Tutorial Request:Creating a PDF file in iPhone app

[danielb21]

I can see in the Quartz 2D Programming Guide that you can indeed create PDF files on the iPhone. I can't quite get my head around the sample function Apple has provided and would love to see a tutorial that simply shows how to create a PDF file that draws an image and some text in, and save it to the iPhone.

Thanks in advance!

[chbeer]

I would do the following steps:

1. Learn C and Objective-C
2. Learn Cocoa
3. Investigate / Learn the iPhone framework
4. Build your PDF program

HTH

[danielb21]

After spending a few more hours on this, I have it working. If there is anyone that is interested I will work on a tutorial, though it probably won't be a fancy screencast or anything.

Also chbeer, please don't assume that people are ignorant just because they ask a question. I wasn't asking for an application to be built for me. I simply thought a tutorial on this might be helpful as I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had or will have this question in the future.

[chbeer]

Originally Posted by danielb21

Also chbeer, please don't assume that people are ignorant just because they ask a question. I wasn't asking for an application to be built for me. I simply thought a tutorial on this might be helpful as I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had or will have this question in the future.

I don't assume people are ignorant or something. I don't assume anything.

I just think you should spend more time yourself into learning (that's what you've done now) instead of asking others to spend their precious time for writing tutorials.

[Superchild]

Originally Posted by chbeer

I don't assume people are ignorant or something. I don't assume anything.

I just think you should spend more time yourself into learning (that's what you've done now) instead of asking others to spend their precious time for writing tutorials.

You have to be kidding me?

This is iPhone Dev SDK site, and this particular category is Tutorial Requests oh wait no your going to have a go at some for asking for a tutorial in a tutorial request category. Is it just me or are you wrong?

not being mean but don't bite peoples head off because they ask for something!!!

Superchild

[chbeer]

Oh, I wasn't aware there is such forum. Then I must admit that I was very wrong... sorry!

[Superchild]

Originally Posted by chbeer

Oh, I wasn't aware there is such forum. Then I must admit that I was very wrong... sorry!

I did go over the top a bit , soz for that.

[Asa]

SuperChild,

I agree this section is for newbies wanting to learn.... I would be interested if you made a tutorial. Have been wondering how to interact with a PDF file natively.

THanks!

[danielb21]

Ok everyone,

I have been so busy working on my apps that I forgot to get this tutorial written and up, so sorry about that. I am dedicating tomorrow to creating this tutorial first thing. I'll start with just creating a PDF file that has text, an image, basic shapes and whatnot. If we need to get more advanced from there I'll be happy to help.

See you all tomorrow!

[sunfire]

By any chance did you create the PDF tutorial?

Thanks!

[ablock]

danielb21: Looks like you haven't had time to get that tutorial done, but any sample code you can post would be much appreciated. Thanks!

/afb

[danielb21]

Originally Posted by ablock

danielb21: Looks like you haven't had time to get that tutorial done, but any sample code you can post would be much appreciated. Thanks!

/afb

Hey afb, that tutorial has actually been up for quite a while. You'll find it here:
PDF Creation Tutorial

Enjoy!
Dan

[ablock]

Awesome, thanks!

[palian3]

[quote=danielb21;102822]Hey afb, that tutorial has actually been up for quite a while. You'll find it here:
PDF Creation Tutorial

Thanks for making the tutorial...such a HUGE help.

I had a question

in your tutorial I create a global NSString *nameText in PDFViewController.m

and in viewDidLoad method set it to

nameText = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@", nameField.text];

then use

CGContextSelectFont (pdfContext, "Helvetica", 24, kCGEncodingMacRoman);
CGContextSetTextDrawingMode (pdfContext, kCGTextFill);
CGContextSetRGBFillColor (pdfContext, 0, 0, 0, 1);
const char *text2 = [nameText UTF8String];
CGContextShowTextAtPoint (pdfContext, 50, 375, text2, strlen(text2));

in void CreatePDFFile (CGRect pageRect, const char *filename)

when I run the app in the simulator and press the button app crashes and Xcode gives a obj_msgSend error.

Im trying to get it so the user can input a string in a textfield and have it displayed in the pdf but the error always occurs unless, I declare the nameText string in the void CreatePDFFile but then reads an error of nameField.text (undeclared first use in this function) when it was defined globally and working in other parts of the view and will not build.

any help or ideas would greatly be appreciated.

[danielb21]

Hey Palian,

In order to really diagnose what's happening I would have to see all of the code, both in your header and main files. If you don't want to post it here you can PM me and include it.

Thanks!
Dan

[palian3]

Originally Posted by danielb21

Hey Palian,

In order to really diagnose what's happening I would have to see all of the code, both in your header and main files. If you don't want to post it here you can PM me and include it.

Thanks!
Dan

Ill email you my whole project. so you can see it in its entirety.

my email is

palian

3

@

gmail

.com

if you email me I will replay with the project.

thanks again.

[iferret]

oh nevermind

[cableguy69]

Thank you so much for you tutorial on PDF Creation.

It has helped me immensely.

I have one problem that I just can't get me head round, and I hope you can help. I trust you a busy man so hopefully its not too difficult. I have tried everything but without luck.

I would like to replace a line of code from void CreatePDFFile (CGRect pageRect, const char *filename) which draws text, but only programmed text.

const char *text ="To";
CGContextShowTextAtPoint (pdfContext, 57, 735, text, strlen(text));

To this:

name= [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@", invoiceContractor.text];
const char *text = [name UTF8String];
CGContextShowTextAtPoint (pdfContext, 245, 810, text, strlen(text));

The later would display text from a user inputted textfield. The problem is that I get a 'invoiceContractor' undeclared warning at build time.

The 'invoiceContractor' textfield has been declared in the .h file and synthesized in the .m file and works in other delegate methods in the .m file just fine.

I would appreciate any help with this that you may have.

Thanking you in advance,

Ants

[sadaf]

i also have the same problem if u solve pls tell me

Originally Posted by cableguy69

Thank you so much for you tutorial on PDF Creation.


It has helped me immensely.

I have one problem that I just can't get me head round, and I hope you can help. I trust you a busy man so hopefully its not too difficult. I have tried everything but without luck.

I would like to replace a line of code from void CreatePDFFile (CGRect pageRect, const char *filename) which draws text, but only programmed text.

const char *text ="To";
CGContextShowTextAtPoint (pdfContext, 57, 735, text, strlen(text));

To this:

name= [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@", invoiceContractor.text];
const char *text = [name UTF8String];
CGContextShowTextAtPoint (pdfContext, 245, 810, text, strlen(text));

The later would display text from a user inputted textfield. The problem is that I get a 'invoiceContractor' undeclared warning at build time.

The 'invoiceContractor' textfield has been declared in the .h file and synthesized in the .m file and works in other delegate methods in the .m file just fine.

I would appreciate any help with this that you may have.

Thanking you in advance,

Ants