Describe how to generate non-HTML content like CSV and PDF using Django.

7 b] Describe how to generate non-HTML content like CSV and PDF using Django.

Generating CSV Files

CSV files are simple text files with comma-separated values. Django provides an easy way to generate these files using Python’s csv module.

1. Create a View for CSV Generation

In your Django app, create a view that generates and returns a CSV file:

# myapp/views.py

import csv
from django.http import HttpResponse
from .models import YourModel

def export_to_csv(request):
    # Create an HTTP response with CSV content
    response = HttpResponse(content_type='text/csv')
    response['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename="data.csv"'

    # Create a CSV writer object
    writer = csv.writer(response)

    # Write the header
    writer.writerow(['Column 1', 'Column 2', 'Column 3'])

    # Fetch data from your model
    data = YourModel.objects.all()

    # Write data rows
    for item in data:
        writer.writerow([item.field1, item.field2, item.field3])

    return response

2. Add a URL Pattern

Add a URL pattern for this view in myapp/urls.py:

# myapp/urls.py

from django.urls import path
from .views import export_to_csv

urlpatterns = [
    path('export-csv/', export_to_csv, name='export_to_csv'),
]

Generating PDF Files with ReportLab Canvas

For generating PDF files, you can use the canvas module from the reportlab library, which allows you to draw text and shapes directly onto a PDF document.

1. Install ReportLab

First, install the reportlab library if you haven’t already:

pip install reportlab

2. Create a View for PDF Generation

In your Django app, create a view that generates a PDF using reportlab’s canvas:

# myapp/views.py

from io import BytesIO
from django.http import HttpResponse
from reportlab.pdfgen import canvas
from reportlab.lib.pagesizes import letter
from .models import YourModel

def export_to_pdf(request):
    # Create an in-memory buffer to receive the PDF data
    buffer = BytesIO()

    # Create a PDF canvas object
    p = canvas.Canvas(buffer, pagesize=letter)

    # Define some styles
    p.setTitle("PDF Report")

    # Write some text
    p.drawString(100, 750, "PDF Report")

    # Add a table or data from the model
    data = YourModel.objects.all()
    y = 730
    for item in data:
        p.drawString(100, y, f"{item.field1} - {item.field2} - {item.field3}")
        y -= 20

    # Finish up
    p.showPage()
    p.save()

    # Get PDF data from the buffer
    pdf = buffer.getvalue()
    buffer.close()

    # Create an HTTP response with PDF content
    response = HttpResponse(pdf, content_type='application/pdf')
    response['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename="report.pdf"'

    return response

3. Add a URL Pattern

Add a URL pattern for this view in myapp/urls.py:

# myapp/urls.py

from django.urls import path
from .views import export_to_pdf

urlpatterns = [
    path('export-pdf/', export_to_pdf, name='export_to_pdf'),
]