On Monday 01 July 2002 03:26 pm, Ryan McBride wrote: > On Mon, Jul 01, 2002 at 11:47:26AM -0700, Rich Shepard wrote: > > On Mon, 1 Jul 2002, Klaus [iso-8859-15] Ramst?ck wrote: > > > is it possible to have a special layout invoice, derived, say, from > > > letter. It should be able to sum up items, compute taxes, build a > > > total and call the bad guys after payment is due > 3 months. > > > > My recommendation is to turn around your idea. Use a database back end > > (postgres, for example) for your accounts receivable system. Then, when > > you want to generate an invoice, feed the details to a LyX (or LaTeX) > > template that prints the invoice for you. Dunning letters for overdue > > accounts also would be created by LyX based on the results of a database > > query on the A/R system. > > You might want to check out sql-ledger (http://www.sql-ledger.org). It > has all this built in, including LaTeX output of invoices, etc. > > -Ryan
Personally, I use text-file invoices. I've used em since 1987, and while apps and formats have come and went, my invoices remain ultimately readable. Also, a text invoice's exact form does NOT depend on things like a .sty or .layout file. Lately I've been asked for .pdf invoices, so I came up with the following script (called text2pdf) to make a .pdf invoice out of text: #!/bin/sh enscript -B -fCourier12 -o $1.intermediate $1.txt ps2pdf $1.intermediate $1.pdf rm -f $1.intermediate Personally, I'd have the database generate the .txt version of the invoice, and then if necessary run text2pdf. Steve -- _____________________________________________________________ Steve Litt Author: * Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful Technologist * Rapid Learning: Secret Weapon of the Successful Technologist http://www.troubleshooters.com/bookstore/ Troubleshooters.Com Webmaster (Legal Disclaimer) Follow these suggestions at your own risk. -------------------------------------------------------------
