How to convert Word document into PDF using PHPWord

Question

I am creating a Microsoft Word report using PHPWord. I basically start with a template and populate the fields and save it as a word report.

I would like to convert this report into a pdf file. I tried loading the generated doc file through PHPWord. However, when I save the pdf file, the formatting is all lost.

Here is the code I am using :

       require_once DOC_ROOT . '/vendor/phpoffice/phpword/bootstrap.php';

$path_to_tcpdf = DOC_ROOT . '/includes/plugins/TCPDF/'; // C:\xampp\htdocs\clients\corporate\includes\plugins\TCPDF
\PhpOffice\PhpWord\Settings::setPdfRendererPath($path_to_tcpdf);
\PhpOffice\PhpWord\Settings::setPdfRendererName('TCPDF');

$report_file_doc = DOC_ROOT . '/reports/business_report_U72900GJ2002PTC040573_68628.docx';
$report_file_pdf = DOC_ROOT . '/reports/business_report_U72900GJ2002PTC040573_68628.pdf';



$phpWord = \PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory::load($report_file_doc); 
$xmlWriter = \PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord , 'PDF');

$xmlWriter->save($report_file_pdf);  

Any idea what could be missing ?

Thanks

Answer 1

For PHPWord v0.14

Here's an example for TCPDF renderer (deprecared in v0.13):

// Require composer autoloder.
require __DIR__.'/vendor/autoload.php';

use PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory;
use PhpOffice\PhpWord\Settings;

// Set PDF renderer.
// Make sure you have `tecnickcom/tcpdf` in your composer dependencies.
Settings::setPdfRendererName(Settings::PDF_RENDERER_TCPDF);
// Path to directory with tcpdf.php file.
// Rigth now `TCPDF` writer is depreacted. Consider to use `DomPDF` or `MPDF` instead.
Settings::setPdfRendererPath('vendor/tecnickcom/tcpdf');

$phpWord = IOFactory::load('document.docx', 'Word2007');
$phpWord->save('document.pdf', 'PDF');

Here's an example for DomPDF renderer:

// Require composer autoloder.
require __DIR__.'/vendor/autoload.php';

use PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory;
use PhpOffice\PhpWord\Settings;

// Make sure you have `dompdf/dompdf` in your composer dependencies.
Settings::setPdfRendererName(Settings::PDF_RENDERER_DOMPDF);
// Any writable directory here. It will be ignored.
Settings::setPdfRendererPath('.');

$phpWord = IOFactory::load('document.docx', 'Word2007');
$phpWord->save('document.pdf', 'PDF');

Answer 2

I don't know if I'm correct but you save the document as HTML content.After than you read the HTML file content and write the content as PDF file with the help of mPDF or tcPdf or fpdf.

 $objWriter = \PhpOffice\PhpWord\IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord, 'HTML'); 

More about it here