Generate PDF in Electron.js

Electron is a popular framework for building cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

In this article, we will explore how to generate PDF files in Electron using the jsPDF library. We will cover the basics of PDF generation, how to install and use the jsPDF library, and how to customize the appearance and content of the PDF.

PDF stands for Portable Document Format). PDF is a file format used for representing documents that is independent of the application operating system, software and hardware that were used to create them. PDF files can be opened and viewed on any device with a PDF reader, and are commonly used for sharing documents and data.

PDF is developed by Adobe Systems.

PDF files can contain a variety of content, including text, images, tables, and other data, and can be customized with features such as page layouts, margins, and headers and footers.

Generate PDF Files in Electron

The jsPDF library, a well-liked and simple-to-use framework for creating PDF files in JavaScript, will be used to create PDF files in Electron.

Run the following command in a terminal window to install the jsPDF library ?

npm install jspdf

By requiring the library in our Electron application after installation and using the "jsPDF" function Object() { [native code] } to create a new PDF file, we can utilize the library to generate PDF files.

Here is an example of how to create a straightforward PDF file that contains just one page of text ?

const { jsPDF } = require("jspdf");
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
doc_file.text('Welcome Home!', 15, 15);
doc_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

By running this code, a new PDF document will be created, the word "Hello, World!" will be added, and the document will be saved as a file called "document.pdf" in the current directory.

Customizing the Appearance and Content of the PDF

Numerous options are available in the jsPDF package for altering the PDF's look and feel. For instance, we can customize the PDF's page dimensions, margins, font, and addition of photos and tables.

Page Size

To set the page size, we can use the "setProperties" method, which allows us to specify the page size and orientation of the PDF ?

const jsPDF = require('jspdf');
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
doc_file.setProperties({
   title: 'New Doc File',
   subject: 'Creating text document',
   author: 'Prerna Tiwari',
   keywords: 'text, document, PDF',
   creator: 'New Text'
});
doc_file.text('Welcome Home!', 10, 10);
doc_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

Margins

To set the margins of the PDF, we can use the "setMargins" method, which allows us to specify the top, bottom, left, and right margins of the PDF in points (1/72 of an inch) ?

const jsPDF = require('jspdf');
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
doc_file.setMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);
doc_file.text('Welcome Home!', 5, 5);
doc_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

Font

To set the font of the PDF, we can use the "setFont" method, which allows us to specify the font family, size, and style ?

const jsPDF = require('jspdf');
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
doc_file.setFont('Times New Roman', 'Italics');
doc_file.text('Welcome Home!', 10, 10);
doc_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

Add an Image

To add an image to the PDF, we can use the "addImage" method, which allows us to specify the image file, position, and size ?

const jsPDF = require('jspdf');
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
doc_file.addImage(imageData, 'PNG', 15, 15, 150, 160);
doc_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

This code will add a JPEG image to the PDF file at the specified position and size.

Add a Table

To add a table to the PDF, we can use the "autoTable" method, which allows us to specify the table data, columns, and layout options ?

const jsPDF = require('jspdf');
const doc_file = new jsPDF();
const tableData = [
   ['Name', 'Age', 'City'],
   ['John', '30', 'New York'],
   ['Jane', '25', 'Chicago'],
   ['Bob', '35', 'Los Angeles'] 
];
doc_file.autoTable({
   head: [['Name', 'Age', 'City']],
   body: tableData
});
doc+_file.save('demo_document.pdf');

This code will add a table to the PDF with the specified headings and data.

Conclusion

With this tutorial, we looked at using the jsPDF package to create PDF files in Electron. The fundamentals of PDF creation, the installation and use of the jsPDF library, and how to modify the PDF's look and feel have all been addressed.

It is simple to create PDF files in Electron and modify their appearance and content to suit the requirements of your application by utilizing the jsPDF module. For sharing documents and data, PDF files are a practical and well-supported option that can be used in various apps.