How to Prepare Your HTML File for Flawless Conversion to PDF
earn more about HTML to PDF conversion, how to manually prepare HTML files for rendering or how to do everything automatically using a fast HTML to PDF converter API
If you wonder how to convert PDF to HTML or vice versa, you must be working with web reports, invoices, and other e-documents. HTML to PDF conversion enables businesses to generate tons of custom communications automatically. Anyone who offers services through web portals needs it. Conversion creates neat copies of web browser pages in PDF to allow convenient view or download.
Even though most conversion operations are automated, you should know the nuts and bolts of document rendering. It will allow you to troubleshoot when an HTML to PDF engine doesn’t process the content properly. The understanding of source file formatting is also helpful to get the desired result on the first attempt. If you do HTML configuration right, the final PDF file will look as expected.
That’s why in this article, Inkit will share tips on how to prepare HTML code for PDF conversion. We will cover both manual configuration and a fast HTML to PDF converter API as an alternative.
What Is HTML to PDF Conversion, and Why Do You Need It?
Given the variety of software, businesses are forced to switch between multiple file formats. They must save PDF as HTML files, convert HTML tables to CSV, change Word into PDF, and do many other conversions. These conversions allow companies to unify the collected information and transfer data between software.
HTML to PDF conversion is the process of PDF generation based on an HTML source file. This type of document rendering is particularly demanded among the companies that utilize web software. They implement HTML to PDF rendering in their solutions to generate PDF reports and official communications from HTML.
Let’s take a tax platform, for example. Initially, it creates reports in HTML based on user data from the database. Hence, when someone wants to view or retrieve a report, it automatically converts HTML to PDF. The PDF format supports access management, allows document editing, download, printing, and is more convenient than HTML.
To convert a single HTML page to PDF, you can use a basic online converter. Yet if you need to render tons of files automatically, you will need to set up automated rendering and prepare your HTML source. Learn more about how to do it below.
The HTML markup language only annotates the document to structure it and prepare it for processing. It uses tags to specify the content and formatting. That’s why it may be hard to understand what PDF you will get after HTML conversion.
In the web browser and the final PDF, this content will be displayed as:
My First Heading
My first paragraph.
Therefore, you will need to make all the changes you want to see in generated PDF documents in HTML source code first. It requires the understanding of how to convert PDF to HTML and vice versa. You should also learn more about HTML formatting and its capabilities.
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How to Prepare HTML to Export PDF with Flawless Quality?
When you save PDF as an HTML file, everything is simple. The content converts to the desired format and is ready for further use. But what if you need to create custom PDFs from HTML? Then, it’s necessary to make some changes and prepare HTML web pages for flawless conversion. These tips should help you run conversion smoothly.
Follow HTML Coding and Editing Rules
HTML executes even poorly written code. Yet, it doesn’t mean you can neglect coding standards. Make sure to use a proper document structure with such elements as <!DOCTYPE html>, <html>, <head>, and <body>. They will help correctly render a web page in a browser and convert its exact copy to PDF.
Also, don’t forget to indent the code, use lowercase for attributes, elements, and values. Be consistent with the format of quotes. Quality HTML code will allow you to create a professional-looking web page and generate a quality PDF from it.
Check the Content of HTML File Elements Before Conversion
If Adobe Acrobat opens PDF and the converted file has mistakes, something may be wrong with the content of HTML tags. Tags are responsible for document formatting and include the text that will be displayed after HTML rendering. Therefore, before you run the conversion, look through HTML tags. It minimizes the chance of mistakes in the final file.
Add the Necessary Metadata
Metadata is information about the converted file, including its author, processing software, rendering time, description, etc. In the course of HTML to PDF rendering, metadata stored in the converted HTML file may get lost. As a result, the final PDF cannot provide valuable details about the original file. To avoid such issues, add the necessary metatags in the <head> section of HTML files. Besides, make sure to use rendering software that keeps the original metadata and automatically adds new conversion details.
Clean HTML Code
If you want a better quality of HTML to PDF conversion, don’t forget to clean HTML. There are specialized Clean Up HTML tools that optimize HTML code. They remove nonstandard, empty, and redundant elements in HTML to make it run more smoothly.
In addition to the listed elements, you should set headers and footers, page numbers, margins, breaks, and other formatting elements in HTML. When manually done, it takes a lot of effort and skills. That’s why it’s better to do it using a fast HTML to PDF converter API. The API ensures accurate HTML to PDF conversion without complicated manual settings.
Use Fast HTML to PDF Converter API as an Easier Way to Configure Conversion
An HTML to PDF API automates many HTML rendering tasks you would otherwise need to do manually. After initial settings, it automatically retrieves the necessary HTML source to convert it to PDF based on triggers. Since you mostly don’t have to format an HTML before conversion manually, you are less likely to make mistakes that affect resulting PDFs.
Apart from eliminating the need for heavy HTML editing, a fast HTML to PDF converter API increases efficiency. It allows you to make HTML to PDF rendering a part of complex software operations, like invoice creation and storage. The web solutions powered by the API handle thousands of invoices automatically with ultimate ease.
Inkit Render is a fast HTML to PDF converter API you can integrate for easy document conversion. Learn how it handles automated rendering below.
Inkit Render for Automated HTML to PDF Document Rendering
Render is a fast HTML to PDF converter API provided by Inkit. It allows upgrading your existing web solutions with advanced rendering capabilities to automate document conversion. After integration, Render automatically runs trigger-based HTML to PDF rendering. Thanks to convenient settings and interface, it’s easy to convert HTML documents to PDFs. Render supports page headers and footers, document sizes, page numbers, and other formatting elements for custom document conversion.
Do you have any questions about Render’s fast HTML to PDF converter API? Contact us for answers or to get the demo. Or try it out yourself on a Free Render plan.
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The easiest way to automatically generate and manage paperless documents at scale.
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