Search form to date export PDF in Laravel 6

Laravel 6 - Search Data by Date Range and Export to PDF Using DomPDF

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to filter records based on a date range and export the results as a PDF using the Dompdf package in Laravel 6.

1. Install DomPDF Package

Run the command to install barryvdh/laravel-dompdf:

composer require barryvdh/laravel-dompdf

Add the service provider and alias in config/app.php (for Laravel 6):

'providers' => [
    Barryvdh\DomPDF\ServiceProvider::class,
],

'aliases' => [
    'PDF' => Barryvdh\DomPDF\Facade::class,
],

Publish the package configuration (optional):

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Barryvdh\DomPDF\ServiceProvider"

2. Create Database Table and Model

Ensure your database credentials are set in .env:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=your_database
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=

Create Migration for Orders Table

php artisan make:migration create_orders_table

Modify database/migrations/xxxx_xx_xx_create_orders_table.php:

use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;

class CreateOrdersTable extends Migration
{
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::create('orders', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->string('customer_name');
            $table->decimal('amount', 10, 2);
            $table->date('order_date');
            $table->timestamps();
        });
    }

    public function down()
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('orders');
    }
}

Run migration:

php artisan migrate

Create an Order Model

php artisan make:model Order

Modify app/Order.php:

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class Order extends Model
{
    protected $fillable = ['customer_name', 'amount', 'order_date'];
}

3. Create Controller

php artisan make:controller OrderController

Modify app/Http/Controllers/OrderController.php:

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Order;
use Barryvdh\DomPDF\Facade as PDF;

class OrderController extends Controller
{
    public function index(Request $request)
    {
        $query = Order::query();

        // If 'from' and 'to' dates are provided, apply the filter
        if ($request->has('from') && $request->has('to')) {
            $from = $request->input('from');
            $to = $request->input('to');
            $query->whereBetween('order_date', [$from, $to]);
        }

        $orders = $query->get();

        return view('orders.index', compact('orders'));
    }

    public function exportPDF(Request $request)
    {
        $query = Order::query();

        if ($request->has('from') && $request->has('to')) {
            $query->whereBetween('order_date', [$request->input('from'), $request->input('to')]);
        }

        $orders = $query->get();
        
        $data = [
            'title' => 'Order Report',
            'date' => date('m/d/Y'),
            'orders' => $orders
        ];

        $pdf = PDF::loadView('orders.pdf', $data);
        return $pdf->download('orders_report.pdf');
    }
}

4. Create Blade View for Search Form

Create resources/views/orders/index.blade.php:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Search Orders and Export PDF</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>Search Orders</h2>

    <form method="GET" action="{{ url('/orders') }}">
        <label>From Date:</label>
        <input type="date" name="from" required>

        <label>To Date:</label>
        <input type="date" name="to" required>

        <button type="submit">Search</button>
    </form>

    @if(isset($orders))
        <h3>Order Results</h3>
        <table border="1">
            <tr>
                <th>ID</th>
                <th>Customer Name</th>
                <th>Amount</th>
                <th>Order Date</th>
            </tr>
            @foreach ($orders as $order)
            <tr>
                <td>{{ $order->id }}</td>
                <td>{{ $order->customer_name }}</td>
                <td>${{ $order->amount }}</td>
                <td>{{ $order->order_date }}</td>
            </tr>
            @endforeach
        </table>

        <form method="GET" action="{{ url('/orders/export-pdf') }}">
            <input type="hidden" name="from" value="{{ request('from') }}">
            <input type="hidden" name="to" value="{{ request('to') }}">
            <button type="submit">Export to PDF</button>
        </form>
    @endif
</body>
</html>

5. Create PDF Blade View

Create resources/views/orders/pdf.blade.php:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Order Report</title>
    <style>
        body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; }
        table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 20px; }
        th, td { border: 1px solid black; padding: 8px; text-align: left; }
        th { background-color: #f2f2f2; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>{{ $title }}</h2>
    <p>Date: {{ $date }}</p>

    <table>
        <tr>
            <th>ID</th>
            <th>Customer Name</th>
            <th>Amount</th>
            <th>Order Date</th>
        </tr>
        @foreach($orders as $order)
        <tr>
            <td>{{ $order->id }}</td>
            <td>{{ $order->customer_name }}</td>
            <td>${{ $order->amount }}</td>
            <td>{{ $order->order_date }}</td>
        </tr>
        @endforeach
    </table>
</body>
</html>

6. Define Routes

Modify routes/web.php:

use App\Http\Controllers\OrderController;

Route::get('/orders', [OrderController::class, 'index']);
Route::get('/orders/export-pdf', [OrderController::class, 'exportPDF']);

7. Run the Application

Start Laravel development server:

php artisan serve

Test the Application

Visit:
```
http://127.0.0.1:8000/orders
```
Select From Date and To Date, then click Search.
the results appear, click "Export to PDF" to download the report.

8. Additional Features

Show PDF in Browser Instead of Downloading

return $pdf->stream('orders_report.pdf');

Customize Paper Size & Orientation

$pdf = PDF::loadView('orders.pdf', $data)->setPaper('a4', 'landscape');

Conclusion

✅ Dynamic date search using whereBetween().
✅ Dompdf integration for PDF export.
✅ User-friendly UI with simple form input.

Souy Soeng