How to generate PDF from HTML in Meteor 1.4.4.2 and 1.5 at server side

Question

I am facing problems while creating a PDF from HTML in Meteor 1.4.4.2 and 1.5 which is latest version till date.

I want to know how to create a PDF from HTML at server side?

Answer 1

Below are the steps to generate PDF from HTML Template using Meteor 1.4.4.2

1. Kindly goto PROJECT/.meteor/packages file and add packages as below

   meteorhacks:ssr
   bryanmorgan:webshot
   

2. Make sure whichever html page you want to convert to pdf must be present at location PROJECT/private as per Meteor 1.4.4.2 guidelines. In this example, the file name is app_clientagreement.html (file is simple html).

3. We will now create a method at server side to generate PDF. The file is at location PROJECT\imports\startup\server\methods.js (make sure you import the method.js file inside PROJECT\imports\startup\server\index.js as import './methods.js'). Inside methods.js write below code

   import { Meteor } from 'meteor/meteor';
   import { SSR, Template } from 'meteor/meteorhacks:ssr';
   
   Meteor.methods({
       'generate_pdf'(){
   
       var fs      = Npm.require('fs');
       var Future = Npm.require('fibers/future');
       var fut = new Future();
       var fileName = "pokemon-report.pdf";
   
       SSR.compileTemplate('agreement', Assets.getText('app_clientagreement.html'));
       var html_string = SSR.render('agreement');
   
       var options = {
             "paperSize": {
                 "format": "Letter",
                 "orientation": "portrait",
                 "margin": "1cm"
             },
             siteType: 'html'
       };
   
         webshot(html_string, fileName, options, function(err) {
             fs.readFile(fileName, function (err, data) {
                 if (err) {
                     return console.log(err);
                 }
                 fs.unlinkSync(fileName);
                 fut.return(data);
             });
         });
   
         let pdfData = fut.wait();
         let base64String = new Buffer(pdfData).toString('base64');
   
         return base64String;
     }
   });
   

4. To call this method in Template, for ease to get auto-called, I am calling it when a template is rendered. The code is below,

   Template.App_Agreement.onRendered(function(){
         Meteor.call('generate_pdf', function(err, res) {
           if (err) {
                console.error(err);
           } else if (res) {
                window.open("data:application/pdf;base64, " + res);
           }
         });
   });
   

When you call above template (which is 'App_Agreement'), a new tab is opened and a PDF is rendered.