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Updated on 2025-04-14

Two super practical libraries for Java generating PDF documents (iText and Apache PDFBox)

Two super practical libraries for Java generating PDF documents (iText and Apache PDFBox)

Updated: February 11, 2025 09:33:01 Author: Five Elements Stars
This article mainly introduces two super practical libraries for Java generating PDF documents, namely using the iText library and Apache PDFBox library to generate PDFs. The code introduction in the article is very detailed. Friends who need it can refer to it.

Preface

Implementing PDF document generation in Java is really interesting. Let’s talk about this carefully today. We have many useful libraries to choose from. Let me tell you in detail about two of the super practical libraries, one is iText and the other is Apache PDFBox.

Generate PDF using iText library

Ideas

  • First introduce the iText library, which is like installing a "magic tool" to generate PDFs on our Java project.

  • Create aDocumentObject, this object is like a piece of white paper, on which we want to draw the content of the PDF.

  • Open this "white paper" and set the fonts and other things at the same time, just like preparing the brush and paint.

  • PastDocumentAdding various contents, such as paragraphs and tables, is like drawing on white paper.

  • Finally, close the "white paper" and the PDF will be generated.

Code Example

import ;
import ;
import ;
import ;
import ;
import ;

public class ITextPdfGenerator {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create a Document object, like preparing a piece of white paper        Document document = new Document();
        try {
            // Associate this "white paper" with a file output stream and specify the path of the generated PDF file            (document, new FileOutputStream("itext_example.pdf"));
            // Open this "white paper" and prepare to draw            ();
            // Add a paragraph on "white paper"            (new Paragraph("Hey, this is a PDF document generated using iText, isn't it amazing!"));
        } catch (DocumentException | FileNotFoundException e) {
            ();
        } finally {
            // Close the "white paper" and complete PDF generation            if (()) {
                ();
            }
        }
    }
}

Code explanation and instructions

  • First we created oneDocumentObject, it represents the entire PDF document, like a piece of white paper.

  • useMethodDocumentAssociated with a file output stream, the PDF file specified here is calleditext_example.pdf。

  • Call()Open the "white paper" so that you can add content to it.

  • use(new Paragraph("..."))Adding a paragraph to the document is like writing a sentence on a blank paper.

  • Finally atfinallyCalled in block()Close the "white paper" to ensure that all resources are released correctly.

Maven dependencies

<dependency>
    <groupId></groupId>
    <artifactId>itextpdf</artifactId>
    <version>5.5.13.3</version>
</dependency>

Generate PDF using the Apache PDFBox library

Ideas

  • First introduce the Apache PDFBox library, which is also a powerful tool for generating PDFs.

  • Create aPDDocumentObject, this object is like a PDF container.

  • Create aPDPageRepresent the page and add it toPDDocumentIt's like putting a piece of paper in a container.

  • GetPDPageContentStreamTo draw content is like picking up a pen to draw on paper.

  • Finally closedPDPageContentStreamandPDDocument, PDF will be generated.

Code Example

import ;
import ;
import ;
import .PDType1Font;

import ;

public class PdfBoxPdfGenerator {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Creating a PDDocument object is like preparing a PDF container        PDDocument document = new PDDocument();
        try {
            // Create a page, like preparing a piece of paper            PDPage page = new PDPage();
            // Put this paper in a PDF container            (page);

            // Getting the page content stream is like picking up a pen to prepare to draw            PDPageContentStream contentStream = new PDPageContentStream(document, page);
            // Set the font and font size, just like choosing the thickness and style of the brush            (PDType1Font.HELVETICA_BOLD, 12);
            // Start a new line and prepare to write            ();
            // Setting the text position is like determining the position of writing on paper            (100, 700);
            // Write text and write content on paper            ("Hey, this is a PDF document generated with Apache PDFBox, it's cool!");
            // End the text operation and finished writing            ();
            // Put down the pen and close the content stream            ();

            // Save this PDF document            ("pdfbox_example.pdf");
        } catch (IOException e) {
            ();
        } finally {
            // Close the PDF container and complete the operation            try {
                if (document != null) {
                    ();
                }
            } catch (IOException e) {
                ();
            }
        }
    }
}

Code explanation and instructions

  • CreatePDDocumentObject, which represents the entire PDF document, is like a container.

  • CreatePDPageRepresent a page, use(page)Adding pages to documents is like putting paper into a container.

  • usePDPageContentStreamCome to draw content on the page, throughsetFontMethod to set the font and font size,beginTextStart text operation,newLineAtOffsetSet the text location,showTextWrite text,endTextEnd the text operation.

  • Call()Close the content stream is like putting a pen down.

  • Last call("pdfbox_example.pdf")Save the document, infinallyClose in the blockPDDocument, close the container.

Maven dependencies

<dependency>
    <groupId></groupId>
    <artifactId>pdfbox</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.24</version>
</dependency>

Hey, friend, now you know how to generate PDF documents in Java! Both libraries are very useful, you can choose according to your needs. Hurry up and try it!

Summarize

This is the end of this article about Java generating PDF documents. For more related contents of Java generating PDF documents, please search for my previous articles or continue browsing the related articles below. I hope everyone will support me in the future!

  • java
  • generate
  • pdf document

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