Generate and save a pdf to S3 with wicked_pdf and paperclip

estimate.rb

# Main reference was lascarides' post at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14743447/getting-pdf-from-wickedpdf-for-attachment-via-carrierwave

# estimate.rb
# ...
  has_attached_file :pdf,
    storage: :s3,
    s3_credentials: {
      access_key_id: ENV['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'],
      secret_access_key: ENV['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'],
      bucket: ENV['AWS_BUCKET']
    },
    s3_permissions: :private,
    path: "/estimates/:id/:version/:filename"

  Paperclip.interpolates :document_type do |attachment, style|
    attachment.instance.document_type
  end
  Paperclip.interpolates :version do |attachment, style|
    attachment.instance.latest_pdf_version
  end
# ...
  
  def generate_pdf
    increment!(:latest_pdf_version)

    pdf_string = WickedPdf.new.pdf_from_string(
      ActionController::Base.new().render_to_string(
        :template => '/finance/estimate',
        :locals => {
          :@estimate => self,
          :@billing_client => billing_client,
          :@shipping_client => shipping_client,
          :@project => project
        },
        :layout => false,
      ),
      :pdf => estimate_number,
      :layout => false,
      :page_size => 'Letter',
      :lowquality => false,
      :handlers => [:erb],
      :formats => [:html],
      :margin => {:top                => 5,
                  :bottom             => 0,
                  :left               => 0,
                  :right              => 0},
      :orientation => 'Portrait',
      :disposition => 'attachment'
    )

    tempfile = Tempfile.new(["#{estimate_number}", ".pdf"], Rails.root.join('tmp'))
    tempfile.binmode
    tempfile.write pdf_string
    tempfile.close

    self.pdf = File.open tempfile.path
    self.pdf_file_name = "#{estimate_number}.pdf"
    # Store secure url on the model, valid for 90 days
    self.pdf_url = self.pdf.s3_object.url_for(:read, secure: true, expires: 90.days).to_s
    save

    tempfile.unlink

    # Only keep 5 most recent versions
    if self.latest_pdf_version > 5
      s3 = AWS::S3.new access_key_id: ENV['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'], secret_access_key: ENV['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY']
      s3.buckets[ENV['AWS_BUCKET']].objects["estimates/#{self.id}/#{self.latest_pdf_version - 5}/#{self.estimate_number}.pdf"].delete
      s3.buckets[ENV['AWS_BUCKET']].objects["estimates/#{self.id}/#{self.latest_pdf_version - 5}"].delete
    end

  end

This was perfect! Thanks a lot

Perfect!

Just as a shortcut and to avoid creating a TempFile, you should be able to just use:

self.pdf = StringIO.new( pdf_string )

This allows you to cut out 5 lines of TempFile related code. 👍

great tip @joshuapinter!

@joshuapinter how do you then name the pdf file?

Thanks for this sharing, worked perfectly (y)

Anyone know how to use html headers or footers on the PDF with this?

Got it.

header: {  
  content: ActionController::Base.new().render_to_string(
    template: 'reports/header',
      :layout => 'pdf.html.erb',
      :locals => {
        :@estimate => self,
        :@billing_client => billing_client,
        :@shipping_client => shipping_client,
        :@project => project
      }
    )
  },

I was able to generate the pdf locally, but when it is uploaded to AWS, it is in different format. I downloaded the file from AWS and looked inside pdf. It is in some kind of different format.

Do I need to save the tempfile to AWS? I know there is a problem with tempfile creation. How to resolve it?
Below is the code

tempfile = Tempfile.new(["#{file_name}", ".pdf"], Rails.root.join('tmp'))
tempfile.binmode
tempfile.write pdf_string
tempfile.close

pdf = File.open tempfile
pdf_file_name = "#{file_name}.pdf"

@file = @user.create(
name: pdf_file_name,
path: pdf,
user_id: @user.id)

@wilfreddas what is the name of your Paperclip attribute on the model? For example, in @micahroberson's example, his is pdf so his model would have the line has_attached_file :pdf in it. That is the attribute you need to set the rendered PDF to. If your Paperclip attribute is pdf, then your code should look like:

@file = @user.create(
name: pdf_file_name,
pdf: pdf,
user_id: @user.id)

perfect! thanks