Option to generate and/or send invoices in PDF format

[strategy]

This was requested before: http://www.whmcs.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=78

Any chance this will be in 2.5 or 2.6?

[Adam]

Hey,

I would't care to much for this, it's nice to have... Would be better if we can export invoices in the admin area into an Microsoft Execl file....

From,
Adam

[Xeonia]

Would be really important feature...

[Harrison]

I would see this for more formal billing. Great for a "large" company and also good for mail invoices.

However, I highly doubt it will be in 2.5 as Matt's just working on the bugs for now, then releasing 2.5.

Otherwise it would go on forever!

[xxkylexx]

Not really sure what the exact purpose of PDF invoices are? Seem more of a hassle for the client when they can just view the info directly in their client area or email, in plain text format.


Kyle

[Dark_Wizard]

Has this been developed yet? I am changing my system and really like what I see in WHMCS but this is a biggy for me as alot of my customers request this. PDFLib has been included since PHP 4.3.9 so it shouldn't be a big deal making this happen. Lastly based on this poll I see a big request for it.

[Matt]

Here's a preview of the PDF Invoice design I've created for the next release. Please take a look at it and if there's anything you think should be different, just let me know.

www.whmcs.com/download/V3BETAInvoicePreview.pdf

Regards,

Matt

[DataHosts]

Looks clean cut to me and just fine. Assuming that the company logo will print on the PDF if it is configured in settings. However, that does look fine for those that need it. Simple and to the point

[webresellers]

Will there be an option to insert our company logo?

[Matt]

Yes, I have updated the preview file to reflect this.

Matt

[Dark_Wizard]

Looks nice. Any configurable options like adding a footer i.e. "Thank you for your continued business" etc..?

[mstorman]

I am assuming we will be able to change the date formatting, or will it inherit from Configuration > Localisation ?

Also, what about customizing the location of the Customer and Company name, will we have the option to customize the inovice? i.e add custom bordering around the Customer and Company Name?

Thanks.

[Matt]

No, no configurable options for the PDF invoice except the logo. What's important to understand is that it's not as simple as writing an HTML page to generate a PDF file so it can't be controlled by a template or anything like that. Things are positioned using grid references and there's no HTML formatting possible.

All text will be as it should - ie. currency symbol and date formatting as set in your system settings.

Matt

[welch]

Looks great. Only thing else would once the invoice is paid, can we have an option to send a .pdf with the paid email that has the same PDF but at the top has a PAID! logo?

[Adam]

Hey,

From writting business letters almost every day, I think the correct format should be something like the PDF link I put below.

http://www.adambrenner.com/whmcs/SD_Invoice.pdf

Even if you don't use word for word on that style, the company name with logo goes on the left hand side, like a header. Then comes the clients name and so on.

Also, some of us know PHP and have worked with creating PDF via PHP, before. I would like to customize the #$@$@ out of the PDF invoices (using own fonts, placement of text and so on), so could you maybe decode that file?

Thanks,
Adam

[Harrison]

Looks great :D

>> Off topic >>

Woh! Was I really around here back when the forums were so new? Topic 78!
EosHosting was my old account btw.

[Dark_Wizard]

Hey,

From writting business letters almost every day, I think the correct format should be something like the PDF link I put below.

http://www.adambrenner.com/whmcs/SD_Invoice.pdf

Even if you don't use word for word on that style, the company name with logo goes on the left hand side, like a header. Then comes the clients name and so on.

Also, some of us know PHP and have worked with creating PDF via PHP, before. I would like to customize the #$@$@ out of the PDF invoices (using own fonts, placement of text and so on), so could you maybe decode that file?

Thanks,
Adam

Layout is perfect! I agree as well if this was one file that isn't encoded so we can alter it and post for others to share...

[mstorman]

Layout is perfect! I agree as well if this was one file that isn't encoded so we can alter it and post for others to share...

I would to be able to alter the invoice as well.

[Ricky]

I think that looks very neat Adam. Much more information ;) :D

[Dark_Wizard]

I think that looks very neat Adam. Much more information ;) :D

And more professional!

[Matt]

I'm almost certain that an invoice like Adam's suggestion is not possible with the method we're using. As far as I'm aware, it's one item per line and although that may work with the logo Adam's used, for most, where the logo is not just an icon, the logo and company address like that would not be an option. Due to the system logic, invoices are not related to an Order ID so that will also not be possible.

The header and footer of the invoice will be customisable if you know how to do it. I have decided to use the FPDF library for invoice generation. There will however be no support offered for fixing errors created by your customisations or helping with any customisations.

Matt

[Adam]

I'm almost certain that an invoice like Adam's suggestion is not possible with the method we're using. As far as I'm aware, it's one item per line and although that may work with the logo Adam's used, for most, where the logo is not just an icon, the logo and company address like that would not be an option. Due to the system logic, invoices are not related to an Order ID so that will also not be possible.

The header and footer of the invoice will be customisable if you know how to do it. I have decided to use the FPDF library for invoice generation. There will however be no support offered for fixing errors created by your customisations or helping with any customisations.

Matt

Hey,

Can't we just use columns for more then one text on the line?
http://www.fpdf.org/en/tutorial/tuto4.htm

Also, that invoice is what I use for my real company and not my webhosting company, so I wouldn't expect all those Order IDs and what not. But it would be nice :)

Thanks,
Adam

[welch]

What about the paid option when paid :o :)

[Greg]

Yes, PDF invoices = perfect. I have been waiting for this one to come along.