callas pdfChip is a command-line conversion tool that takes
an HTML file, optionally augmented using CSS3 and JavaScript,
and performs a high-quality conversion to PDF that is ready for
print or archival (PDF/X or PDF/A).

pdfChip is ideally suited for high-volume dynamic HTML to PDF
generation of single and multi-page PDF documents of anything
that is normally shown on a web site itself, but at times needs
to be available in a printable form as well.

With an increasing amount of content stored in web-based
content management systems (CMS), callas pdfChip will prove
to be particularly valuable to businesses needing to provide
up-to-date information to customers through their own
preferred channels.

callas pdfChip is recommended when businesses need
flexible and automated high-volume PDF creation.

Example cases include content-rich transactional printing,
book and catalog creation, and web-to-print applications
or imposition.

callas pdfChip allows businesses to dynamically format
content for distribution through any channel they require.

Applying the same individualization techniques
for both digital and print!

callas pdfChip extends widely understood
standard web technologies (HTML, CSS and JavaScript)
so that they can be used specifically for a graphical workflow.

callas software blog:

• Is it possible to apply the same individualization techniques
  in both the digital and the print sector?

callas pdfChip is based on easy-to-use,
common and established web technology

callas pdfChip is built on standard technologies such as
Qt WebKit, HTML, CSS and JavaScript that are widely known
and that require no dedicated development resources.

The HTML templates used by callas pdfChip are very similar
to what would be needed for use on websites.

A good understanding of up-to-date web technology is
sufficient to get started with pdfChip.

Anyone with experience building up-to-date website solutions
will have enough background in HTML, CSS and JavaScript
to get going with the product very quickly.

There is no need to learn custom XML or XSL-FO based languages;
anything that works in HTML is immediately usable in callas pdfChip.
That sets callas pdfChip apart from solutions that have their
own custom XML or XSL-FO based template languages.

The fact that callas pdfChip is a command-line tool as opposed
to a development library means that its functionality can easily
be integrated into all kinds of different custom environments
without needing dedicated development resources.

More details on:

• callas pdfChip Architecture, Key Features, Benefits,
  Various Flavours for Specific Needs/Workloads,
  and System Requirements

callas pdfChip can also be driven by automated solutions
such as Laidback Solutions FileTrain or Enfocus Switch.

Wide applicability across different markets

With its extensive feature set and high-quality PDF output,
callas pdfChip is ideally suited as the back-end high-volume PDF
creation solution for many different applications, amongst others:

• Imposition and content aggregation workflows


• Creating downloadable web content


• Composition workflows where templates and user contents
  have to be combined on the fly and where printable
  PDF documents have to be delivered


• On-the-fly preparation and publishing of
  magazine and newspaper content


• On-the-fly preparation and publishing of
  sales literature and user manuals


• On-demand book printing


• Dynamic generation of one-off content such as
  real estate property information, tickets, stubs,
  order data, invoices/e-invoices, receipts,…
  (for example in web-to-print environments)


• Variable data printing where templates have to be
  filled with data coming from a data source
  (such as a database or CRM system)


• Transactional printing workflows where transactional data
  needs to be combined with visually rich designs

When to Use and Not to Use callas pdfChip

• When to Use and Not to Use callas pdfChip - Popup-Window

Use Case
- Create an HTML template for ZUGFeRD-based invoices/e-invoices

This article explains a rather complex project that shows how a
HTML template for invoicing/e-invoicing can be created in Adobe InDesign,
exported into a callas pdfChip template using the export filter
and then turned into ZUGFeRD-invoices/e-invoices.

As always when it is about creating various instances
from a template there is need for a data source that
has the variable data.

This example uses XML files in the ZUGFeRD format.
ZUGFeRD is a German standard for electronic invoices/e-invoices
and a ZUGFeRD invoice/e-invoice consists of a PDF/A-3 container
into which an XML invoice is embedded.

This example reads data from such ZUGFeRD invoices/e-invoices,
puts it into the corresponding objects in the template and
creates a single PDF file for each invoice/e-invoice.

Finally the XML is embedded into the PDF and
the file is saved according to the PDF/A-3 standard.
So a full ZUGFeRD invoice/e-invoice is created.

For all details in this use case, please see:

• Create an HTML template and turn into
  ZUGFeRD-based invoices/e-invoices with callas pdfChip

callas pdfChip Architecture

callas pdfChip is a powerful PDF creation technology
which uses HTML as its input format.
It extends the use of HTML, CSS and JavaScript to
create high-quality, true-color, high-performance and
printable PDF documents.

callas pdfChip compensates for limitations of the HTML format
and provides features to define page breaks and page numbers,
to use the printing color space, and much more.

