PDF Templates

If you use this package ...

https://github.com/barryvdh/laravel-dompdf

You can use Blade templates to generate the PDFs. Not quite what you were asking for but I don't think there's anything out there that fits your needs exactly.

Some old school thought

• User fills out a form
• That data is saved to a database table
• Ready to put that stored data in pdf
• just put it there like any field would be done

I've used the package that @topvillas mentioned like so:

$view = view('pdf-view', ['data' => $data])->render();

$pdf = resolve('dompdf.wrapper');
$pdf->loadHTML($view);

return $pdf->stream('PDF');

I don't think it's a good idea to store the PDF in the database. Just store the fields and then serve the pdf using the stored data.

Thanks for all replies!

So it looks like I have to convert existing pdfs into HTML.

There must be a way to map fields on a PDF because services like right signature and hello sign do it. But maybe just not able in php.

You can map fields on a PDF. Just create a normal view with blade variables and implement the code above...

Sorry not being very clean on my end.

What if I already have a PDF. Every time someone fills out some information. That PDF is used and then the data that is entered gets put in that existing pdf as a new pdf.

That's alright!

I don't think you can accomplish the PDF generating without a HTML representation of the PDF. You have to create a HTML template for the PDF and then generate the filled PDF. I think that's the only way.

So it looks like I have to convert existing pdfs into HTML.

Or just start new with having the person fill out a form store that data and when you are ready to generate the PDF generate with the stored data from database. I don't know if that would work for you or not but just an idea.