How to output a PDF buffer to browser using NodeJS?

Question

So I am using html-pdf to convert my html and here is my code:

var pdf = require('html-pdf')
var html = 'somehtmlfile.html'

pdf.create(html).toBuffer(function (err, buffer) {
        if (err) {
          console.log(err)
        } else {
          console.log(buffer)
          var pdfBuffer = new Buffer(buffer)
          res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'inline; filename="test.pdf"');
          res.setHeader('Content-type', 'application/pdf');
          res.send(pdfBuffer)
        }
}

I am not getting any PDF file to be downloader nor any output of a pdf file in the browser. The console.log(buffer) is this:

<Buffer 25 50 44 46 2d 31 2e 34 0a 31 20 30 20 6f 62 6a 0a 3c 3c 0a 2f 54 69 74 6c 65 20 28 fe ff 29 0a 2f 43 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 28 fe ff 29 0a 2f 50 72 6f ... >

Is there a simple way of doing this? Or am I doing it wrong?

I just want to output the buffer in a pdf form in the browser.

Which lib is this that you are using to create the PDF (pdf.create)? — Diego ZoracKy
– Diego ZoracKy, Commented Mar 29, 2017 at 16:00

Diego ZoracKy · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-29 16:14:11Z

6

Change to:

pdf.create(html).toStream(function(err, stream) {
    if (err) {
        console.log(err)
    } else {
        res.set('Content-type', 'application/pdf');
        stream.pipe(res)
    }
});

edited Mar 29, 2017 at 16:14

answered Mar 29, 2017 at 16:04

Diego ZoracKy

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8 Comments

wobsoriano Over a year ago

Success, but nothing happens

Diego ZoracKy Over a year ago

Nothing happens where? Which http framework are you using that gives you res?

wobsoriano Over a year ago

I am using express

Diego ZoracKy Over a year ago

Tell me what you mean by "nothing happens". What is expected and what happened? And a note, if you want to send to the client a file to be downloaded, not to be shown as a content, got with res.download (expressjs.com/en/api.html#res.download)

mkupiniak Over a year ago

If you want to download the file in the browser try this: res.contentType('application/pdf') res.attachment() stream.pipe(res)

|

muthukumar selvaraj · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-04 07:07:16Z

1

you can use the below function or html.create(somehtmlfile.html).toStream()

function to convert a buffer to stream

 function bufferToStream(buffer) {  
     let stream = new Duplex();
     stream.push(buffer);
     stream.push(null);
     return stream;
   }

download or view a pdf in browser if it's a stream

var pdf = require('html-pdf')
var html = 'somehtmlfile.html'
exports.generatePdf = (req, res) =>{
    pdf.create(html).toBuffer(function (err, buffer) {
            if (err) {
              console.log(err)
            } else {
              console.log(buffer)

           bufferToStream(buffer).pipe(res)
            }
    }
}

answered Sep 4, 2018 at 7:07

muthukumar selvaraj

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Comments

gurrala harikrishna · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-25 13:22:10Z

1

pdf.create(html).toBuffer(function (err, buffer) {
    if (err) {
        console.log(err)
    } else {
        console.log(buffer)
        res.header('Content-type', 'application/pdf')
        res.send(buffer)
    }
}

answered Nov 25, 2020 at 13:22

gurrala harikrishna

111 bronze badge

1 Comment

Ehsan Nissar Over a year ago

Hi, Is there a way to make this process asynchronous? I am generating an S3 link inside the callback but it does not wait for link

Saoud Ahmed Khan · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-15 00:04:13Z

1

function bufferToStream(buffer) {
          let stream = new Duplex();
          stream.push(buffer);
          stream.push(null);
          return stream;
        }

        pdf.create(doctoPdf).toBuffer(function (err, buffer) {
          if (err) {
            console.log(err)
          } else {
            console.log("buffer");
            console.log(buffer)
            res.contentType('application/pdf')
            res.attachment()
            return bufferToStream(buffer).pipe(res)

          }
        })

if you want to download it on the client-side then this will be help full.

answered Mar 15, 2022 at 0:04

Saoud Ahmed Khan

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Comments

Zoe - Save the data dump · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-22 13:24:05Z

0

Try this in client side:

var oReq = new XMLHttpRequest();
oReq.open("GET", url, true);
oReq.responseType = "arraybuffer";

oReq.onload = function (oEvent) {
    console.log(oReq.response);
    var blob = new Blob([oReq.response], {type: "application/pdf"});
    var win = window.open('', '_blank');
    var URL = window.URL || window.webkitURL;
    var dataUrl = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
    win.location = dataUrl;
};
oReq.send();

In server Side:

pdf.create(htmlContent).toStream(function(err, stream){
    console.log("in post method"+stream.length);
        res.header('Content-type', 'application/pdf');

        stream.pipe(res);
});

edited Feb 22, 2019 at 13:24

Zoe - Save the data dump

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answered Feb 22, 2019 at 11:33

Ram pravin

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