Best options for .doc(x) libraries?

happybanana · 03-14-2013, 02:16 PM

Hi all,

I'm using native PHP and I'm looking for a way to generate .doc files on the fly. I want to be able to do image insertion, TOC, header-footers, tables etc.

I can find half decent .rtf generator libraries but they don't do TOC of course. Anything for .doc(x) is either in beta and a bit ropey or seems to cost $$$. There seems to be about 3 main libraries/packages in this space. Can anyone recommend anything I might have overlooked?

I believe some PHP frameworks might have solutions for this but I can't use them right now. What are peoples suggestions? Should I look to creating a HTML->DOC type setup or something else?

I guess I could go straight to PDF but I kinda need the document to be user-editable too.

I'm stumped! Any suggestions?

felgall · 03-14-2013, 07:15 PM

Anything you find is going to cost quite a bit because that's a proprietary format owned by Microsoft and they want their cut for any program that uses it.

happybanana · 03-15-2013, 01:34 AM

That's not really true.

Their Word 2007 XML standard is well documented for example. I'm surprised there isn't a comprehensive PHP library for it yet.

Inigoesdr · 03-15-2013, 04:59 PM

I haven't tried this one yet, but the PHPExcel library from the same people works well:
https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord

happybanana · 03-16-2013, 03:34 AM

Thanks for that. That's the one I've decided to work with for the moment.

My only concern with that one is that it's still in beta and no development on it has occurred since 2011. I've already noticed a few quirks with it but I'll push on ahead with it until I have to change tack!