PdfLabelMaker ============= Generates PDFs that can print to Avery labels. Requires pdf-writer (gem install pdf-writer). Example ======= Get a collection of contacts and send them to the label maker, with the Avery code of the size labels. For example: class ContactsController < ApplicationController def index @contacts = Contact.all.ordered respond_to do |format| format.pdf do pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts) send_data pdf.render, :filename => 'labels.pdf', :type => 'application/pdf' end format.html end end end This would be found at /contacts.pdf Your model needs to implement a 'label_lines' method which returns an array - one element for each line to appear on the label. class Contact < ActiveRecord::Base def label_lines returning Array.new do |arr| arr << full_name address.split("\r\n").each{|line| arr << line} end end end Options ======= Send the label code that you want printed. Default is 'L7162' which is 16 labels per page. pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'J8651') This would print the J8651 format, which is 65 little labels per page. Not all label formats are supported yet, but you could send your own if necessary. Just send a bunch of options, like this: class ContactsController < ApplicationController require 'pdf/writer' include PDF def index @contacts = Contact.all.ordered respond_to do |format| format.pdf do options = { :columns => 3, :labels_per_page => 30, :left_margin => Writer.mm2pts(4), :bottom_margin => Writer.mm2pts(25), :label_width => Writer.mm2pts(67), :label_height => Writer.mm2pts(26.3), :label_padding_x => Writer.mm2pts(4), :label_padding_y => Writer.mm2pts(3), :gap_between_labels_x => Writer.mm2pts(4), :font_size => 9, :line_height => 10 } pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'user-defined', options) send_data pdf.render, :filename => 'labels.pdf', :type => 'application/pdf' end format.html end end end You can also override any of the settings, just like this: pdf = PdfLabelMaker.avery_labels(@contacts, 'L7162', {:font_size => 20, :font => 'Times-Roman'}) Credit ====== Thanks to Nick Sieger for the example, and the code that got me started. http://blog.nicksieger.com/articles/2006/05/26/rails-is-simpler-than-office Copyright (c) 2008 Aimee Daniells, released under the MIT license