How to Generate Multiple PDF Files with PHP, MySQL, and HTML2PDF

Описание: Learn how to generate multiple distinct PDF reports for each sample from your database using PHP, MySQL, and HTML2PDF. Follow our detailed step-by-step guide for the best practices and improved code structure.
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How to Generate Multiple PDF Files with PHP, MySQL, and HTML2PDF

Generating PDF reports dynamically from a database can be quite challenging, especially when multiple entries need to be processed separately. If you've ever faced the problem of generating multiple PDF files for each sample from your database—using PHP, MySQL, and HTML2PDF—then this guide is for you!

Let's break down the steps to effectively create distinct PDFs for different records from your database.

The Challenge

In many cases, developers need to generate reports that are not only visually appealing but also informative. You might have encountered a situation similar to this:

You have a table in your database that contains some records.

The first 12 characters of each record signify the run name, while the last 8 characters represent a unique sample ID.

You managed to generate the PDF, but instead of having unique PDFs for each record, they all ended up in a single PDF file.

This is a common issue and can be resolved with some adjustments to your PHP code.

The Solution

To solve the problem of generating multiple separate PDFs, you need to make a few tweaks in your existing script. Here’s a structured approach to improve your current code:

Step 1: Initialize the PDF Generation Loop

Inside the loop that fetches records from the database, ensure that PDF generation is correctly ordered. Here’s how you can do it:

Use output buffering to manage the content properly and generate PDFs individually.

Increment a variable (like $index) to create unique filenames for each PDF.

Updated Code Example

Here’s a revised version of your PHP code that implements the changes necessary to generate distinct PDF files:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Adjustments Made

Moved ob_start(); into the inner loop where patient data is fetched. This ensures that you are capturing the output for each individual record.

Utilized $index to alter the filenames of the outputted PDFs, thus creating distinct files for each sample.

Conclusion

With the adjustments made to the code, generating multiple PDF files for each sample record can be achieved effortlessly. The clear separation of output buffering within the loop ensures that each PDF is uniquely generated, leading to better management of your documents.

By following this guide, you can streamline your report generation process and maintain a more organized workflow. Happy coding and PDF generating!