Create Student Mark Sheet PDF from MySQL using PHP FPDF

A single PHP script can generate different PDF mark sheets by receiving a student ID through the query string. The ID is validated, used in a prepared PDO query and matched with a record in the sample student3 table.

URL: ?id=4
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     v
Validate student ID
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     v
PDO prepared query
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Fetch one student record
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FPDF
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Student mark sheet PDF

Student Mark Sheet PDF Demo Top ↑

Each student name below links to the same PDF-generating script. Only the id value in the query string changes.

For example, the following URL requests the student whose ID is 4:

pdf-data-student-mark-output.php?id=4

Pass Student ID through the Query String Top ↑

The value after ?id= identifies the student whose record is required.

?id=4

We should not use the query-string value directly in an SQL statement. First validate it, and then send it to a prepared PDO query.

Validate the Student ID Top ↑

The student ID should be a positive integer.

$id=filter_input(
    INPUT_GET,
    'id',
    FILTER_VALIDATE_INT,
    [
        'options' => [
            'min_range' => 1
        ]
    ]
);

if($id===false || $id===null){
    http_response_code(400);
    exit('Invalid student ID.');
}

This rejects missing IDs, non-numeric values and values below 1 before the database query is executed.

Fetch One Student Record using PDO Top ↑

The query selects the student details and calculates the total marks inside SQL.

$sql="SELECT id,name,class,social,science,math,
             (social + science + math) AS total
      FROM student3
      WHERE id=:id";

$stmt=$dbo->prepare($sql);
$stmt->bindValue(':id',$id,PDO::PARAM_INT);
$stmt->execute();

$row=$stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);

The value is bound as PDO::PARAM_INT, so the ID remains separate from the SQL statement.

If no matching student is found:

if(!$row){
    http_response_code(404);
    exit('Student record not found.');
}

Create the Student PDF Mark Sheet Top ↑

After the database record has been successfully collected, create the FPDF document.

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

$pdf->Image(
    '../images/top2.jpg',
    10,
    10
);

$pdf->SetFont('Arial','BU',20);
$pdf->SetXY(80,50);

$pdf->Cell(
    30,
    10,
    'MARK SHEET',
    0,
    0,
    'L'
);

Display Student Details Top ↑

The ID, name and class can be stored in an array and displayed with a loop instead of repeating the same code three times.

$details=[
    'ID:' => $row['id'],
    'NAME:' => $row['name'],
    'CLASS:' => $row['class']
];

$pdf->SetY(80);

foreach($details as $label=>$value){
    $pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',16);

    $pdf->Cell(
        30,
        10,
        $label,
        0,
        0,
        'L'
    );

    $pdf->SetFont('Arial','',14);

    $pdf->Cell(
        80,
        10,
        (string)$value,
        0,
        1,
        'L'
    );
}

Display Subject Marks and Total Top ↑

The three subjects can also be stored in an array and displayed with one loop.

$subjects=[
    'SOCIAL' => $row['social'],
    'SCIENCE' => $row['science'],
    'MATH' => $row['math']
];

$pdf->SetXY(30,130);
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','UB',16);

$pdf->Cell(
    100,
    10,
    'SUBJECT',
    0,
    0,
    'L'
);

$pdf->Cell(
    50,
    10,
    'MARK',
    0,
    1,
    'L'
);

$pdf->SetFont('Arial','',14);

foreach($subjects as $subject=>$mark){
    $pdf->SetX(30);

    $pdf->Cell(
        100,
        10,
        $subject,
        0,
        0,
        'L'
    );

    $pdf->Cell(
        50,
        10,
        (string)$mark,
        0,
        1,
        'L'
    );
}

The total is already calculated by the SQL query:

$row['total']

Complete PHP Code to Generate the Student Mark Sheet Top ↑

<?php
require 'config.php';
require 'fpdf.php';

$id=filter_input(
    INPUT_GET,
    'id',
    FILTER_VALIDATE_INT,
    [
        'options' => [
            'min_range' => 1
        ]
    ]
);

if($id===false || $id===null){
    http_response_code(400);
    exit('Invalid student ID.');
}

try{
    $sql="SELECT id,name,class,social,science,math,
                 (social + science + math) AS total
          FROM student3
          WHERE id=:id";

