# n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf)
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[](https://n8n.io)
[](https://rhod.expert)
Professional n8n community node that converts JSON data or HTML content to PDF documents. Built with over 30 years of development experience, this node provides enterprise-grade PDF generation with Handlebars template support, perfect for invoices, reports, certificates, and any document automation needs.
**Created by [Rodrigo Vieira da Costa](https://rhod.expert) - Senior Full Stack Developer | Automation Specialist**
## Features
- **Dual Input Support**: Accept either JSON data with Handlebars templates or raw HTML
- **Flexible Output**: Generate PDFs as binary data or base64 strings
- **Customizable Formatting**: Control page size, margins, orientation, and more
- **Advanced Options**: Add headers/footers, custom CSS, and wait for specific elements
- **Template Engine**: Use Handlebars for dynamic content generation
- **Production Ready**: Built with Puppeteer for reliable PDF generation
## Installation
### Community Node (Recommended)
1. Go to **Settings** > **Community Nodes**
2. Search for `n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf`
3. Click **Install**
### Manual Installation
```bash
npm install n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf
```
Then restart your n8n instance.
### Docker Installation
If you're using n8n with Docker, you'll need to install Puppeteer dependencies:
```dockerfile
FROM n8nio/n8n:latest
USER root
RUN apk add --no-cache \
chromium \
nss \
freetype \
freetype-dev \
harfbuzz \
ca-certificates \
ttf-freefont
ENV PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD=true \
PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH=/usr/bin/chromium-browser
USER node
RUN npm install n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf
```
## Node Reference
### Input Types
#### JSON with Template
Use JSON data with a Handlebars template to generate dynamic PDFs.
**Example JSON:**
```json
{
"title": "Invoice #2025-001",
"customer": {
"name": "Rhod Expert",
"address": "123 Main St, City, Country"
},
"items": [
{
"description": "Product A",
"quantity": 2,
"price": 50.00
},
{
"description": "Product B",
"quantity": 1,
"price": 75.00
}
],
"total": 175.00
}
```
**Example Template:**
```html
| Description |
Quantity |
Price |
Subtotal |
{{#each items}}
| {{description}} |
{{quantity}} |
${{price}} |
${{multiply quantity price}} |
{{/each}}
Total: ${{total}}
```
#### Raw HTML
Directly convert HTML content to PDF without templating.
### Output Formats
- **Binary**: Returns the PDF as a binary file attachment (recommended for file operations)
- **Base64**: Returns the PDF as a base64 encoded string in the JSON output
### Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|--------|-------------|---------|
| **Page Format** | Paper size (A3, A4, A5, Letter, Legal, Tabloid) | A4 |
| **Landscape** | Use landscape orientation | false |
| **Scale** | Scale of webpage rendering (0.1 - 2.0) | 1.0 |
| **Margins** | Top, bottom, left, right margins | 20px |
| **Print Background** | Include background graphics | true |
| **Custom CSS** | Additional CSS to inject | - |
| **Wait Until** | When to consider page loaded | networkidle0 |
| **Wait For Selector** | CSS selector to wait for | - |
| **Header/Footer** | Custom header and footer templates | - |
## Usage Examples
### Example 1: Generate Invoice PDF
```json
// Input Node Configuration
{
"inputType": "jsonTemplate",
"jsonData": {
"invoiceNumber": "INV-2024-001",
"date": "2024-01-15",
"items": [
{"name": "Service A", "amount": 500},
{"name": "Service B", "amount": 300}
],
"total": 800
},
"outputFormat": "binary",
"fileName": "invoice-2024-001.pdf",
"options": {
"format": "A4",
"marginTop": "40px",
"marginBottom": "40px"
}
}
```
### Example 2: Convert HTML Report to PDF
```json
// Input Node Configuration
{
"inputType": "html",
"htmlContent": "Monthly Report
Report content...
