Converting a JavaFX Node to PDF using SVG: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever wondered how to convert a JavaFX node to a PDF file using SVG? Well, wonder no more! In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to explore the world of graphic rendering and document generation. Buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the wonderful world of JavaFX, SVG, and PDF!

What is JavaFX?

Before we dive into the conversion process, let’s take a quick look at what JavaFX is. JavaFX is a Java library used for building GUI applications, including desktop applications, mobile applications, and even web applications. It’s a powerful tool that allows developers to create visually stunning and interactive user interfaces.

What is SVG?

SVG, or Scalable Vector Graphics, is a markup language used to create two-dimensional graphics. SVG is an open standard, maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and is widely used for creating icons, logos, and other graphics for the web.

What is PDF?

PDF, or Portable Document Format, is a file format used to present and exchange documents in a reliable and consistent manner. PDF files are independent of the operating system and device, making them a popular choice for document sharing and storage.

The Conversion Process

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get started with the conversion process! To convert a JavaFX node to a PDF file using SVG, we’ll follow these steps:

1. Convert the JavaFX node to SVG: We’ll use the SVGPath class to convert the JavaFX node to an SVG string.
2. Generate an SVG document: We’ll create an SVG document using the SVG string generated in step 1.
3. Convert the SVG document to PDF: We’ll use a library like Apache FOP to convert the SVG document to a PDF file.

Step 1: Convert the JavaFX Node to SVG

To convert the JavaFX node to SVG, we’ll use the SVGPath class. This class provides a set of methods for converting JavaFX shapes to SVG paths.

import javafx.scene.shape.Shape;
import javafx.scene.shape.SVGPath;

public class JavaFXToSVG {
    public static String convertToSVG(Shape shape) {
        SVGPath svgPath = new SVGPath();
        svgPath.setContent(shape.toString());
        return svgPath.getContent();
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a method called convertToSVG() that takes a JavaFX shape as an input and returns an SVG string. We’ve used the SVGPath class to convert the shape to an SVG path.

Step 2: Generate an SVG Document

Now that we have the SVG string, we can generate an SVG document using the following code:

import java.io.StringWriter;
import org.apache.batik.dom.GenericDOMImplementation;
import org.apache.batik.svggen.SVGGraphics2D;
import org.w3c.dom.Document;
import org.w3c.dom.Element;

public class SVGGenerator {
    public static Document generateSVGDocument(String svgString) {
        Document document = GenericDOMImplementation.getDOMImplementation().createDocument(null, "svg", null);
        Element svgElement = document.getDocumentElement();
        svgElement.setAttribute("width", "100%");
        svgElement.setAttribute("height", "100%");
        svgElement.setAttribute("viewBox", "0 0 100 100");
        svgElement.setAttribute("preserveAspectRatio", "xMidYMid meet");
        svgElement.setTextContent(svgString);
        return document;
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a method called generateSVGDocument() that takes the SVG string as an input and returns an SVG document. We’ve used the Apache Batik library to create an SVG document and set its attributes.

Step 3: Convert the SVG Document to PDF

Finally, we’ll use the Apache FOP library to convert the SVG document to a PDF file.

import java.io.OutputStream;
import org.apache.fop.apps.FOPConfParser;
import org.apache.fop.apps.FOUserAgent;
import org.apache.fop.apps.Mapper;
import org.apache.fop.apps.PageFormatException;
import org.apache.xmlgraphics.util.MimeConstants;

public class SVGPdfConverter {
    public static void convertSVGToPdf(Document svgDocument, OutputStream outputStream) throws PageFormatException {
        FOUserAgent userAgent = new FOUserAgent("My PDF Creator");
        userAgent.setProducer("Apache FOP");
        Fop fop = FopFactory.newInstance().newFop(MimeConstants.MIME_POSTSCRIPT, userAgent);
        Mapper mapper = new Mapper();
        fop.setUserAgent(userAgent);
        fop.setURIResolver(new StreamingURIResolver());
        OutputStream out = new java.io.BufferedOutputStream(outputStream);
        fop.render(svgDocument, out);
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a method called convertSVGToPdf() that takes the SVG document and an output stream as inputs. We’ve used the Apache FOP library to convert the SVG document to a PDF file and write it to the output stream.

The Complete Example

Now that we’ve covered each step, let’s put it all together! Here’s the complete example:

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.shape.Circle;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class JavaFXToPdfExample extends Application {
    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
        Circle circle = new Circle(50, 50, 50);
        String svgString = JavaFXToSVG.convertToSVG(circle);
        Document svgDocument = SVGGenerator.generateSVGDocument(svgString);
        try (OutputStream outputStream = new FileOutputStream("output.pdf")) {
            SVGPdfConverter.convertSVGToPdf(svgDocument, outputStream);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a JavaFX application that converts a circle to a PDF file using SVG. We’ve used the JavaFXToSVG, SVGGenerator, and SVGPdfConverter classes to perform each step of the conversion process.

Conclusion

And that’s it! We’ve successfully converted a JavaFX node to a PDF file using SVG. This process can be applied to any JavaFX node, making it a powerful tool for generating documents and reports.

Tips and Variations

Here are some tips and variations to keep in mind:

• Optimize the SVG document: Use SVG optimization tools to reduce the file size and improve performance.
• Customize the PDF document: Use Apache FOP to customize the PDF document, such as adding headers and footers.
• Support for multiple nodes: Modify the example to support multiple JavaFX nodes and convert them to a single PDF file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, converting a JavaFX node to a PDF file using SVG is a powerful technique for generating documents and reports. By following these steps and using the provided examples, you can create professional-quality PDF files with ease.

Keyword	Description
JavaFX	A Java library for building GUI applications.
SVG	A markup language for creating two-dimensional graphics.
PDF	A file format for presenting and exchanging documents.

We hope you found this article informative and helpful! If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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