RTF is the way to go. If you know what you want your word doc to look like, set it up in Word, or whatever will save a formatted rtf file (Sorry, I'm Windows/Mac based, but I presume that Open Office etc will do this on Linux).
I insert placeholders into the document where I want to put dynamic data I use %_varname_% to avoid any RTF conflicts. In php, read the file into a string and str_replace() or preg_replace() the placeholders for your data. Save the target file as *.doc and there you go - done. George > -----Original Message----- > From: dorgon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 25 June 2003 9:06 am > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [PHP] Re: generate word docs > > > hmm... sounds troublesome. > do you need all text/paragraph formatting features of word? what if > finding a spec for RTF, which is much easier and specifying the word > MIME key respectifely saving as .doc (words opens rtf without a convert > dialog I think). > > just a thought > > Evan Nemerson wrote: > > Summary: I have to create a word document on the fly. what's > the best way to > > go about it? > > > > Okay so I have a client that would like something output to a > word document. I > > already have HTML and PDF versions... I'm trying to figure out > the best way > > to do this. I am already aware of the open html in word hack. > The way I see > > it, these are my choices: > > > > 1) Use the hack that I'm really don't like. It never looks > quite right (which > > is the whole point of this). > > 2) Move everything over to a windows host and use COM. > > 3) Somehow convice host (hurricane electric) to run PHP5 CVS > w/ Sterling's > > mono extension, and use .net to create the word document (does > mono support > > that class yet?). I hate C#. VB is even worse. > > 4) Find an open-source library that writes word documents > (quick search > > revealed nothing...), write an extension for php. > > 5) Find a spec for word docs and write a library in php > > 6) find a spec and write a library in c, then create php > extension. I'm > > willing to do this, but it would take a long time... > > 7) Tell my boss to sod off (politely, though), it's not > currently feasible... > > I think this is what he's expecting, anyways. > > > > So, does anyone have any suggestions/comments? Anyone know > where I could find > > a library (in c or php) or a spec? I'm kinda thinking aloud here hoping > > someone will prod me in the right direction... > > > > Thanks > > Evan > > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php > > -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
