How Can iText 7 and pdfHTML Solve HTML to PDF Conversion Challenges?

Converting HTML to PDF Using iText 7

Despite its deprecation, HTMLWorker was initially used to parse HTML into PDF. However, it did not support CSS and resulted in outdated code due to numerous deprecated methods. As such, XML Worker was introduced.

XML Worker and Its Limitations

XML Worker provides more capabilities, but it also encountered issues when converting HTML to PDF. Images were initially missing, but an ImageProvider resolved this problem. Moreover, not all CSS styles were fully supported.

The Remaining Problem: Float Positioning

One significant issue that remained was the inability to handle CSS positioning attributes like "float." This made the rendering of elements with specific positions inaccurate.

Additional Observations

• HTMLWorker ignores form elements and doesn't handle CSS.
• XML Worker initially lacked image support and only partially supported CSS.

Solution Using iText 7

With the release of iText 7 and the pdfHTML add-on, the process of converting HTML to PDF has been greatly simplified. The code is concise and takes care of CSS, image handling, and element positioning. The result is a highly accurate PDF that faithfully reproduces the original HTML layout.

Advantages of iText 7 and pdfHTML

• Simple and easy-to-use code
• Full CSS support, including float positioning
• Open source with an AGPL license for free use in open source projects
• Commercial licenses available for proprietary software

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