Quick and dirty implementation for importing and extending the fpdf.php class using a custom vendor and helper

fpdf_example

<?php
    // Place this in the same folder as the fpdf.php referenced in the App::import below with the filename report_pdf.php
    App::import( 'Vendor', 'FPDF', array(
        'file' => join( DS, array( 'fpdf', 'fpdf.php' )),
    ));

     * ReportPdf
     * an example fpdf extension for Dominik Gajewski re: google groups topic FPFD or PDFLib with Cake
     * this is where you would implement all the custom functions, ie header, footer, columns.
     * @author Abba Bryant
     */
    class ReportPdf extends FPDF
    {

        /**
         * Construction
         * @param string orientation - P, L, Portrait, Landscape
         * @param string unit - pt, mm, cm, in
         * @param mixed size - A3, A4, A5, Letter, Legal, array( x, y )
         * @access public
         */
        public function __construct( $orientation, $unit, $size ){
            parent::__construct( $orientation, $unit, $size );
        }

        /**
         * Custom Header function
         * @access public
         */
        public function header( ){
        }

        /**
         * Custom Footer function
         * @access public
         */
        public function footer( ){
        }
    }
?>


<?php
    // Place this in your app/views/helpers folder with the filename report.php
    App::import( 'Vendor', 'ReportPdf', array(
        'file' => join( DS, array( 'fpdf', 'report_pdf.php' )),
    ));

    /**
     * ReportHelper
     * an example helper for Dominik Gajewski re: google groups topic FPFD or PDFLib with Cake
     * @author Abba Bryant
     */

    class ReportHelper extends AppHelper
    {
        /**
         * Settings
         * @var array
         * @access private
         */
        private $settings = array(
            'orientation' => 'Portrait', // Portrait, Landscape, P, L
            'unit' => 'mm', // pt, cm, mm, in
            'size' => 'A4', // A3, A4, A5, Letter, Legal
        );

        /**
         * Pdf Object
         * @var mixed
         * @access public
         */
        public $Pdf = null;

		/**
		 * Construction
		 * @param array $settings
		 * @return null
		 * @access public
		 */
		public function __construct( $settings = array( )){
			$this->settings = Set::merge(
				$this->settings,
				$settings
			);
                        // instantiate our fpdf object
                        $this->Pdf = new ReportPdf( $this->settings[ 'orientation' ], $this->settings[ 'unit' ], $this->settings[ 'size' ] );
		}

        /**
         * output
         * Control how the pdf is returned to the user
         * @param string $name - filename generated
         * @param string $destination - where to send the document I, D, F, S
         * @return mixed - string if $destination = S
         * @access public
         */
        public function output( $name = 'page.pdf', $destination = 'S' ){
            return $this->Pdf->Output( $name, $destination );
        }
    }
?>


<?php
    // Place this in app/views/tests/test_pdf.ctp
    $this->Report->Pdf->AddPage( );
    $this->Report->Pdf->SetFont( 'Arial', 'B', 16 );
    $this->Report->Pdf->Cell( 40, 10, $data );
    echo $this->Report->output( );
?>

No promises it works - I wrote it after 10 minutes of fpdf docs and using a recent(ish) custom helper I had lying around.