologies and their application. We try to build an online PDF file generation system based on PHP and XML by using PHP object-oriented features. This article discusses in detail the components of the entire system and their respective implementation processes. At the end, an instance that uses this system to dynamically create a report is provided.
Abstract
This article introduced the fundamentls of PHP, XML and PDF and their application situation at present, expecting to build a PHP & XML-based dynamic PDF documents creating system through the PHP's OO features. furthermore, we discussed in detail on the components of the whole system and their respective realizing methods. finally, we represented an example of creating reports dynamically using this system.

Keywords
PHP XML XSLT DTD PDF


1. Introduction
In the era of rapid development of information technology, governments, enterprises, and individuals are interested in improving their work efficiency and saving money through information technology. They are eager to find an excellent technology, the traditional paper-based documents, reports, ticket documents, manuals, applications, and so on can be converted into a convenient way to automatically generate, disseminate, download, and browse on the Internet and internal networks. and printed electronic documents. The most popular "paperless office" and "e-commerce" are all based on this.

This document format is Adobe's PDF (Portable Document Format), which is a public and practical standard for distribution of electronic documents worldwide.
Any browser that installs the plug-in of Acrobat reader 5.0 allows you to freely browse, download, and print PDF documents. PDF is undoubtedly superior to other electronic document formats.

We know that the B/S system, as the most popular software architecture in the present and future, can well implement various browser-based Web applications, PHP, as an excellent Web programming language, is particularly suitable for developing browser-oriented front-end applications for processing user form input and querying databases. Because PHP is open-source, it is more widely used than other similar Web scripting languages, and its functions are constantly being expanded and improved. The latest PHP version supports PDF and XML. Through the APIs provided by the system, we can quickly generate PDF documents. The most attractive thing is that we can use PHP, query Database or XML data files and insert the results into the generated PDF file to form various reports, documents, and manuals with excellent browsing and printing effects.

It is not hard to see that it is of great practical significance to construct a system that can dynamically generate PDF documents online by combining PHP, XML, and PDF Technologies. Its Main manifestations include: