# Generating PDF- environment.rb problem

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [December 12, 2007, 10:03am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800 "2007-12-12T10:03:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/94ad74/32.png) [@valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/valerieloy)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:03am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800/1 "2007-12-12T10:03:11Z")

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Hi,

I would like to implement a PDF function into my application.  
I have already installed the pdf-writer-1.1.6.

Firstly, there are several folders in this zip folder e.g. pdf, writer  
etc.  
Where exactly should I paste this folders to?

Secondly, I added the following codes to the environment.rb:  
require ‘pdf/writer’  
Mime:Type.register ‘application/pdf’,:pdf

Where should I place these codes and the should the word “application”  
be replaced with my project’s name?  
I am sure that there is something wrong with the codes in here as when i  
restarted WEBRICK in my command prompt, some of the errors that occurred  
are:

- already initialized constant OPTIONS  
-no such file to load – transaction/simple

Can someone please give me a solution? Because there is no way I can  
implement the codes if I cannot start my WEBrick successfully.  
This is quite urgent as the deadline is drawing nearer. Please help!  
Thank you very much!!!

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**Author:** ![valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/94ad74/32.png) [@valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/valerieloy)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 12:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800/2 "2007-12-12T12:04:10Z")

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Hi

1. Where exactly should I paste this folders to?  
I would place them into the vendor directory or you can install the  
library directly with gems so you don’t have to put the library into  
your projects folder.

2. Secondly, I added the following codes to the environment.rb:  
require ‘pdf/writer’  
Mime:Type.register ‘application/pdf’,:pdf

You should place “require ‘pdf/writer’” into the main application  
controller (application.rb) or only in those controllers, wich realy  
need the library.  
And “Mime:Type.register ‘application/pdf’,:pdf” is misspelled. The  
correct syntax is Mime::Type.register ‘application/pdf’,:pdf and  
should be placed in config/initializers/mime\_types.rb (there are also  
some examples in this file).

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**Author:** ![valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/94ad74/32.png) [@valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/valerieloy)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800/3 "2007-12-12T21:56:49Z")

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Ryan’s podcast may help - [#78 Generating PDF Documents - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/78)

On Dec 12, 4:03 am, Valerie L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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**Author:** ![valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/94ad74/32.png) [@valerieloy](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/valerieloy)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generating-pdf-environment-rb-problem/122800/4 "2007-12-13T02:38:24Z")

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On Dec 12, 2007 4:03 AM, Valerie L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
wrote:

> Secondly, I added the following codes to the environment.rb:

It looks like the transaction-simple gem might be missing.  
gem install transaction-simple

Michael G.