PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th Ed-tqw-_darksiderg

Project Overview
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Hypertext Markup Language
An obvious choice for delivering a document on the Web is Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML). Hypertext Markup Language is specifically designed for this purpose.
As you are no doubt already aware, it includes formatting control, syntax to include
objects such as images, and is compatible (with some variation) with a variety of operating
systems and software. It is fairly simple, so it is both easy to design and quick for a
script to generate and deliver.
Drawbacks to using HTML for this application include limited support for printrelated
formatting such as page breaks, little consistency in the output on different platforms
and programs, and variable quality printing. In addition, although HTML can
include any type of external element, the capability of the browser to display or use
these elements cannot be guaranteed for unusual types.
Word Processor Formats
Particularly for intranet projects, providing documents as word processor documents
makes some sense. However, for an Internet project, using a proprietary word processor
format will exclude some visitors, but given its market dominance, Microsoft Word
would make sense. Most users will either have access to Word or to a word processor
that will try to read Word files such as OpenOffice Writer.
Windows users without Word can download the freeware Word Viewer from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/ha010449811033.aspx.
Generating a document as a Microsoft Word document has some advantages. As long
as you have a copy of Word, designing a document is easy.You have very good control
over the printed appearance of your documents and a lot of flexibility with its contents.
You can also make it relatively difficult for the recipient to modify by telling Word to ask
for a password.
Unfortunately,Word files can be large, particularly if they contain images or other
complex elements.There is also no easy way to generate them dynamically with PHP.
The format is documented but is a binary format, and the format documentation comes
with license conditions. It is possible to generate Word documents with a COM object,
but it’s definitely not simple.
Another possibility you may now consider is OpenOffice Writer, which has the dual
advantages of not being proprietary software and using an XML-based file format. Office
2003 and 2007 also support an XML file format natively.The Document Type
Definition (DTD) for Word and other Office products can be downloaded from
Microsoft.com. Search for “Office XML Reference Schemas.”This would be a valid
option, but not a simple one.