Share this page 

Create a PDFTag(s): IO Open Source


iText
http://www.lowagie.com/iText/

iText is a very simple to use package to create and manipulate PDF file.

For the simple need, only 1 jar is required (ex. itext-2.1.3.jar, download at http://www.lowagie.com/iText/download.html)

In this example, you pass on the command line a filename (plain text file - args[0]) to convert to a PDF file (args[1]).

import java.io.*;

import com.lowagie.text.*;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.*;

public class TextFileToPDF {

  /*
     ex. java TextFileToPDF  c:\temp\text.txt  c:\temp\text.pdf
  */
  public static void main (String [] args){
    BufferedReader input = null;
    Document output = null;
    System.out.println("Convert text file to pdf");
    System.out.println("input  : " + args[0]);
    System.out.println("output : " + args[1]);
    try {
      // text file to convert to pdf as args[0]
      input =
        new BufferedReader (new FileReader(args[0]));
      // letter 8.5x11
      //    see com.lowagie.text.PageSize for a complete list of page-size constants.
      output = new Document(PageSize.LETTER, 40, 40, 40, 40);
      // pdf file as args[1]
      PdfWriter.getInstance(output, new FileOutputStream (args[1]));

      output.open();
      output.addAuthor("RealHowTo");
      output.addSubject(args[0]);
      output.addTitle(args[0]);

      String line = "";
      while(null != (line = input.readLine())) {
        System.out.println(line);
        Paragraph p = new Paragraph(line);
        p.setAlignment(Element.ALIGN_JUSTIFIED);
        output.add(p);
      }
      System.out.println("Done.");
      output.close();
      input.close();
      System.exit(0);
    }
    catch (Exception e) {
      e.printStackTrace();
      System.exit(1);
    }
  }
}
See also this HowTo

A good introduction to iText : http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.aspx?p=420686