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0-CodeKit

A toolbox of no-code utilities

Actions40

Overview

The PDF: HTML to PDF operation in this custom n8n node allows you to convert either a web page (via URL) or raw HTML code into a PDF document. This is useful for automating the generation of PDFs from dynamic content, such as invoices, reports, or any web-based information that needs to be archived or shared in a portable format.

Common scenarios:

  • Generating printable invoices from HTML templates.
  • Archiving web pages as PDFs for compliance or record-keeping.
  • Creating downloadable reports from dynamically generated HTML content.

Practical examples:

  • Convert an order confirmation page to PDF and email it to a customer.
  • Save a rendered dashboard as a PDF at scheduled intervals.
  • Turn user-submitted HTML forms into standardized PDF documents.

Properties

Name Meaning
URL or HTML Code Choose whether to provide a URL to fetch HTML from, or paste raw HTML code directly. Options: URL, HTML
URL The web address of the page to convert to PDF. Required if "URL or HTML Code" is set to URL.
HTML Code The raw HTML markup to convert to PDF. Required if "URL or HTML Code" is set to HTML.
Options Additional PDF rendering options:
- PDF Format: Paper size (A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, Ledger, Legal, Letter, Tabloid). Defaults to Letter.
- Scale: Rendering scale (0.1–2).
- Landscape: Use landscape orientation.
- Print Background Graphics: Include background graphics in the PDF.
Get File as URL If enabled, returns a URL to download the generated PDF instead of embedding the file directly in the output.

Output

  • The node outputs a JSON object containing the result of the PDF conversion.
  • If Get File as URL is enabled, the output will include a field with a URL pointing to the generated PDF file.
  • If not, the output may contain the PDF data directly (as binary or base64-encoded data), depending on the implementation of the underlying service.

Example output (when Get File as URL is true):

{
  "url": "https://example.com/generated/file.pdf"
}

Example output (when Get File as URL is false):

{
  "pdf": "<base64-encoded-pdf-data>"
}

(Actual field names may vary depending on the backend response.)

Dependencies

  • External Service: Requires access to the CodeKit API (or similar backend service).
  • API Key/Credentials: You must configure the codeKitApi credential in n8n for authentication.
  • n8n Configuration: No special environment variables are required beyond standard credential setup.

Troubleshooting

Common issues:

  • Invalid URL or HTML: If the provided URL is unreachable or the HTML code is malformed, the conversion may fail.
  • Missing Credentials: If the codeKitApi credential is not configured, the node will throw an authentication error.
  • Large HTML Content: Very large HTML documents may exceed service limits and cause errors or timeouts.
  • Incorrect Option Values: Setting an invalid scale (outside 0.1–2) or unsupported paper format may result in errors.

Error messages and resolutions:

  • "error":"Request failed with status code 401": Check your API credentials.
  • "error":"Invalid HTML input": Ensure your HTML code is valid and complete.
  • "error":"URL not reachable": Verify the URL is correct and accessible from the server running n8n.

Links and References

Discussion