",
"outputFormat": "binary",
"fileName": "monthly-report.pdf",
"options": {
"format": "Letter",
"landscape": true,
"displayHeaderFooter": true,
"headerTemplate": "Monthly Report - Page
"
}
}
```
### Example 3: Generate Certificate with Custom Styling
```json
// Input Node Configuration
{
"inputType": "jsonTemplate",
"jsonData": {
"recipientName": "Jane Smith",
"courseName": "Advanced n8n Workflows",
"completionDate": "2024-01-20"
},
"htmlTemplate": "",
"outputFormat": "binary",
"fileName": "certificate.pdf",
"options": {
"format": "A4",
"landscape": true,
"customCss": ".certificate { border: 5px solid gold; padding: 50px; }",
"printBackground": true
}
}
```
## Workflow Integration
### Basic Workflow Structure
1. **Trigger Node** → 2. **Data Source** → 3. **JSON/HTML to PDF** → 4. **Output/Storage**
### Integration with Other Nodes
#### Email Attachment
```
Webhook → JSON/HTML to PDF → Send Email (with PDF attachment)
```
#### Save to Storage
```
Database Query → JSON/HTML to PDF → AWS S3 / Google Drive
```
#### Batch Processing
```
Spreadsheet → Split in Batches → JSON/HTML to PDF → Merge
```
## Handlebars Helpers
The node includes standard Handlebars helpers. You can use:
- `{{#if}}` / `{{#unless}}` - Conditional rendering
- `{{#each}}` - Iterate over arrays
- `{{#with}}` - Change context
- `{{> partialName}}` - Include partials
### Custom Helpers Example
For advanced templating, you can register custom helpers in your template:
```html
```
## Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
#### 1. PDF Generation Timeout
**Problem**: Large or complex HTML takes too long to render
**Solution**:
- Increase the timeout in node settings
- Simplify HTML/CSS
- Use `waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded'` instead of `'networkidle0'`
#### 2. Missing Fonts or Characters
**Problem**: Special characters or fonts not rendering
**Solution**:
- Embed fonts using base64 in CSS
- Use web-safe fonts
- Install required fonts in Docker container
#### 3. Memory Issues
**Problem**: Out of memory errors with large PDFs
**Solution**:
- Process items in smaller batches
- Reduce image sizes in HTML
- Increase Node.js memory limit
#### 4. Docker Permissions
**Problem**: Puppeteer fails to launch in Docker
**Solution**:
```dockerfile
RUN chmod -R 777 /tmp
ENV PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD=true
ENV PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH=/usr/bin/chromium-browser
```
### Debug Mode
Enable debug output by setting environment variable:
```bash
DEBUG=puppeteer:* n8n start
```
## Performance Tips
1. **Reuse Templates**: Store templates in a separate node or file
2. **Optimize Images**: Use base64 for small images, URLs for large ones
3. **Batch Processing**: Process multiple items in parallel when possible
4. **Cache Static Content**: Store frequently used CSS/JS separately
## Security Considerations
- **Sanitize Input**: Always validate and sanitize user-provided HTML
- **Limit Resources**: Set appropriate timeouts and memory limits
- **Sandbox Environment**: Puppeteer runs in a sandboxed environment by default
- **Access Control**: Restrict file system access in production
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/AmazingFeature`)
5. Open a Pull Request
## Support
For issues and feature requests, please use the [GitHub issues page](https://github.com/rhodexpert/n8n-nodes-json-html-to-pdf/issues).
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.
## Acknowledgments
- Built for the [n8n](https://n8n.io) workflow automation platform
- Uses [Puppeteer](https://pptr.dev/) for PDF generation
- Templating powered by [Handlebars](https://handlebarsjs.com/)
## 👨💻 Author
**Rodrigo Vieira da Costa**
- 🌐 Website: [rhod.expert](https://rhod.expert)
- 📧 Email: rhod@rhod.expert
- 💼 GitHub: [@rhod-expert](https://github.com/rhod-expert)
- 🏢 Company: RHOD EXPERT SOLUCOES EM TECNOLOGIA
- 📍 Location: Iguassu Falls, Paraná, Brazil
Senior Full Stack Developer with 30+ years of experience, specializing in automation, system integration, and creating tools that boost productivity.
## ⭐ Show your support
Give a ⭐️ if this project helped you! Your support motivates me to keep improving this node.
## Changelog
### v0.1.0 (2025-01)
- Initial release
- JSON to PDF conversion with Handlebars templates
- Raw HTML to PDF conversion
- Customizable page formatting
- Binary and base64 output formats
- Header/footer support
- Custom CSS injection
- Professional invoice and report templates included
- Comprehensive test suite
---
Made with ❤️ by Rodrigo Vieira da Costa
"Automatizando o presente, construindo o futuro"
(Automating the present, building the future)