XML to PDF

[OnTheAnvil]

Currently I output data in an XML format and then convert it with an external XSLT to give my users a really nice way to print grids and other types of data through their web browsers. Currently the users are happy with the way that everything works but in addition to printing they would like to be able to save the files and then email them to friends and coworkers. Because my XML files are formatted with a seperate (external) XSLT when you choose the save option in Internet Explorer it saves the XML file with all the data but the users can't open this file without the matching XSLT file.

 

Anyway what I would like is a control where I can pass it the name of the XML and the XSLT file and it would generate a matching PDF file that I could then display to the users and allow them to save. I know that's a lot to ask but does anyone have any ideas? I'm willing to spend money on this if anyone knows of a vendor who has a control like this.

 

Thanks

[Nerseus]

You're looking for something like XSLFO. I use a product by AntennaHouse that creates a PDF from the result of a transform - there are a number of companies that do this though. If you search google for "xslfo" you'll find a number of good links to get you in the right direction.

 

I believe from my past searches that there's at least one version of an XSLFO formatter that outputs PDF that's free - I don't remember the link or the site though.

 

Of course, if you have $20,000 per server (or CPU?) you can use Adobe's print management software which does the transform and PDF output for you. :)

 

-Nerseus