    $stmt=$dbo->prepare($sql);
    $stmt->bindValue(':id',$id,PDO::PARAM_INT);
    $stmt->execute();

    $row=$stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
}catch(PDOException $e){
    error_log($e->getMessage());
    http_response_code(500);
    exit('Unable to load the student record.');
}

if(!$row){
    http_response_code(404);
    exit('Student record not found.');
}

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

$pdf->Image(
    '../images/top2.jpg',
    10,
    10
);

$pdf->SetFont('Arial','BU',20);
$pdf->SetXY(80,50);

$pdf->Cell(
    30,
    10,
    'MARK SHEET',
    0,
    0,
    'L'
);

$details=[
    'ID:' => $row['id'],
    'NAME:' => $row['name'],
    'CLASS:' => $row['class']
];

$pdf->SetY(80);

foreach($details as $label=>$value){
    $pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',16);

    $pdf->Cell(
        30,
        10,
        $label,
        0,
        0,
        'L'
    );

    $pdf->SetFont('Arial','',14);

    $pdf->Cell(
        80,
        10,
        (string)$value,
        0,
        1,
        'L'
    );
}

$pdf->Line(10,115,190,115);

$pdf->SetXY(30,130);
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','UB',16);

$pdf->Cell(
    100,
    10,
    'SUBJECT',
    0,
    0,
    'L'
);

$pdf->Cell(
    50,
    10,
    'MARK',
    0,
    1,
    'L'
);

$subjects=[
    'SOCIAL' => $row['social'],
    'SCIENCE' => $row['science'],
    'MATH' => $row['math']
];

$pdf->SetFont('Arial','',14);

foreach($subjects as $subject=>$mark){
    $pdf->SetX(30);

    $pdf->Cell(
        100,
        10,
        $subject,
        0,
        0,
        'L'
    );

    $pdf->Cell(
        50,
        10,
        (string)$mark,
        0,
        1,
        'L'
    );
}

$pdf->Line(30,170,150,170);

$pdf->SetX(30);
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','B',14);

$pdf->Cell(
    100,
    10,
    'TOTAL',
    0,
    0,
    'L'
);

$pdf->Cell(
    50,
    10,
    (string)$row['total'],
    0,
    1,
    'L'
);

$pdf->SetXY(150,220);
$pdf->SetFont('Arial','',14);

$pdf->Cell(
    40,
    10,
    'Signature',
    0,
    1,
    'C'
);

$pdf->Output(
    'I',
    'student-mark-sheet-'.$id.'.pdf'
);

Video: Generate a Student Mark Sheet from MySQL Top ↑

Download the FPDF Database Project Top ↑

The downloadable database-to-PDF project is available from the main student table tutorial. It includes the sample database, configuration and related PDF examples.

QR Code Note for this Example Top ↑

The core lesson on this page is receiving the student ID, retrieving the matching database record and generating the PDF. QR-code generation can be added separately when required.

Plus2net also has a project that combines a MySQL record, certificate image and QR code:

Common Problems when Generating a Student PDF Top ↑

Invalid or missing student ID Top ↑

Validate the query-string value before running the database query. The updated example accepts only a positive integer.

Student record is not found Top ↑

After fetch(), check whether a row was returned. An ID can be valid as an integer but still have no matching record in the database.

Database error is displayed to visitors Top ↑

Do not display the complete PDO exception to the browser. Log the database error and return a short user-facing message.

PDF gives an output-already-started error Top ↑

The PDF-generating output script should not send HTML, debugging output or extra whitespace before calling FPDF Output().

Student name or class is too long Top ↑

A normal Cell() does not wrap long text. If variable-length content must wrap, use the FPDF MultiCell() tutorial.

Old QR code no longer appears Top ↑

The previous example depended on an external Google Charts QR endpoint. The updated mark-sheet example removes that dependency.

Related FPDF Database Tutorials Top ↑

Frequently Asked Questions Top ↑

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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