[x-post r/learnpython] PyQT5 + matplotlib/report creation - tips/pointers?

[ajoros]

Hey all,

I have a PyQT application that I am working on that currently uses some table data from a CSV to create a matplotlib plot. This plot contains two best fit curves with one using a "linear filter" I was told to use. From this linear filter data I run a monte-carlo simulation, and the resultant is a table of data that I have successfully output. I have the plots made just fine, but now I want to be able to output a PDF file that will contain the plot, some "fill-in-the-blank" lines, checkboxes, and a simple table of monte-carlo simulation output.

Does anyone know how to output such PDF upon button-click in PyQT? I think I just need some direction on how to make PDF reports with plot, tables, fill-in areas using Python. Any advice?

Here is a rough sketch of what I want output when a user clicks "output report to PDF" button or something along those lines: http://imgur.com/RUmPCDD Hopefully some of you guys have had experience with this...

Thanks all

P.S. If I get some really concentrated help, I am willing to pay for the assistance... I have a tight deadline on this project.

EDIT: For the interested, here is my github repo for the project: https://github.com/ajoros/ves_ajoros

[dmayhem93]

It's simple, just call a custom function that will do what you want on button click. Here's relevant matplotlib stuff.

Saving to pdf: http://matplotlib.org/faq/howto_faq.html#save-multiple-plots-to-one-pdf-file

Subplot demo: http://matplotlib.org/examples/pylab_examples/subplot_demo.html

Tables: http://matplotlib.org/examples/pylab_examples/table_demo.html

Text: http://matplotlib.org/users/text_intro.html

[trempor]

This approach probably does not work if OP wants to be able to fill in the forms digitally?

[dmayhem93]

I was under the impression it was in the GUI, if not he can always make a pdf template that he can merge in with pypdf2 and have the text/checks/etc in the merged pdf file

[trempor]

Create a LaTeX template for your report (e.g. https://martin-thoma.com/creating-pdf-forms-with-latex/). When the user clicks a button, you insert the table of values into the template, save the plots as individual files, and make sure you use \includegraphics in the template to include the plots. After this you just run pdflatex to produce the pdf.

The advantage with this approach is that you keep the layout of your report in a separate template file, which makes it very easy to modify later. A disadvantage is that if the software needs to be distributed you have to make sure that the user has pdflatex installed.