pdfmake vs pagedjs
Document Generation Libraries Comparison
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What's Document Generation Libraries?

Document generation libraries are tools that facilitate the creation of documents in various formats, such as PDF or HTML, directly from web applications. These libraries provide developers with the ability to programmatically generate documents based on dynamic data, ensuring that the content is both customizable and maintainable. They are particularly useful for applications that require the generation of reports, invoices, or any form of printable content, allowing for a seamless integration of data and design.

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pdfmake981,54211,94813.6 MB2925 days agoMIT
pagedjs21,058-5.92 MB-2 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: pdfmake vs pagedjs

Output Format

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake generates PDF documents directly from JavaScript objects, providing a straightforward API for creating complex documents. It allows for the inclusion of various elements such as tables, images, and custom fonts, making it versatile for generating invoices, forms, and reports.

  • pagedjs:

    Paged.js is designed specifically for generating print-ready documents, allowing you to create high-quality outputs that adhere to web standards. It transforms HTML and CSS into paginated documents, making it suitable for producing books, reports, and other multi-page layouts that require precise control over pagination and styling.

Customization and Styling

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake offers a JSON-based configuration for styling, which may be less intuitive for those accustomed to CSS. However, it provides a range of options for customizing document elements, including font sizes, colors, and alignment, allowing for a good degree of flexibility in document design.

  • pagedjs:

    Paged.js leverages the full power of CSS for styling documents, allowing developers to use familiar web design techniques to create visually appealing layouts. This includes advanced features like media queries for print, enabling responsive designs that adapt to different page sizes and orientations.

Complex Layouts

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake can handle basic layouts effectively but may struggle with more complex designs compared to Paged.js. It is better suited for simpler documents where the layout requirements are not as demanding.

  • pagedjs:

    Paged.js is particularly strong in handling complex layouts, such as multi-column designs, footnotes, and running headers/footers. Its ability to interpret CSS for print media makes it suitable for projects that require intricate document structures and precise layout control.

Ease of Use

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is generally easier to get started with, especially for developers familiar with JavaScript. Its JSON-based API allows for quick document creation without needing extensive knowledge of CSS or HTML.

  • pagedjs:

    Paged.js may have a steeper learning curve, especially for developers unfamiliar with CSS for print. However, once mastered, it offers powerful capabilities for creating professional-grade documents that closely resemble web pages.

Integration

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is also easy to integrate into web applications, providing a straightforward way to generate PDFs on the client-side or server-side. Its reliance on JavaScript makes it a good fit for applications built with frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.

  • pagedjs:

    Paged.js is designed to work seamlessly with existing web applications, allowing developers to generate documents directly from their HTML content. This makes it an excellent choice for projects that already utilize web technologies extensively.

How to Choose: pdfmake vs pagedjs
  • pdfmake:

    Choose pdfmake if you need a straightforward way to generate PDF documents programmatically with a JSON-based API. It is ideal for applications that require dynamic PDF generation with features like tables, images, and custom styles, while also offering a simpler learning curve for those familiar with JavaScript.

  • pagedjs:

    Choose Paged.js if your primary focus is on generating print-ready documents from HTML and CSS, as it excels in rendering web content with a high degree of fidelity to web standards. It is particularly beneficial for projects that require complex layouts, pagination, and styling, leveraging the power of CSS for print media.

Similar Npm Packages to pdfmake

pdfmake is a powerful JavaScript library for generating PDF documents in web applications. It allows developers to create complex and customizable PDF files using a declarative syntax. With features like tables, images, and styles, pdfmake is suitable for generating reports, invoices, and other document types directly from the browser or server-side environments. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a popular choice for developers looking to implement PDF generation in their applications.

However, there are several alternatives to pdfmake that also provide PDF generation capabilities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • pdfkit is a robust PDF generation library for Node.js that allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically. Unlike pdfmake, which uses a declarative approach, pdfkit provides a more programmatic API, giving developers fine-grained control over the PDF creation process. With features like vector graphics, text formatting, and image embedding, pdfkit is ideal for generating highly customized PDFs. It is particularly well-suited for server-side applications where you need to create PDFs dynamically based on user input or data from a database.

  • react-pdf is a library specifically designed for rendering PDF documents in React applications. It allows developers to create PDF documents using React components, making it easy to integrate PDF generation into existing React projects. With react-pdf, you can build PDF documents that are responsive and styled using CSS, leveraging the power of React's component-based architecture. This library is particularly useful for applications that require dynamic PDF generation based on user interactions or data changes.

To see how pdfmake compares with pdfkit and react-pdf, check out the comparison: Comparing pdfkit vs pdfmake vs react-pdf.

Similar Npm Packages to pagedjs

pagedjs is a JavaScript library designed for rendering paginated content in web applications. It allows developers to create print-ready documents directly from HTML and CSS, making it an excellent choice for generating reports, books, and other types of structured documents. With pagedjs, you can leverage the power of web technologies to produce high-quality, paginated layouts that can be printed or saved as PDFs.

While pagedjs provides a robust solution for paginated content, there are alternatives available that cater to different needs. One notable alternative is:

  • pdfmake, a powerful library for generating PDF documents in client-side JavaScript. Unlike pagedjs, which focuses on rendering HTML and CSS into paginated formats, pdfmake allows you to create PDFs programmatically using a declarative syntax. It supports features like tables, images, and custom styling, making it suitable for generating complex documents. If your primary goal is to create PDF files from scratch rather than rendering existing HTML content, pdfmake is an excellent choice.

To see how pagedjs compares with pdfmake, check out the comparison: Comparing pagedjs vs pdfmake.

README for pdfmake

pdfmake Node.js CI GitHub npm Bower Packagist CDNJS

PDF document generation library for server-side and client-side usage in pure JavaScript.

Check out the playground and examples.

Features

  • line-wrapping,
  • text-alignments (left, right, centered, justified),
  • numbered and bulleted lists,
  • tables and columns
    • auto/fixed/star-sized widths,
    • col-spans and row-spans,
    • headers automatically repeated in case of a page-break,
  • images and vector graphics,
  • convenient styling and style inheritance,
  • page headers and footers:
    • static or dynamic content,
    • access to current page number and page count,
  • background-layer,
  • page dimensions and orientations,
  • margins,
  • custom page breaks,
  • font embedding,
  • support for complex, multi-level (nested) structures,
  • table of contents,
  • helper methods for opening/printing/downloading the generated PDF,
  • setting of PDF metadata (e.g. author, subject).

Documentation

Documentation URL: https://pdfmake.github.io/docs/

Building from sources version 0.2.x

using npm:

git clone --branch 0.2 https://github.com/bpampuch/pdfmake.git
cd pdfmake
npm install
npm run build

using yarn:

git clone --branch 0.2 https://github.com/bpampuch/pdfmake.git
cd pdfmake
yarn
yarn run build

License

MIT

Authors

pdfmake is based on a truly amazing library pdfkit (credits to @devongovett).

Thanks to all contributors.

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