# PDF::Writer VS Ruby FPDF

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/pdf-writer-vs-ruby-fpdf/63844>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [June 19, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/pdf-writer-vs-ruby-fpdf/63844 "2006-06-19T21:03:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bmihelac](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@bmihelac](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bmihelac)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/pdf-writer-vs-ruby-fpdf/63844/1 "2006-06-19T21:03:45Z")

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Hi list,  
I see almost all people here uses PDF::Writer for generating pdf  
documents with rails. I used it too at first, but am using both now and  
would like to see some advantages and shortfalls you came using each of  
these two packages. Here are my thoughts for now:

PDF::Writer:

- extensive documentation
- writen using ruby conventions
- easy to use
- some bugs with embeding fonts prevent using with other then standard  
encodings (all central european language for example)

FPDF:

- ported from PHP version, and no too much Ruby style code (capital  
letter methods etc)
- no documentation (but all documentation should be same as for  
original, PHP version)
- easy to solve bugs because working PHP version is always available
- easy to extend as many examples / scripts exists on [fpdf.org](http://fpdf.org) site

–  
Bojan M.  
Informatika Mihelac, Bojan M. s.p. | [www.informatikamihelac.com](http://www.informatikamihelac.com)  
 → tools, scripts, tricks from our code lab: [http://source.mihelac.org](http://source.mihelac.org)