this post was submitted on 22 May 2024
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I'm looking for a solution to generate document (ideally docx but pdf is ok) from a database

Ex: I have a project entry (with client info, dates, information about the project, etc.) and I want to generate documents from a tender templates, containing selected entries from the database.

Here is what I tried until now :

  • Custom database (tinyDB) + custom webpage form + a docx template with jinja markups served by a homemade webpage hosted on pythonanywhere (lot of work and not reliable as I'm doing everything myself)
  • Nocodb form and database (no document generation yet) (self-hosted or on cloud)
  • Airtable (closed source and on cloud) for forms, database and document generation

Airtable is what I'm currently trying because it's the only one that I found that have lot of support and adds on.

There are a few options on Airtable for document generation, lot of which cost around $30/month which is why I'm looking for a viable alternative. Ideally I would like to be able to upload my already made templates.

More point to the solution if it's supports geodata

I'm considering keeping airtable and using the api to generate document with the python program I used on the first point, but I'd like to know if there is more options.

EDIT2: to be concise: I'm looking for an alternative to Airtable + Make. Ideally, FOSS and self-hostable or on cloud

Edit: precision: I need to create a document that contains multiple items of the db. Ex: I need to create a resume with different experiences that are saved in the database

Here is an example of a template:

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I am using appsmith for the app, with a pgsql db. Then n8n to query pgsql with its JSON functions and finally sending it to apitemplate.io to generate a PDF from the JSON and a template. The PDF then goes into nextcloud. With apitemplate you get 50 executions a month for free, which is enough for my use case. Hope this helps. (The use case is an equipment maintenance tool for the SCBAs of our fire brigade, where I need reporting for proving that maintenance was carried out)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ha that looks like something I can use!

I think that Airtable + Make is still easier to use with less code, so my colleagues might prefer it over your solution

But I definitely keep that in mind. I have another tool where that might be useful.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I do not know Airtable too well, but n8n might have a connector for it. Then you could use the rest. good luck!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Oh wow that looks great! I didn't know about n8n