Using Non-latin Unicode (Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, etc) Characters in PDF | PHP TCPDF Tutorial #2

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of using non-Latin Unicode characters in PDF documents created with the PHP TCPDF library. You will learn how to include characters from languages such as Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, and more without needing to add custom fonts, as TCPDF supports these characters natively.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

To start, ensure that your development environment is correctly configured.

• Download TCPDF Library: Get the TCPDF library from this link.
• File Encoding: Make sure your PHP files are encoded in UTF-8. This is crucial for displaying non-Latin characters properly. You can check and change the encoding in your text editor settings.

Step 2: Create a Basic PDF

Next, you will create a simple PDF document using TCPDF.

1. Include TCPDF in Your PHP File:

   require_once('tcpdf/tcpdf.php');
   

2. Instantiate the TCPDF Object:

   $pdf = new TCPDF();
   

3. Set PDF Properties:

   • Set document information (title, author, etc.):

   $pdf->SetCreator(PDF_CREATOR);
   $pdf->SetAuthor('Your Name');
   $pdf->SetTitle('Non-Latin Characters in PDF');
   

4. Add a Page:

   $pdf->AddPage();
   

Step 3: Write Non-Latin Characters

You can now add non-Latin text to your PDF.

1. Set Font to Support Non-Latin Characters:

   • TCPDF includes various fonts for different languages. Use a font that supports the required characters. For example, you can use the following for Japanese:

   $pdf->SetFont('kozgopromedium', '', 12);
   

2. Add Text:

   • Use the Cell method to insert text. Here’s an example with Japanese text:

   $pdf->Cell(0, 10, 'こんにちは世界', 0, 1, 'C', 0, '', 0);
   

Step 4: Output the PDF

Finally, you will output the created PDF.

• Output the PDF to Browser:

  $pdf->Output('example.pdf', 'I');
  

Conclusion

You have successfully created a PDF document that includes non-Latin Unicode characters using the PHP TCPDF library. Remember to ensure your PHP file is UTF-8 encoded and to choose the appropriate font for the characters you want to include.

As a next step, consider exploring more features of TCPDF, such as adding images or customizing layouts to further enhance your PDF documents.