How to Generate PDF from Text File in Python

Creating documents in PDF format is one of the most common requirements in many real-life applications. From invoices and reports to user guides and logs, PDFs remain the most trusted format. In this tutorial, you will learn how to generate PDF in Python from a plain text file. This method helps when you already have stored content as text and want to transform this into a shared and printable format.

When developers want to create PDF in Python, they mostly look for something simple, readable, and reliable. For instance, the admin panel may export day-to-day logs, stored as text, into a PDF for managers. Other common cases include converting user-uploaded notes into a downloadable PDF.

Why Convert Text to PDF Using Python

Text files are cheap to produce and store but are not a good format to distribute to a client or non-technical user. PDFs have a professional look to them, and their behavior is very consistent across devices.

Using Python, you can automate this task without heavy dependencies. This method works well for:

Generating reports from server logs
Creating study notes from text content
Exporting system data into readable documents
Sending formatted files via email

This python text to pdf tutorial focuses on clarity rather than complexity, so you can apply it in real projects with confidence.

FPDF Package Installation

To create PDF file using Python code, we can use the fpdf library. It is lightweight and easy to understand. First, install the required package:

pip install fpdf

Now you can access the methods and functionality of this package inside you python project.

Create Simple PDF from Text File in Python

Imagine you run a support system where agents write daily summaries in text files. At the end of the day, your system can automatically convert those summaries into PDFs and email them to stakeholders.

Let’s start with simple and basic example to convert text file to PDF using Python Script.

from fpdf import FPDF

pdf = FPDF()
pdf.set_auto_page_break(auto=True, margin=15)
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font("Arial", size=12)

with open("sample.txt", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
    for line in file:
        pdf.multi_cell(0, 8, line)

pdf.output("output.pdf")

As per this example, it will read sample.txt file and convert it to PDF file using fpdf library. The newly generate PDF file will be saved as output.pdf. This python pdf generator from string logic reads each line from a text file and writes it into a PDF.

Create PDF in Python with Title and Paragraphs from Text

Sometimes a text file contains mixed content like a title on the first line and paragraphs after that. In this case, you may want the PDF to look more like a document than a plain dump of text. Python allows you to style the content lightly while you create PDF in Python from the same text source.

A common real life use is generating policy documents or terms files stored as text but shared as PDFs.

from fpdf import FPDF

pdf = FPDF()
pdf.add_page()

with open("document.txt", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
    lines = file.readlines()

pdf.set_font("Arial", style="B", size=14)
pdf.cell(0, 10, lines[0], ln=True)

pdf.ln(4)
pdf.set_font("Arial", size=11)

for line in lines[1:]:
    pdf.multi_cell(0, 8, line)

pdf.output("document.pdf")

This python create pdf from text file example shows how to generate a cleaner layout while still keeping the process simple and readable.

Generate Multi Page PDF in Python from Large Text File

Large text files often exceed a single page. When you convert text to pdf python example for such files, page handling becomes important. Python can automatically split content across pages without extra logic. It fit with publishing books or article as draft nowdays.

from fpdf import FPDF

pdf = FPDF()
pdf.set_auto_page_break(auto=True, margin=15)
pdf.add_page()
pdf.set_font("Courier", size=10)

with open("large-text.txt", "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
    text = file.read()
    pdf.multi_cell(0, 6, text)

pdf.output("multi-page.pdf")

Conclusion

Python simply streamlines document creation. With minimal setup, you’re looking at creating PDF in Python from any text file; you’ll be ready to go for real business or personal projects. In this way, you will save much time, your document will be very clean with fewer formatting errors, and it will open smoothly on any kind of OS.

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