invoicing script

[hakimserwa]

any one with any idea where i can get some tuts on creating a script that will invoice clients on a monthly basis. it will also be able to send pdf invoices through emails?

[xyph]

Seems like a pretty specific tutorial. I'd suggest checking Google.

[hakimserwa]

i have but it seems there is only these already made scripts nothing like ways of creating one. i am not getting anything finished only but i want to know the whole idea behind invoicing.

[Jessica]

You want to know the whole idea behind invoicing?

 

You send someone a bill for services or products delivered or to be delivered.

 

What you're asking for in your OP is very specific and you won't find a tutorial for it because you will need to tailor it to you. You can find individual pieces but it's up to you to make them work together.

[hakimserwa]

where can i find the individuals pieces then?

[hakimserwa]

can atleast someone please point me to a basic database structure to hold monthly recuring invoicing tasks?

[peipst9lker]

You'll need cronjob's or some other technique to create those monthly/weekly/whatever-ly invoices.

That cronjob should start a PHP script which creates your invoices (DB entries) - loads a template of a PDF fills some information in (there are thousands of PDF-librarys out there) and sends it via mail.

 

For what do you need a tutorial now?

[hakimserwa]

thanks for the replay but i stated cleary am looking for the php side of the story the cron jobs will only work if the php and mysql side is sorted so please the database structure first.

[peipst9lker]

Just some very basic stuff I quickly wrote down.

Imagine products are renting servers and stuff.

 

Table customers (id, name, email, locked, registration_date)

Table products (id, name, price, description, picture)

Table active_products (id, customer, productid, duration_date)

Table invoices (id, customer, productid, creation_date, due_date, paid)

 

Your cronjob will INSERT a new row INTO invoices FOREACH active_products WHERE duration_date > today.

In your application you SELECT invoices WHERE paid = 0 and customer = logged in user, and if there's any row -> tell the user.

 

Edit: Just to clearify, when a customer buys a server for 1 month you INSERT a row into active products with duration = date+30days or so

[hakimserwa]

thats what i am talking about atleast it points me somewher thank you