On 24 April 2012 18:38, Cameron Sanders <[email protected]> wrote: > Igor, & others, > > Thanks for the info/links/leads. > > To be honest, I would rather just use a toolkit than create one. That is not > accurate, more accurately: I would rather create the toolkit than use it ... > if I had the time. Unfortunately for me, I do not have the time. So, if > there is only a possibility that I can generate PDFs that meet my standards > with pango/athens/cairo, then I should probably redirect my efforts. > I will try to look what needs to be done, and if it can be done fast.
> Previously I used ReportLab in Python to generate my reports. See the > following sample that was generated by code crafted back around > 2002/2003: http://ac.functional-analyst.com/fa-reports.php?table=2003-02-28/fa_reports&s=BDOG. > ReportLab allowed for simple mark-ups in the text (e.g. <b> ... </b>) and > for that version of report, I wrote code that allowed me to use XMLs to > define my document components & flow ordering/control. I guess ReportLab's > new PLUS version uses XML to give one full control of the document layout. > > Of course, I want something more attractive than that sample, in this day > and age. Color, floating text & image boxes. The reports must meet the > standards of today. Perhaps something more > like http://debrispublishing.com/images/stories/Reports/2011/06-2011/ECA_2011-06-15_REPORT.pdf. > But going further than that, in terms of charts, color usage, footnoting the > tables, etc. See Standard & Poor's stock reports -- at that quality. The > ideal toolkit would have some nice chart making abilities so that we don't > have to invest 2 man months in creating a chart-making suite. > > These reports will be generated weekly for about 9000 companies/funds. The > process must be automated. > > Ideally the report generation would be integrated with my data processing > engine, which is in Pharo. Perhaps I will check out PDF4smalltalk. Once I > can get my software talking to my DB (soon i hope), I can push my data into > the DB and use Python or any other toolset for report generation... *if* I > cannot do it in smalltalk. > > Any leads that anyone can offer are greatly appreciated! > >> (and of course you need to use Cog VM with NativeBoost and Cairo >> library installed on your OS). > > > I will have to poke around and learn what NativeBoost is... and which VMs > were built with it. > Feel free to ask questions. >> The pango stuff is mostly done by Fernando, so i think he can tell you >> more. >> Anyways, if you don't fear to make your hands a bit dirty, we can make >> it, for sure. > > > How dirty? You tell me. :) I don't know what extra bindings is needed to use Cairo for PDF generation. But since you started this topic, i assumed you know. We can help with making it comply with Athens protocols., so then anyone could use it as another backend. > > Thanks again for all of the responses. > > -Cam -- Best regards, Igor Stasenko.
