Re-designing invoice format (pdf and online invoices)

[antonitus]

Hi,

Is there anyway we can fully re-design the fomat of the invoices, both when viewed in pdf and online from the Account Maintenance page?  I'm very surprised we can't eaily edit this on VM after all these years.  I know you can purchase a plugin for this (whether it works or not), but it would be excellent if we could do it straight from the VM configuration page. Maybe this is something that can be developed in the next versions.

Thanks

[Studio 42]

In the shop invoide/DPF, you have many settings.
And you can use template overide for the main style.
Problem is that vmpdf use tcpdf and this is the poorest pdf render class.
But current Virtuemart system do not permit to change this.
I wrote a generic PDF class that can use any PDF renderer, but this cannot be used in VM 3 without hacks.
You can check here for my Joomla PDF render class http://studio42.github.io/joomla-pdf-document-view/index.html permitting any PDF renderer

[antonitus]

Hi Studio 42,

Thank you for your help.

I tried to install your packages, but with no success. I managed to install "studio42-joomla-pdf-document-view-cb39801.zip" file, but it's nowhere to be seen in the back-end.  I also managed to install joomla-pdf-document-view-lib_WkHtmlToPdf_j2.5.zip and once again, it's does not exist in the files and plugin section and was not present in the 'Libraries' folder. I did what you suggested and copied all the library files using FTP, but still I cannot see the plugin details in the back-end plugin section.  I did notice that these files may be for Joomla 2.5, however my version is 3.4.8, maybe this is why I cannot install them.  I get Jinstaller error and file/folder not found.  Any suggestions please as this looks promising for re-designing the templates.

[Studio 42]

Please, read my answer

Problem is that vmpdf use tcpdf and this is the poorest pdf render class.
But current Virtuemart system do not permit to change this.

You can not have a high quality render with VM, because TCPDF

[antonitus]

I see, sorry I didn't read that properly as I am frustrated with this system. So really, there is nothing much I can do here, as you say unless, I hack it, which I have no clue how to do.

I can't even install TCPDF on my site.  Oh well, I just have to live with it somehow until the VM developers see the light about this issue that has been going on for many years now.

[antonitus]

Hi Studio 42,

Can you please tell me how to set up template override for the main style?

[jenkinhill]

The main body of the invoice is established by components/com_virtuemart/views/invoice/tmpl/invoice.php which also may include in the layout  invoice_order.php  invoice_items.php  and  invoice_history.php

Each of these files can be edited and used as overrides, ie the edited files are copied to templates/[YourJoomlaTemplate]/html/com_virtuemart/invoice/

The header and footer of the invoice (and order emails) can be edited on the Invoices/Emails tab under the VM Shop configuration.

Documentation: 
http://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/205-invoices.html
http://docs.virtuemart.net/tutorials/templating-layouts.html
http://www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/overrides

[Studio 42]

The main body of the invoice is established by components/com_virtuemart/views/invoice/tmpl/invoice.php which also may include in the layout  invoice_order.php  invoice_items.php  and  invoice_history.php

Each of these files can be edited and used as overrides, ie the edited files are copied to templates/[YourJoomlaTemplate]/html/com_virtuemart/invoice/

The header and footer of the invoice (and order emails) can be edited on the Invoices/Emails tab under the VM Shop configuration.

Documentation: 
http://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/205-invoices.html
http://docs.virtuemart.net/tutorials/templating-layouts.html
http://www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/overrides

+1, but remember that not all CSS work with TCPDF.

[antonitus]

Thank you jenkinhill and Studio 42 for the information. I will have a go and see where I get.

[antonitus]

To stop me re-inventing the wheel, has anyone re-designed the invoice format to a much better format.  I'm not being lazy, I just can't spend days trying to figure it out (as I don't fully understand how to do it) if someone else has re-designed it.  This would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Studio 42]

This is long task to do, because TCPDF is only partial compatible. I need myself some time to do it. It's why i wanted that VM us my plugin system and not restrict to use TCPDF only.
But this is not specific to VM, some other component do same for simplicity.

[GJC Web Design]

+1, but remember that not all CSS work with TCPDF.

yes-- it only renders basic css

[antonitus]

Thanks for your responses.

Studio 42, if you by any chance create this as a product to sell, I would buy it from you. If you are creating it, I could be your tester as I've had software testing experience a few years ago. Also, I think a lot of people will buy this plugin as it will be a big hit with Virtuemart users,.... you'll be a rich man.

[Studio 42]

Thanks for your responses.

Studio 42, if you by any chance create this as a product to sell, I would buy it from you. If you are creating it, I could be your tester as I've had software testing experience a few years ago. Also, I think a lot of people will buy this plugin as it will be a big hit with Virtuemart users,.... you'll be a rich man.

It's possible to do a Joomla Plugin, i have to think about it.

[Gingerweb]

I know this was about 7 years ago but still VM Invoice layout is really poor and no satisfactory options to make it look really professional, i echo the above, if someone made a decent invoice layout that was easily added as an override they would be a rich man/woman.
Artio VM Invoice is an option but he took so long to get J4/VM4 ready i wouldnt trust that it was updated to keep up with VM changes.