Feature · PDF service proof
The central output: a single, formal PDF
Every operation is exported as a formal PDF that bundles GPS track, weather data, and photos with company branding. This document is the primary deliverable of the software — printable, archivable, and intended as documentation in liability cases.
Anatomy of the PDF
Each PDF is built from the same five-part structure. No section is optional, but their length scales with the operation.
- 1
Cover page
Company header with logo, address, and contact details. Customer name and service location. Operation date, start and end time, duration, and operation type (sweeping, salting, both, inspection).
- 2
Weather data
Conditions at operation start and at operation end, from the configured weather provider. Including temperature, precipitation, snow depth, wind, humidity, and the plain-text condition.
- 3
GPS map page
The full GPS track on an OpenStreetMap base, rendered as a high-quality SVG vector graphic — sharp at any print size. Start point marked green, end point red.
- 4
GPS data table
A table of GPS coordinates with timestamps for full reproducibility. Smoothed for clarity; the raw underlying record is still in the database.
- 5
Photos
Driver-attached photos with their capture time and GPS fix metadata. Useful for showing before/after states of a walkway or driveway.
Rendered server-side
PDFs are generated entirely in PHP — no headless Chrome, no external rendering service.
Wintertrace uses DomPDF, an open-source PHP library, to render the PDF. This matters in two ways:
- Standard hosting works. No Chrome binary, no Node.js render service, no Docker container — just PHP.
- The output is deterministic. Same operation data produces the same PDF — useful when re-issuing proof after a complaint.
The GPS track is embedded as inline SVG rather than a rasterised image. It scales without quality loss when printed or zoomed.
Single operation or summary report
Two formats out of one layout: the per-operation proof and the season-end summary.
Beyond per-operation PDFs, summary reports can be generated for any customer or service location over a free time range. These are useful when a property manager asks for a season-end overview or when an insurer requests a consolidated record.
Both formats use the same A4 layout, the same fonts, and the same company branding — they look like they came from the same place, because they did.
Note: The PDF service proof can be used as evidence in liability cases. Whether and how it meets the requirements of a specific legal proceeding depends on factors that vary by case and jurisdiction. Wintertrace provides documentation support — it is not a substitute for legal advice. Specific assessments should be made in consultation with qualified counsel in your jurisdiction.
Try Wintertrace.
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install.php · Ed25519-signed core · GNU AGPLv3
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