How to convert Excel files into PDF

It's simple to do using Open Office software – it have this operation in the main menu File.

And how about to use it on the webserver? – Very simple.

Requirements:

• Linux VPS with about 512Mb RAM
• HDD from 4Gb
• OS CentOS 5.2

ToDo:

1. Install XWindows – 'yum groupinstall “X Window System”'
2. Install VNC-Server
3. Run VNC-Server (geometry 800×600)
4. Connect to it from your home computer using VNC-client
5. Install Firefox – 'yum install firefox'
6. Using Firefox – take & install latest OpenOffice
7. Open Calc – and change its settings into 'Print all sheets'
8. Install ghostscript – 'yum install gs'
9. Make the new virtual printer using VNC – 'PDFconverter'
10. Take & install 'pdftk' – probably it'll help you to modify PDFs

Well. Now you can upload & create a XLS file, then convert it into PDF using command:
soffice -norestore -nofirststartwizard -nologo -headless -pt \”PDFconverter\” $fname &

What's it mean?

• 'soffice' – is the OpenOffice software
• 'norestore' – it'll not ask user about to restore any documents before open the editor
• 'nofirststartwizard' – no 'Master' window on starting
• 'nologo' – no logotype
• 'headless' – not show any window for user (our user is robot)
• 'pt' – print the file $fname onto the printer 'PDFconverter'
• '&' – run the program in the background mode

That's all for now.