jsPDF Live Preview

A real-time PDF generator and preview tool built with jsPDF library. This project allows you to write jsPDF code and see the generated PDF instantly in your browser.

Features

• Live Preview: Real-time PDF generation as you type
• Interactive Code Editor: Built-in textarea with syntax highlighting-friendly font
• Automatic Updates: PDF updates automatically after 500ms of inactivity
• Manual Generation: Manual PDF generation button for immediate updates
• Error Handling: Graceful error handling with console logging
• Memory Management: Automatic cleanup of blob URLs to prevent memory leaks
• Responsive Design: Clean, modern interface using Tailwind CSS

How to Use

1. Open the Project: Open index.html in your web browser
2. Write jsPDF Code: Enter your jsPDF code in the textarea
   • The doc object is already initialized for you
   • Use standard jsPDF syntax and methods
3. View Results: The PDF will automatically generate and display in the preview iframe
4. Manual Generation: Click the "Manual Generate" button if needed

Example Code

Here's a simple example to get you started:

const pageWidth = doc.internal.pageSize.getWidth();
const pageHeight = doc.internal.pageSize.getHeight();

// Add a title
doc.setFontSize(20);
doc.setFont('helvetica', 'bold');
doc.text('Hello World!', pageWidth / 2, 50, { align: 'center' });

// Add some content
doc.setFontSize(12);
doc.setFont('helvetica', 'normal');
doc.text('This is a sample PDF generated with jsPDF.', 20, 80);

// Add a rectangle
doc.setDrawColor(0, 0, 255);
doc.rect(20, 100, 100, 50);

Project Structure

jsPDF Preview/
├── index.html          # Main application file
├── README.md           # This documentation
└── (any additional assets)

Technical Details

Dependencies

• jsPDF: PDF generation library (loaded via CDN)
• Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework (loaded via CDN)

Configuration

• PDF Format: A4 landscape (297x210mm) by default
• Orientation: Landscape
• Units: Millimeters (mm)
• Auto-update Delay: 500ms after typing stops

Browser Compatibility

• Modern browsers with ES6+ support
• Requires JavaScript enabled
• Works with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge

Customization

Changing PDF Format

Modify the jsPDF initialization in the JavaScript section:

const doc = new jsPDF({
    orientation: 'portrait', // or 'landscape'
    unit: 'mm',             // or 'pt', 'in', 'cm'
    format: [210, 297]      // or 'a4', 'letter', etc.
});

Adjusting Auto-update Timing

Change the debounce timer in the debounceGeneratePDF function:

debounceTimer = setTimeout(generatePDF, 1000); // 1 second delay

Common Use Cases

1. Certificate Generation: Create professional certificates with logos and styling
2. Report Generation: Generate formatted reports with tables and charts
3. Invoice Creation: Design invoice templates with company branding
4. Form Creation: Build fillable PDF forms
5. Prototype Testing: Quick PDF layout testing and experimentation

Tips for Better Development

1. Use Comments: Comment your jsPDF code for better readability
2. Test Incrementally: Build your PDF step by step using the live preview
3. Check Console: Monitor the browser console for any errors
4. Save Often: Copy your working code to external files for backup
5. Experiment: Try different jsPDF methods and see immediate results

Troubleshooting

PDF Not Generating

• Check for JavaScript errors in the browser console
• Ensure your jsPDF code syntax is correct
• Verify the textarea is not empty

Blank PDF

• Make sure you're calling methods on the doc object
• Check if your coordinates are within the page boundaries
• Verify text/images are positioned correctly

Performance Issues

• Avoid complex operations in large loops
• Consider reducing image sizes if using base64 images
• Clear the textarea if you notice memory issues

License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

Contributing

Feel free to fork this project and submit pull requests for improvements!

Support

For jsPDF-specific questions, refer to the official jsPDF documentation.