aC forum: Invoicing : PDF template

Post #11 by chris

chris — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:54:33 CST

I totally agree, some mor flexibility with the invoices would be great, so i give a +1 to the template generator (background + box positioning)

Post #10 by c.daum

c.daum — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:47:15 CST

hey guys,

i also love to use active collab but the invoice module needs to get a pdf template generator. actually i can not get our corporate design in invoices that are made with ac, so i have to use a third party tool for invoicing.
That's pretty bad. please be so kind and improve functionality as you said ...

- background image (jpg, png, maybe pdf)
- placing textfields with x and y coordinates

Post #9 by bryan

bryan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:03:53 CST

Thumbs Up from me :)

I'd love a template generator.

Post #8 by Goran Radulović

Goran Radulović — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:16:43 CST

@leon and @robert

I think that combination of background image + positioning of those 'boxes' would make great 'template generator'.

What do you think?

Post #7 by Robert Lidberg

Robert Lidberg — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:59:00 CST

We are missing some essential functions in the template managment, the note feature for example is too poor to fill with necessary information. In Sweden, for example, we are bound by law to print the company name, company registration number, VAT, etc.

I've made a simple mockup out of our sketches, this is how we would like the template management to work: http://duva.nu/duva_temp/invoice_mockup/.

Ability to move around the "data containers" on top of the template, adjust the height/width and then save. It would give you X and Y coordinates to implement in PDF with relative ease. (Why use images instead of PDF as template? PDF saves space and is much more appropriate) :)

@Goran. The question is when we have time to do it (if we ever will), hopefully you can use our thoughts in future release?

Best regards,
Robert

Post #6 by Leon

Leon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:16:43 CST

@ Goran

Being able to change the background image would be a great start to customising the look and feel of the Invoice PDF. If something like this does became possible, I would need to know (as a designer creating the background image) :

- the exact height for both header and footer area's would need to be known (from experience i think header/footer would need to be fixed if using a background image)
- if the invoice has many items then it should flick over to page 2 without going into the footer/header area (I haven't tested to see how this is handled in currect AC)

:)

Post #5 by Goran Radulović

Goran Radulović — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:12:35 CST

We have idea, that give you way to upload background image for invoice page which can contain your branding and design, header and footer, so activeCollab would use that image and add only invoice items and calculation.

What do you think about that idea?

Post #4 by Leon

Leon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:40:12 CST

I'd love to see a bit more control over invoicing templates too. There's a recent post on smashing magazine with so many gorgeous invoice layout designs (Link: Invoice like a pro)... Looking through that post makes me want to tear up my invoicing template and get creative!

I'm not sure how better invoice PDF customisation could be handled with activecollab but if control over things like header, footer, background image, styles(colours etc. with CSS?) was possible that would be awesome!

Post #3 by nferrari

nferrari — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:38:20 CST

Thanks for your quick answer and interest. Here are some information that could be interesting to have in AC, about the company, and to re-arrange in the PDF template (Invoicing module), in the header or footer :

- Company status (in France we have SARL, SA, SAS, EURL, etc.) ;
- Company capital ;
- and other company identifiers (in France we have SIRET number, NAF code, VTA code) ;
- and of course : address, phone, email).

But the best and most flexible way is perhaps to fill template header and footer... so we can do anything we want with the PDF template. Those information are, in France, almost always in footer...

Post #2 by Ilija Studen

Ilija Studen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:25:34 CST

You can include all custom information in invoice note or in company identity fields (just enter company address and all additional info, like VAT number for example, bellow that).

Can you please tell us more about specific of your request? Where are you from and what information your invoices need to include?