using IronPdf; // Instantiate Renderer var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer(); // Create a PDF from a HTML string using C# var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>"); // Export to a file or Stream pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf"); // Advanced Example with HTML Assets // Load external html assets: Images, CSS and JavaScript. // An optional BasePath 'C:\site\assets\' is set as the file location to load assets from var myAdvancedPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<img src='icons/iron.png'>", @"C:\site\assets\"); myAdvancedPdf.SaveAs("html-with-assets.pdf");

using IronPdf; using System; // Step 1. Creating a PDF with editable forms from HTML using form and input tags // Radio Button and Checkbox can also be implemented with input type 'radio' and 'checkbox' const string formHtml = @" <html> <body> <h2>Editable PDF Form</h2> <form> First name: <br> <input type='text' name='firstname' value=''> <br> Last name: <br> <input type='text' name='lastname' value=''> <br> <br> <p>Please specify your gender:</p> <input type='radio' id='female' name='gender' value= 'Female'> <label for='female'>Female</label> <br> <br> <input type='radio' id='male' name='gender' value='Male'> <label for='male'>Male</label> <br> <br> <input type='radio' id='non-binary/other' name='gender' value='Non-Binary / Other'> <label for='non-binary/other'>Non-Binary / Other</label> <br> <p>Please select all medical conditions that apply:</p> <input type='checkbox' id='condition1' name='Hypertension' value='Hypertension'> <label for='condition1'> Hypertension</label><br> <input type='checkbox' id='condition2' name='Heart Disease' value='Heart Disease'> <label for='condition2'> Heart Disease</label><br> <input type='checkbox' id='condition3' name='Stoke' value='Stoke'> <label for='condition3'> Stoke</label><br> <input type='checkbox' id='condition4' name='Diabetes' value='Diabetes'> <label for='condition4'> Diabetes</label><br> <input type='checkbox' id='condition5' name='Kidney Disease' value='Kidney Disease'> <label for='condition5'> Kidney Disease</label><br> </form> </body> </html>"; // Instantiate Renderer var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer(); renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true; renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(formHtml).SaveAs("BasicForm.pdf"); // Step 2. Reading and Writing PDF form values. var FormDocument = PdfDocument.FromFile("BasicForm.pdf"); // Set and Read the value of the "firstname" field var FirstNameField = FormDocument.Form.GetFieldByName("firstname"); FirstNameField.Value = "Minnie"; Console.WriteLine("FirstNameField value: {0}", FirstNameField.Value); // Set and Read the value of the "lastname" field IronPdf.Forms.FormField LastNameField = FormDocument.Form.GetFieldByName("lastname"); LastNameField.Value = "Mouse"; Console.WriteLine("LastNameField value: {0}", LastNameField.Value); FormDocument.SaveAs("FilledForm.pdf");

Published September 13, 2023

Convert HTML to PDF in Nodejs Without Puppeteer

In the world of modern web development, the ability to programmatically convert HTML content into PDF documents has become a valuable tool for various applications. Node.js, a powerful runtime environment for executing JavaScript code outside of the browser, offers developers the means to accomplish this task seamlessly. By leveraging Node.js libraries and tools, developers can effortlessly convert dynamic HTML pages, whether it's a new web page or one that's generated from web pages, templates, or other sources, into professional-looking PDF documents.

This process opens up new possibilities for generating reports, invoices, documentation, and more, all with the flexibility and control that Node.js provides. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of HTML to PDF conversion using Node.js and delve into some popular libraries and techniques that facilitate this conversion process. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting with Node.js, the ability to transform HTML files into PDFs will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable skill in your toolkit.

In this article, we will discuss how you can convert HTML content to a PDF file using the html-pdf JavaScript package.

What is HTML-PDF

The HTML-PDF package for JavaScript is a versatile and essential tool for developers seeking to seamlessly convert HTML content into PDF format. In a world where web-based information and static document formats coexist, this package plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between dynamic web elements and the need for printable, presentable documents.

By integrating the HTML-PDF package into their projects, developers can effortlessly transform HTML-coded content, such as reports, invoices, articles, and more, into polished and professional-looking PDFs. Whether the goal is to generate PDFs to archive information, facilitate sharing, or provide offline access, the HTML-PDF package opens doors to creating high-quality PDFs that harmonize web and browser-based interactivity with the reliability of traditional documents.

Setting Up Your Node.js Project

Before we begin, you'll need to set up a new Node.js project. Follow these steps to get started:

First, install Node.js if you haven't already (you can download it from the Node.js website).
Create a new folder for your project and open it in Visual Studio Code or any specific code editor.
Install HTML-PDF by running the command npm install html-pdf. Now that we have our project set up, let's dive into creating the code.

