How to Create PDF Files in Python

What Prerequisites Do I Need?

To use IronPDF for Python, ensure your computer has the following software installed:

1. .NET 6.0 SDK: Required as IronPDF Python relies on the IronPDF .NET library. Download from the official Microsoft website.
2. Python: Download and install Python 3.x from https://www.python.org/downloads/. Select the option to add Python to PATH during installation.
3. Pip: Usually bundled with Python 3.4+. Verify installation or install separately if needed.
4. IronPDF Library: Install using pip with the command below:

 pip install ironpdf

What Code Setup Is Required Before Creating PDFs?

First, add the statement below to the top of your Python script:

# Import statement for IronPDF for Python
from ironpdf import *

# Import statement for IronPDF for Python
from ironpdf import *

Next, configure IronPDF with a valid license key by assigning the license key to the LicenseKey attribute of License (before any other lines of code). For detailed instructions on implementing license keys in your project, visit our license key setup guide.

# Apply your license key
License.LicenseKey = "IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01"

# Apply your license key
License.LicenseKey = "IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01"

What Method Should I Use for HTML String Conversion?

Use the RenderHtmlAsPdf method to generate a new PDF document from an HTML string. This method supports CSS styling, JavaScript execution, and custom fonts.

Provide the HTML markup as the parameter for the RenderHtmlAsPdf method. IronPDF will perform the conversion, resulting in a PdfDocument instance.

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from an HTML string using Python
pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World!</h1><p>This is an example HTML string.</p>")

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from an HTML string using Python
pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World!</h1><p>This is an example HTML string.</p>")

How Do I Save the Generated PDF?

Once the HTML string has been converted to a PDF document, use the SaveAs method to save the PDF to a path on the local system:

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("htmlstring_to_pdf.pdf")

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("htmlstring_to_pdf.pdf")

A PDF file named "htmlstring_to_pdf.pdf" will be created, preserving the contents of the original HTML string. For more advanced HTML rendering techniques, including working with complex layouts and JavaScript frameworks, see our comprehensive HTML to PDF tutorial.

What Is the Process for Converting Local HTML Files?

To generate a PDF document from an HTML file stored locally in Python, follow the code below. The RenderHtmlFileAsPdf method provides a direct way to convert existing HTML documents:

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from an existing HTML file using Python
pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("example.html")

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("htmlfile_to_pdf.pdf")

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from an existing HTML file using Python
pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("example.html")

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("htmlfile_to_pdf.pdf")

Why Does IronPDF Preserve HTML Formatting?

In the code above, the RenderHtmlFileAsPdf method creates a PDF document from an HTML file. Provide a string or path specifying the location of the HTML file on the filesystem.

IronPDF renders the HTML elements, including any associated CSS and JavaScript, just like a web browser would. This ensures accurate representation of the content in the resulting PDF. The library supports modern web standards including CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript frameworks, making it ideal for converting complex web documents to PDF format.

Use the SaveAs method to save the generated PDF to a specific location on your system, similar to the previous example.

What Method Converts Web Pages to PDF?

To create a PDF document from a web page in Python, use the RenderUrlAsPdf method. Provide the URL of the desired webpage as an argument to the method:

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironpdf.com")

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf")

# Instantiate Renderer
renderer = ChromePdfRenderer()

# Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironpdf.com")

# Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf")

The URL rendering feature supports modern web technologies, including dynamic JavaScript content, AJAX calls, and responsive layouts. IronPDF waits for the page to fully load before converting, ensuring all content is captured accurately.

Where Can I Find More URL Conversion Examples?

More information about converting Web Pages to PDFs is available on the URL to PDF Code Example page. For websites requiring authentication, explore our guide on website and system logins.

What Settings Can I Modify in RenderingOptions?

To customize the formatting of your PDF files, use the RenderingOptions attribute. This class provides various configurable settings to achieve the desired layout and appearance of your PDF documents. Settings include page orientation, page size, margin size, and more. Set attributes available in RenderingOptions to generate PDF documents with the desired settings. Refer to this Code Example for more information about how to use the RenderingOptions.

Additional customization options include:

• Setting custom page margins
• Configuring portrait and landscape orientations
• Defining custom PDF page sizes
• Managing page numbers and page breaks

What Is the Process for Adding Password Protection?

To add password protection to PDF files, use the SecuritySettings attribute of the PdfDocument object. Access the SecuritySettings attribute and assign a password to the UserPassword attribute, specified as a string. For more advanced security features, including encryption and digital signatures, visit our security and metadata example page.

For instance, consider protecting the PDF document created in the "URL to PDF" example:

# Set user password for PDF document security
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "sharable"

# Configure additional security settings
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin123"
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = True
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserCopyPasteContent = False

# Save the password-protected PDF
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf")

# Set user password for PDF document security
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "sharable"

# Configure additional security settings
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin123"
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = True
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserCopyPasteContent = False

# Save the password-protected PDF
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf")

How Does Password Protection Work in Practice?

The PDF file has been password-protected. When attempting to open the file, a password prompt will appear. Enter the correct password to access the contents of the PDF file. The owner password provides additional administrative privileges, allowing you to modify security settings later.

Read more information about additional security and metadata settings and explore PDF encryption and decryption capabilities.