CodeIgniter: 4.0.3 FPDF - error Class 'FPDF' not found

Question

I am trying to generate a PDF document from CodeIgniter: 4.0.3 using fpdf library. I have copied fpdf library in app/ThirdParty folder.

I have included library reference at the top of controller like this.

    <?php namespace App\Controllers\Purchase;

     namespace App\ThirdParty\fpdf;

     use CodeIgniter\Controller;

     use FPDF;

I have created a class in the controller to extend FPDF to include header and footers like this.

    class PDF extends FPDF
    {

    
       function Header()
       {
       }
    
    }

I generate the pdf like this.

       $pdf = new PDF();
       $pdf->AddPage();

When I run the application, I get this error.

Error Class 'FPDF' not found 114 class PDF extends FPDF

How to fix this?

Answer 1

You should checkout whatever your namespace in fpdf lib is. It looks like you're a bit confused about them and the use word

Here's an example on how to load a lib which is under the app/ThirdParty folder :

Your FPDF main class named FPDF.php :

<?php

// the path you need to follow to access your file
namespace App\ThirdParty;

class FPDF {
    
    public function __construct() {
        // do your things
    }
}

Your Controller named Foo.php :

<?php

namespace App\Controllers;

// the namespace of the lib file + its class name
use App\ThirdParty\FPDF;

class Foo extends \CodeIgniter\Controller {
    
    public function myPDF() {
        $pdf = new FPDF();
    }
}