Now that we have our project set up, let's dive into creating the code.

Convert HTML to PDF using the Node.js Library `html-pdf`

In this section, we will demonstrate how you, as the user, can convert HTML to PDF using the html-pdf package and Node.js.

First, let's import the required dependencies.

const fs = require('fs');
const pdf = require('html-pdf');

const fs = require('fs');
const pdf = require('html-pdf');

JAVASCRIPT

Afterward, we will write our HTML content and save it in a variable.

const htmlContent = `
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>HTML to PDF Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello, PDF!</h1>
  <p>This is an example of converting HTML to PDF using html-pdf in Node.js.</p>
</body>
</html>
`;

const htmlContent = `
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>HTML to PDF Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello, PDF!</h1>
  <p>This is an example of converting HTML to PDF using html-pdf in Node.js.</p>
</body>
</html>
`;

JAVASCRIPT

Now that our dependencies are in place, and our HTML content is ready, let's proceed to write the code for our HTML-to-PDF conversion logic.

const page = { format: 'Letter' };
pdf.create(htmlContent, page).toFile('./output.pdf', (err, res) => {
  if (err) {
    console.error(err);
  } else {
    console.log('PDF generated:', res.filename);
  }
});

const page = { format: 'Letter' };
pdf.create(htmlContent, page).toFile('./output.pdf', (err, res) => {
  if (err) {
    console.error(err);
  } else {
    console.log('PDF generated:', res.filename);
  }
});

JAVASCRIPT

This code snippet demonstrates the basic process of converting HTML content to generate a PDF file using the html-pdf package. You can customize the HTML content, PDF generation options, and output file path as needed for your use case. The resulting PDF file will be saved in the same directory with the specified path (./output.pdf in this example).

Please note that the html-pdf package might not offer the same level of version control and advanced features as Puppeteer when run headless, but it can serve as a lightweight and alternative solution for simple HTML to PDF conversion tasks.

Output

Run the code using Visual Studio Code (VS Code), and it will create and save a new PDF file. Double-click on that file, and it will open a web page, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Convert HTML to PDF in Node.js Without Puppeteer: Figure 1 - The created PDF with the text

IronPDF The Best HTML to PDF Library

IronPDF is an adaptable library tailored for .NET developers, providing a smooth and effective method for transforming HTML content into high-quality PDF documents. With an intuitive API, IronPDF empowers developers to seamlessly integrate HTML-to-PDF conversion functionality into their applications. Whether it's for generating invoices, creating reports, composing documentation, or preserving web content, IronPDF simplifies the process by delivering a reliable solution for generating PDFs while preserving the original HTML layout and design.

Among its capabilities are support for CSS styling, execution of JavaScript, incorporation of headers and footers, as well as managing page breaks. As a robust library at its core, IronPDF streamlines the conversion procedure and bridges the gap between web-based content and static PDF files, positioning it as an indispensable asset across a spectrum of applications.

4.1. Installing IronPDF

To install IronPDF, navigate to the NuGet package manager console within Visual Studio and execute the following command.

NuGet > Install-Package IronPdf -Version 2023.8.6

4.2. HTML to PDF Converter using IronPDF

IronPDF simplifies the complex process of converting HTML strings into PDF files with just a few lines of code. Developers can effortlessly harness IronPDF's features to convert an HTML file to PDF format, showcasing the library's user-friendly approach to handling challenging operations.

using IronPdf;
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Best HTML to PDF Library</h1>");
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");

using IronPdf;
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Best HTML to PDF Library</h1>");
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");

Imports IronPdf
Private renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
Private pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Best HTML to PDF Library</h1>")
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf")

VB C#

Output

Convert HTML to PDF in Node.js Without Puppeteer: Figure 2 - A PDF with the text

Conclusion

The conversion of HTML content into PDF documents using Node.js has become an essential skill. By leveraging Node.js libraries, developers can seamlessly transform dynamic HTML pages into professional PDFs, enabling the generation of reports, invoices, and various documentation with web interactivity and print-ready reliability. This article explores the fundamentals of HTML to PDF conversion through the HTML-PDF package, providing step-by-step guidance for Node.js projects.

Furthermore, it showcases the effectiveness of the IronPDF library for .NET developers in preserving HTML layout during PDF page creation. Mastering these techniques empowers developers with versatile tools for producing polished PDFs, demonstrating their adaptability in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

For a complete Node.js tutorial, please visit the following link. You can download the HTML to PDF library from the NuGet website at this link. To learn more about how HTML to PDF conversion works, visit here. The complete tutorial and code examples can be found at the following link.

You can download the HTML to PDF library from the NuGet website. Visit the Iron Software website to gain a deeper understanding of how HTML to PDF conversion works or for the full tutorial on converting HTML to PDF.