Python - trml2pdf generating a blank PDF

Question

I use trml2pdf library in Python, but even when I use the examples, I get a blank PDF file. I run it as follows: trml2pdf.py ex5.rml > out.pdf

When I open the file in Acrobat it is blank/empty. But when I analyse the contents in text editor, I see the following.

Generated PDF:

%PDF-1.4

%“Œ‹ž ReportLab Generated PDF document http://www.reportlab.com

% 'BasicFonts': class PDFDictionary 

1 0 obj

% The standard fonts dictionary

<< /F1 2 0 R

 /F2 3 0 R

 /F3 4 0 R >>

Example PDF:

%PDF-1.3
%“Œ‹ž ReportLab Generated PDF document http://www.reportlab.com
% 'BasicFonts': class PDFDictionary 
1 0 obj
% The standard fonts dictionary
<< /F1 2 0 R
 /F2 3 0 R
 /F3 4 0 R
 /F4 5 0 R
 /F5 6 0 R >>

What am I doing wrong? Why am I getting blank lines in the output?

Thanks!

Here's basic RML that also returns blank PDF:

<!DOCTYPE document SYSTEM "rml_1_0.dtd">
<document filename="example_1.pdf">
<stylesheet>
</stylesheet>
<pageDrawing>
     <drawCentredString x="4.1in" y="5.8in">
       Hello World.
 </drawCentredString>
</pageDrawing>
</document>

Maybe you should show us the rml file. Have you tried with a minimal rml? — Emanuele Paolini, Feb 28 '13 at 17:32
Yes, I did try with minimal rml. I've also tried different ones. Having said that, if parser is unhappy - it fails with a message (invalid tag value). So it seems to be happy, and it does produce a document. It's just that it contains those weird line breaks.. — tonysepia, Feb 28 '13 at 18:02
Very difficult to help if you don't give us some rml minimal code to see the problem. — Emanuele Paolini, Mar 01 '13 at 08:04
So OK< added RML, when passed through trml2pdf returns blank document too. The difference between a working PDF and my generated output is presence of line breaks and PDF version. Can anyone explain that? — tonysepia, Mar 02 '13 at 11:46

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 07 '14 at 08:04

3

I've been using z3c.rml in many web apps for last 6-8 months and never faced any major issue. rml2pdf command from this package was able to generate the PDF for the rml you have shared.

You should give it a try.

#Install z3c.rml
[sudo] pip install z3c.rml

# create a new rml document
vim example.rml

# rum rml2pdf command to convert this rml to pdf
rml2pdf example.rml

# You should have desired PDF file now

answered Apr 07 '14 at 08:04

pankaj28843

2,458
17
34

So maybe you now answer on this question? http://stackoverflow.com/questions/25821336/wrong-breaking-columns-in-reportlab-rml – Andrey Nikishaev Sep 13 '14 at 08:31
1

Great! Your answer fixed the question of https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33951499/how-to-remove-the-default-footers-when-using-rml2pdf – Leslie Zhu Nov 13 '17 at 01:50

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 08 '15 at 18:01

I am using trml2pdf and it is successfully working , here i am posting my code so that you can take a look

from django.template.loader import get_template
from django.template.context import Context
import trml2pdf
def invoicepdf(request):
    template = get_template('invoice.rml')
    context = Context({
        'name': "XXXXXXXXXX", 
        'date':_date, 
        'subtotal':1909201,
        'total': 345789

     })
    xmlstring = template.render(context)
    pdfstr = trml2pdf.parseString(xmlstring)
    response = HttpResponse(mimetype='application/pdf')
    response.write(pdfstr)
    response['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename=invoice.pdf'
    return response

RML Code

invoice.rml

<!-- This is very Invoice RML template for illustrative purposes.  -->
<!-- A basic RML template has three sections.  The 'template'     --> 
<!-- section is where you define fixed position elements, along   -->
<!-- with 'frames' containing  flowing text.  The 'stylesheet'    -->
<!-- section contains re-useable text style definitions.  The     -->
<!-- 'story' section contains the text and graphics which fill    -->
<!-- up the frames defined in the template section.               -->
<!-- For more information, please read the documentation at       -->
<!-- http://www.reportlab.com/software/documentation/             -->

<!DOCTYPE document SYSTEM "rml.dtd">
<document filename="invoice.pdf">
    <!-- left margin -->
<template title="Invoices" author="Atul jain" allowSplitting="20">
<pageTemplate id="first">
  <frame id="first" x1="34.0" y1="28.0" width="530" height="786"/>
  <pageGraphics>
    <lines>0.3cm 27.0cm 20cm 27.0cm</lines>
  </pageGraphics>
</pageTemplate>
 </template> 
 <story>
<para>
  <font color="white"> </font>
</para>
<para><b>Name:- {{name}} </b></para>
<para><b>Date:- {{date}} </b></para>
  <blockTable colWidths="385.0,60.0,85.0">
  <tr>
    <td>
      <para>
        <font color="white"> </font>
      </para>
    </td>
    <td>
      <para>Net Total:</para>
    </td>
    <td>
      <para>{{subtotal}} INR;</para>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <para>
        <font color="white"> </font>
      </para>
    </td>
    <td>
      <para><b>Total:</b></para>
    </td>
    <td>
      <para><b>{{total}} INR;</b></para>
    </td>
  </tr>
</blockTable>   
 </story>
</document>

Python - trml2pdf generating a blank PDF

2 Answers2

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