# Manual for PDF::Writer and the railspdf plugin **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 17, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203 "2007-04-17T02:16:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/1 "2007-04-17T02:16:02Z")
Hi, Can someone help me please? I am a noob to both Ruby and Rails. I have downloaded and installed PDF::Writer and the railspdf plugin. I need more documentation, The PDF::Writer readme says to generate the manual using bin/techbook (just “techbook” for RubyGem users) and the manual file “manual.pwd”. But since I am a Ruby noob, it is pretty meanless to me. Could someone please amplify on this or point me in the the right direction? I have not had any luck with Google, who is normally my friend for this sort of thing. Thank you, Paul Thompson ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/2 "2007-04-17T03:27:06Z")
Hi Paul, A pdf version of the manual is available at [http://ruby-pdf.rubyforge.org/pdf-writer/manual/index.html](http://ruby-pdf.rubyforge.org/pdf-writer/manual/index.html) hth, Bill ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/3 "2007-04-17T03:58:08Z")
On 4/16/07, Bill W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > A pdf version of the manual is available at > [http://ruby-pdf.rubyforge.org/pdf-writer/manual/index.html](http://ruby-pdf.rubyforge.org/pdf-writer/manual/index.html) Note as well that the railspdf plug-in has been written by someone else, so it will not be covered in the PDF::Writer manual. ## -austin Austin Z. \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid \* [http://www.halostatue.ca/](http://www.halostatue.ca/) \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid \* [You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike. // halo • statue](http://www.halostatue.ca/feed/) \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/4 "2007-04-17T04:55:10Z")
Hi Austin, So what is the recommended way of using PDF::Writer in rails? I ask, because I have written a “Hello World” method using railspdf. It works to the extent that the pdf is generated but when you try to print the pdf (the whole purpose of the exercise) you garbage. Thanks, Paul ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 7:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/5 "2007-04-17T07:15:28Z")
On 4/16/07, Paul Jonathan T. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > So what is the recommended way of using PDF::Writer in rails? I don’t run Rails, so I can’t really answer that. I did work out the steps necessary to do it once and put it on the Rails wiki and in my article on [Artima.com](http://Artima.com). Try generating your PDF from the command-line first. You may be having other issues, or you may be having issues with how the PDF is received (Internet Explorer has problems with this sometimes, IIRC). ## -austin Austin Z. \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid \* [http://www.halostatue.ca/](http://www.halostatue.ca/) \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid \* [You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike. // halo • statue](http://www.halostatue.ca/feed/) \* removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 9:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/6 "2007-04-17T09:21:36Z")
Thanks, Austin, I will do that. ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/7 "2007-05-03T19:39:50Z")
If you’re interested I wrote a brief intro. to PDF::TechBook, and extension of PDF::Writer. [https://www.nearinfinity.com/blogs/page/jclark?entry=introduction\_to\_pdf\_techbook](https://www.nearinfinity.com/blogs/page/jclark?entry=introduction_to_pdf_techbook) Jim On Apr 17, 3:20 am, “Paul Jonathan T.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@ptremblett](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ptremblett)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/manual-for-pdf-writer-and-the-railspdf-plugin/92203/8 "2007-04-17T04:58:11Z")
Hi Bill, Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the link that you gave. However the manual that you get refers to PDF::Writer 1.2. PDF::Writer is now at 1.3 and I thought it would be a good idea to have the latest version of the manual. Thanks, Paul