Hey everyone.<br /><br />I want to start sending out .pdf invoices to my clients and wondered what is the best way to create a document and also export is as a .pdf file which I can then email them. The cheaper the better...or Free ideally.<br /><br />I don't want to create nothing to fancy just a summary of billable items within a box and some shades of colour.<br /><br />Thaks in advance.<!--content-->
Is there a reason you don't want to use Excel or Word? (If you're worried about your clients tampering with the invoice you can always lock the worksheet.)<br /><br />You can use programs like easyPDF to change your docs to PDF files with style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5458:date=May 22 2007, 01:10 AM:name=BabyBen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BabyBen @ May 22 2007, 01:10 AM) [snapback]5458[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use OpenOffice and it has a fantastic "export to pdf" option, and bingo - you have your .pdf invoice.<br /><br />Failing that, get a PDF printer driver - when you are finished you send the file to "print" via the 'pdf printer' and it gives you the option to save a pdf from any doc type that can be printed (so nothing comes out ur printer btw!)<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I second that, open office all the way.<br /><br />If you are a Bill Gates loving criminal, and still want to use MS word, try CUTE PDF <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /><!--content-->
Check out this tutorial it might be of some help.<br /><br />Tutorial Links<br /><br />Best Wishes<br />Oliver<!--content-->
There's a PDF printer driver that allows you to 'print' any document which will create a PDF file. Don't remember the name now as I use Word to export to PDF my docs, or Illustrator or Indesign.<br />I can have a look in my links collection.<!--content-->
Babyben had already mentioned this.<!--content-->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/">http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/</a><!-- m --> - pretty sure that's the style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content-->
I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--content-->
AS per Oliver Clews, If you are after dynmaically generating them, use PHP, then you can take info from SQL databases and send them via emails e.t.c <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 07:31 PM:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 07:31 PM) [snapback]5525[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />Always knew you had taste <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /> <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/give_rose.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":give_rose:" border="0" alt="give_rose.gif" /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 07:31 PM:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 07:31 PM) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I agree, Open Office is great and can turn your Word document into a pdf at the click of a button.<br /><br />I have since upgraded and now use InDesign, but for a Free application OpenOffice did the job nicely.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content-->
Not always keen target="_blank">https://www.pdfonline.com/convert_pdf.asp#<br /><br />-<!--content-->
I use pdf995 from<br /><br />http://www.pdf995.com/<br /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=14268:date=Oct 25 2007, 11:32 PM:name=Ben)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ben @ Oct 25 2007, 11:32 PM) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I agree, Open Office is great and can turn your Word document into a pdf at the click of a button.<br /><br />I have since upgraded and now use InDesign, but for a Free application OpenOffice did the job nicely.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I'd quite like to get InDesign - but I'm not for paying Adobe rip off prices.<br /><br />US Price: $699<!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro--> (?40.52)<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--><br />UK Price: $1,469.25 <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->(?15.58)<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--><br /><br /><b>For living in the UK, you'll pay an <u>extra</u> $770.25 <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->?75<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> - more than double the price!!! </b><br /><br /><b>Absolutely disgusting.</b><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 18:31:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 18:31) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />Thirded. Quick and simple.<!--content-->
Google docs. You can write it then share it (read-only) with your client. <br /><br />Failing that get Primo PDF, which sets itself up as a printer style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=15769:date=Nov 8 2007, 12:14:name=Jmz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jmz @ Nov 8 2007, 12:14) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cutePDF writer <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I'll second that, though open office is excellent too.<br /><br />As a side note - I found dompdf incredibly valuable when creating PDFs from PHP in a previous project.<br /><br />James.<!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=15769:date=Nov 8 2007, 12:14:name=Jmz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jmz @ Nov 8 2007, 12:14) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cutePDF writer <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I think I used this a few years ago, did it not used to 'brand' the bottom of the output with their name? Or was that another prog?<br /><!--content-->
I dont know if it did it in the past or not but I definatley doesnt now, its what I use when I'm sending out quotes / plans to clients.<!--content-->
If you go to the adobe site, you can convert something like 3 or 5 documents for free into pdf by submitting them. It takes a few hours for your pdf's to arrive.<br /><!--content-->
Not a very practical solution. Seriously, just go to <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.openoffice.org">www.openoffice.org</a><!-- w -->, download the word processor and do it that way. I've tried all of the above and you can't been OO.<!--content-->
I use DoPDF, this is free and uses print facility to convert your documents into PDF. You can find it at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dopdf.com">www.dopdf.com</a><!-- w --><br /><br />Hope this helps?<!--content-->
