In today’s fast-paced world, convenience and efficiency go hand in hand, which is why creating custom reports in PDF format from DOCX or HTML documents is a game changer. With the Report from DOCX/HTML to PDF Converter, utilizing the power of Smart In Media GmbH & Co. KG, you can generate PDFs seamlessly. Let’s dive into how to do this!

What You Need to Get Started

• LibreOffice: Download and run the PORTABLE EDITION to avoid messing with your server installations.
• NuGet Packages:
  • Microsoft.NetCore.App
  • Document.Format.OpenXml
  • System.Drawing.Common
• The OpenXml PowerTools: Included in the project for easier manipulation.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up Dependencies

Begin by adding the required dependencies to your project. Make sure you have System.Drawing.Common instead of the regular System.Drawing since we are working with .NET Core.

2. Download LibreOffice

Obtain the portable edition of LibreOffice. It runs like a charm without installation.

3. Prepare Your Templates

Have your Word (.docx) and HTML documents ready. In the ExampleApplication repository, you can find test files called Test-Template.docx and Test-HTML-page.html.

4. Implementing Your Placeholders

Placeholders are markers in your documents where dynamic content will be inserted. For instance, if you want to insert a name, you would use ##Name## as your placeholder. Below is a quick rundown on setting up placeholders:

var placeholders = new Placeholders();
placeholders.NewLineTag = br;
placeholders.TextPlaceholderStartTag = ##;
placeholders.TextPlaceholderEndTag = ##;

5. Initiating the Conversion Process

With your placeholders defined and setup complete, it’s time to convert the documents:

var test = new ReportGenerator(locationOfLibreOfficeSoffice);
test.Convert(htmlLocation, Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(htmlLocation), Test-HTML-page-out.pdf), placeholders);

Understanding the Code: A Creative Analogy

Think of the PDF Converter as a chef preparing a gourmet dish. The ingredients are your DOCX/HTML files, and the placeholders act as special spices added at precise moments during the cooking process. Each ingredient (or placeholder) needs to be prepared (defined in code) and combined (converted) in the right way to create a delightful dish – in this case, a beautifully formatted PDF. The chef (you, as the developer) must ensure the kitchen (the code environment) is set up correctly with the right tools (libraries and packages) to create a masterpiece.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues while using the converter, here are some troubleshooting ideas:

• Ensure that LibreOffice is correctly installed and the path to soffice.exe is accurately set.
• Check if all required NuGet packages are installed.
• Verify that your templates correctly contain the placeholder tags.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap on how to create custom reports with the DOCX/HTML to PDF Converter in .NET Core. It’s an efficient solution to simplify document generation while allowing your team to make adjustments without developer intervention. If you find this tool useful, consider supporting the project!

Final Thoughts

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.