From: ara.t.howard@...
Date: 2007-02-13T15:27:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Converting Word Documents (and other types of files) to PDF in a rails application

On Tue, 13 Feb 2007, Brendon wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm currently developing a Rails content management system, and one of
> the useful features we're trying to get sorted is a way to allow a
> user to upload a word document or some other type of regular file, and
> have it converted by the server to PDF.
>
> I've seen a java programme called Alfresco do this using Open Office,
> but I'm just wondering if there's another way that's more integrated
> with Ruby?
>
> If anyone knows if bits and pieces of tech already exist in this area
> but they just haven't been brought together in this way yet, I'd be
> keen to learn the names of these projects. Perhaps we can create a
> plugin as a result of our larger project.
>
> Looking forward to your ideas :)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Brendon

i'd reccomend one of three approaches

   1) run windows under cross-over office on a linux box or under parallels on
   osx.  then you can install ruby, under windows, and write a ruby application
   that does this using the native ms bindings

   2) setup a windows servers (two would be better) and run a simple drb
   service for converting doccuments - again using the native drivers and ruby

   3) use some online service such as http://www.zamzar.com/ and drive it via
   http libs/curl

if it were me i'd go with 3 since any reliable method will ential keeping a
windows box online (!!).  you could could probably write producer code that
posted files to a service and a consumer that checks a special email account
for finished files in a few days...

regards.

-a
-- 
we can deny everything, except that we have the possibility of being better.
simply reflect on that.
- the dalai lama