How to generate a PDF with a given template, with dynamic data in Python or NodeJS to be deployed on AWS

Question

Looking for recommendation of a library in Python(first preference) or NodeJS that can generate a pdf file preferably from dynamic html template to be run in AWS. Requirement is to generate invoice pdf to be sent to customers.

Have come across below 2 Node libraries:

PDFKit
jsPDF

Here we might have to deal with numbers for X and Y.

Better approach would be something where we can simply use html/css to generate template with placeholders which can be replaced with dynamic data(coming from database query). Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 03 '20 at 12:27

This approach worked for me in Python using below libraries:

Jinja2 - for generating HTML with custom data

xhtml2pdf - for generating PDF from HTML

Consider within your PROJECT DIR, there is a template file(invoice.html) and python file(pdf_generator.py)

pdf_generator.py

from xhtml2pdf import pisa 
import jinja2
templateLoader = jinja2.FileSystemLoader(searchpath="./")
templateEnv = jinja2.Environment(loader=templateLoader)
TEMPLATE_FILE = "invoice.html"
template = templateEnv.get_template(TEMPLATE_FILE)

# This data can come from database query
body = {
    "data":{
        "order_id": 123,
        "order_creation_date": "2020-01-01 14:14:52",
        "company_name": "Test Company",
        "city": "Mumbai",
        "state": "MH",
    }
}

# This renders template with dynamic data 
sourceHtml = template.render(json_data=body["data"]) 
outputFilename = "invoice.pdf"

# Utility function
def convertHtmlToPdf(sourceHtml, outputFilename):
    # open output file for writing (truncated binary)
    resultFile = open(outputFilename, "w+b")

    # convert HTML to PDF
    pisaStatus = pisa.CreatePDF(
            src=sourceHtml,            # the HTML to convert
            dest=resultFile)           # file handle to receive result

    # close output file
    resultFile.close()

    # return True on success and False on errors
    print(pisaStatus.err, type(pisaStatus.err))
    return pisaStatus.err

if __name__ == "__main__":
    pisa.showLogging()
    convertHtmlToPdf(sourceHtml, outputFilename)

invoice.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<body>
Name: {{ json_data.company_name }} <br>
City/State: {{ json_data.city }}, {{ json_data.state }} <br>
Date: {{ json_data.order_creation_date }} <br>
Order ID: {{ json_data.order_id }} <br>
</body>
</html>

do you have any style and CSS too ? – mujad Aug 14 '22 at 08:33 — mujad, Aug 14 '22 at 08:33

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 02 '19 at 09:20

4

https://www.npmjs.com/package/pdfmake The above library allows flexibility when it comes to dynamic invoices in node.js

answered Dec 02 '19 at 09:20

shubham

414
2
3

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 19 '20 at 14:08

With https://getpdfapi.com you can design PDF templates using a web-based editor and once you finish, a REST API endpoint will be created just for you.

This endpoint can be used to send your data in JSON format to the PDF template you've just created. The only code you need to write is the code that integrates the API.

You can check a quick demo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv4ZYd_aJO8

How to generate a PDF with a given template, with dynamic data in Python or NodeJS to be deployed on AWS

3 Answers3