[Lazarus] PDF generator, try 2

[Michael Van Canneyt]

On Fri, 1 Apr 2016, Ondrej Pokorny wrote:

> On 31.03.2016 22:58, Michael Van Canneyt wrote:
>> I suspect this can be easily implemented.
>> 
>> Synopse pdf is the reason I started fppdf. Synopse is heavily Windows
>> centric, but otherwise quite capable.
>
> Yes, correct. I was who implemented exact drawing to Synopse PDF (i.e. 
> rendering to exact rect) because the font sizes on Canvas and PDF were quite 
> different. IIRC you compare the actual text width with the wanted text width 
> and you scale the text box with a transformation.

Coordinate transformations are explicitly part of the PDF generator design.

> I also implemented underline text and did more enhancements, I don't remember 
> exactly any more. It was years ago.
>
> Now I stay before a choice to use Synopse PDF (and to have PDF export 
> Windows-only) or create a new bindings to fppdf.

Well, obviously I cannot make this choice for you. 
For me there was no choice: my software runs on headless linux servers. 
So maybe you will profit from my lack of choice :-)

>> Fppdf is a young library (although it required many months of work)
>> I am sure many improvements will be made as the reporting library develops.
>> 
>> A canvas descendant that renders to pdf is planned, but not very high
>> priority.
>> 
>> Patches and suggestions are definitely welcome. The library is intended for
>> production, so quality is important.
>
> I have to take a look at fppdf. I'll need a PDF export in the next months. If 
> I decide for fppdf you can be sure that I'll make you busy with sending 
> patches :)

No worries there, they will be very welcome :)

Michael.