[#17] Improve automatic PDF generation

[andylolz]

This is incomplete, but it’s a big step forward.

You can see the output (for all languages) here: http://codeclub.treadsoft.ly

Both wkhtmltopdf and phantom.js should work. You can test pdf generation with commands of the following form:

python build.py --pdf wkhtmltopdf uk lessons/scratch output/codeclubuk

(For usage instructions, type: python build.py -h)

[andylolz]

Refs #17.

[andylolz]

Note that this PR:

• doesn’t mess with existing makefile commands. If you’re running make pages_uk it’ll work exactly as it did before.
• doesn’t mess with any css/js on the html pages. Any css/js required for pdf generation is injected as required, but doesn’t appear on the html.

However, it does add some extra (hidden) html to each page (this). This could be injected via javascript instead, but then any future effort to translate the text inside might be tricky.

[rikcross]

These look awesome! The only problem I can see is that all of the steps are labelled as step 1. Is that because of the way I've used ordered lists in the markdown, rather than a problem with the PDF generation? It's difficult to know, as they are displayed as checkboxes in the HTML.

[andylolz]

Ahh! Good spot – I hadn’t noticed all those 1s!

The explanation is here: http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/README.html#the-four-space-rule

Run-on paragraphs need to be indented with 4 spaces. I’ve updated that lesson accordingly, and have made a PR here: CodeClub/python-curriculum#37

The PDF output is here, and includes numbers other than 1!

[andylolz]

@gahjelle ping! Have you taken a look at this? Could be of interest. Example Norwegian auto-generated pdfs here: http://codeclub.treadsoft.ly/nb-NO/index.html

[Jonic]

I think Rik's going to want to give this a good test with the Python curriculum he's been working on. Is it currently only set up to generate a PDF for Scratch projects?

[andylolz]

Nope – it generates everything. There’s some python project output here: http://codeclub.treadsoft.ly/en-GB/04_python/index.html

Rik commented ^^^ just up there about the first python project.

[rikcross]

Yeah, I've amended the markdown to sort out the numbering of steps, so now I'm pretty happy with the output. :)

[andylolz]

Nice one Rik :+1:

[andylolz]

My mouse is literally poised over this button right now:

[Jonic]

Woooooo! Amazing work, man. MUCH appreciated :)