Key Features

• Command-line (CLI) application
• HTML(+) in, PDF out



• Full support for HTML5
• Including CSS3, JavaScript, SVG, etc...



• Built on Qt WebKit as HTML rendering
• Support for all standard
  HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript features


• Ability to use JavaScript libraries such as
  JQuery or MathJax to speed up development


• Support for HTML editors to develop
  HTML input for callas pdfChip


• Highly optimized PDF generation to overcome
  inefficiencies of typical HTML output


• Support for professional TrueType and OpenType fonts



• Professional PDF generation

Uses custom extensions to HTML / CSS / JavaScript
where needed to get first-class PDF for print and publishing

• Proper definition of
  media, crop, trim and bleed box


• Generation of CMYK, Lab and Gray color spaces


• Generation of ICC-based color spaces


• Generation of spot colors (named colors)


• Inclusion of dynamic XMP metadata


• Inclusion of necessary PDF/X or PDF/A standard tags


• Control over PDF specific properties
  (overprint, line styles…)



• Uses XSL-FO

(Extensible Stylesheet Language – Formatting Objects)

• Unlike other applications using XSL-FO callas pdfChip,
  through its use of the widespread HTML,
  requires no specialist or technical know-how.
  This approach is particularly advantageous for
  both printing and online publishing applications.



• Custom pagination support
• JavaScript support to modify the HTML DOM and
  output custom PDF pages at will


• Support for multiple PDF generation passes to add
  any number of static or dynamic underlays and
  overlays to the final PDF document


• Support for any page numbering pattern and
  running headers and footers



• Integrated bar code support
• Integrated barcode generation functionality,
  with support for over one hundred different
  types of common and specialist bar codes


• Bar code addition through addition of easy to
  define custom HTML object


• Full control over barcode appearance through
  HTML parameters and CSS styling



• Dynamic handling of multiple native PDF files
• callas pdfChip can be used to dynamically
  combine multiple native PDF files on one or
  more pages, instead of inserting them as
  images in the print data stream.



• Support for personalized data
• A database connection or targeted use of
  PDF metadata can also be used for
  personalized document creation and printing.

Key Features - Details

• Key Features Details - Popup-Windows

Benefits

High-speed and high-quality PDF generation

• Powerful PDF creation from HTML


• High-quality, true-color, high-performance and
  printable PDF documents


• Not only for print but also for online publishing


• Highly-optimized engine based on Qt WebKit


• Compensates for limitations of the HTML format


• Smallest output PDF size possible


• Provides features to define
  page breaks and page numbers,
  to use the printing color space, and more


• Supports multi-processor environments for
  parallel generation of multiple PDF files


• Generation of standards-compliant PDF files
  in PDF/X and PDF/A workflows


• Dynamically combine multiple native PDF files
  on one or more pages


• Dynamic inclusion of all necessary XMP metadata


• Targeted use of PDF metadata


• Possibility to use the exact same HTML and CSS code
  on the web and for PDF generation
  (through use of callas pdfChip specific custom
  HTML, CSS and JavaScript where necessary)




Low entry level

• Based on widely understood technologies such as
  HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript


• A good understanding of up-to-date web technology
  is sufficient to get started with pdfChip; no need to
  learn custom XML or XSL-FO based template syntax


• Command-line integration for fast and seamless
  implementation of the technology in your projects


• Easy installation through unzipping of installation archive;
  no dependencies on special software or hardware


• Comprehensive user documentation and tutorial included,
  quick learning curve guaranteed




Wide feature support

• Full support for SVG, either inline in HTML or
  through referencing separate SVG files.
  SVG is converted losslessly into PDF code
  without rasterisation


• Support for MathML


• Built-in extensive support for barcode generation
  through custom HTML objects with support for
  CSS based styling


• Personalized export for print via JavaScript

System Requirements

callas pdfChip is a command-line tool.

• Mac:
• Earliest supported version: macOS 10.13 (Intel)


• Starting with macOS 11.0,
  also running on Apple Silicon Rosetta 2


• Newest tested version: macOS 12.61.1





• Windows:
• Earliest supported version: Windows 10


• Newest tested version: Windows 11





• Windows Server:
• Earliest supported version: Windows Server 2012 R2


• Newest tested version: Windows Server 2022





• Linux:

The minimum required Linux OS versions are shown below
(Linux OS versions with a higher number are
always supported as well):

• Debian 8 (and derivates like Ubuntu 16.x )


• RedHat RHEL7
  (and derivates like CentOS7 or CentOS Stream)


• SuSE SLES11
  (and derivates like OpenSuSE11 or
  OpenSuSE LEAP 42 or OpenSuSE TumbleWeed)


• Note: Other Linux distributions are also supported
  if the version of the glibc is at least v2.12



• Recommended are at least 2 GB of free storage