Is there a reason you don't want to use Excel or Word? (If you're worried about your clients tampering with the invoice you can always lock the worksheet.)<br /><br />You can use programs like easyPDF to change your docs to PDF files with style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content--><!--quoteo(post=5458:date=May 22 2007, 01:10 AM:name=BabyBen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BabyBen @ May 22 2007, 01:10 AM) [snapback]5458[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use OpenOffice and it has a fantastic "export to pdf" option, and bingo - you have your .pdf invoice.<br /><br />Failing that, get a PDF printer driver - when you are finished you send the file to "print" via the 'pdf printer' and it gives you the option to save a pdf from any doc type that can be printed (so nothing comes out ur printer btw!)<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I second that, open office all the way.<br /><br />If you are a Bill Gates loving criminal, and still want to use MS word, try CUTE PDF <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /><!--content-->Check out this tutorial it might be of some help.<br /><br />Tutorial Links<br /><br />Best Wishes<br />Oliver<!--content-->
There's a PDF printer driver that allows you to 'print' any document which will create a PDF file. Don't remember the name now as I use Word to export to PDF my docs, or Illustrator or Indesign.<br />I can have a look in my links collection.<!--content-->
Babyben had already mentioned this.<!--content-->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/">http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/</a><!-- m --> - pretty sure that's the style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--content-->
AS per Oliver Clews, If you are after dynmaically generating them, use PHP, then you can take info from SQL databases and send them via emails e.t.c <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 07:31 PM:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 07:31 PM) [snapback]5525[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />Always knew you had taste <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/friends.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":friends:" border="0" alt="friends.gif" /> <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/give_rose.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":give_rose:" border="0" alt="give_rose.gif" /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 07:31 PM:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 07:31 PM) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I agree, Open Office is great and can turn your Word document into a pdf at the click of a button.<br /><br />I have since upgraded and now use InDesign, but for a Free application OpenOffice did the job nicely.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--content-->Not always keen target="_blank">https://www.pdfonline.com/convert_pdf.asp#<br /><br />-<!--content-->
I use pdf995 from<br /><br />http://www.pdf995.com/<br /><!--content-->
<!--quoteo(post=14268:date=Oct 25 2007, 11:32 PM:name=Ben)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ben @ Oct 25 2007, 11:32 PM) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I agree, Open Office is great and can turn your Word document into a pdf at the click of a button.<br /><br />I have since upgraded and now use InDesign, but for a Free application OpenOffice did the job nicely.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I'd quite like to get InDesign - but I'm not for paying Adobe rip off prices.<br /><br />US Price: $699<!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro--> (?40.52)<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--><br />UK Price: $1,469.25 <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->(?15.58)<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--><br /><br /><b>For living in the UK, you'll pay an <u>extra</u> $770.25 <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->?75<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> - more than double the price!!! </b><br /><br /><b>Absolutely disgusting.</b><!--content--><!--quoteo(post=5525:date=May 23 2007, 18:31:name=Eskymo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eskymo @ May 23 2007, 18:31) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I use openoffice - nice and simple and it's free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />Thirded. Quick and simple.<!--content-->
Google docs. You can write it then share it (read-only) with your client. <br /><br />Failing that get Primo PDF, which sets itself up as a printer style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--content--><!--quoteo(post=15769:date=Nov 8 2007, 12:14:name=Jmz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jmz @ Nov 8 2007, 12:14) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cutePDF writer <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I'll second that, though open office is excellent too.<br /><br />As a side note - I found dompdf incredibly valuable when creating PDFs from PHP in a previous project.<br /><br />James.<!--content--><!--quoteo(post=15769:date=Nov 8 2007, 12:14:name=Jmz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jmz @ Nov 8 2007, 12:14) <img src='http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_images/1/post_snapback.gif' alt='*' border='0' /></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->cutePDF writer <img src="http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> its free!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I think I used this a few years ago, did it not used to 'brand' the bottom of the output with their name? Or was that another prog?<br /><!--content-->I dont know if it did it in the past or not but I definatley doesnt now, its what I use when I'm sending out quotes / plans to clients.<!--content-->
If you go to the adobe site, you can convert something like 3 or 5 documents for free into pdf by submitting them. It takes a few hours for your pdf's to arrive.<br /><!--content-->
Not a very practical solution. Seriously, just go to <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.openoffice.org">www.openoffice.org</a><!-- w -->, download the word processor and do it that way. I've tried all of the above and you can't been OO.<!--content-->
I use DoPDF, this is free and uses print facility to convert your documents into PDF. You can find it at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dopdf.com">www.dopdf.com</a><!-- w --><br /><br />Hope this helps?<!--content-->