PDF to HTML HTTP API Examples

These examples demonstrate common PDF to HTML API workflows via HTTP API.

You can run the examples below with the displayed API credentials. Update the input URLs and filenames as needed.

Basic examples

PDF file to HTML file

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o logo.html \
  -F file=@logo.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

PDF url to HTML file

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o invoice.html \
  -F url=https://your-server.com/invoice.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Customize the HTML output

These examples upload report.pdf, a document with text, images, and vector graphics.

Convert selected pages

Convert pages 1 and 3 of report.pdf into excerpt.html.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o excerpt.html \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  -F print_page_range=1,3 \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Export HTML with separate assets

Save the HTML, stylesheets, fonts, and images in report.zip. Extract the archive and serve its HTML with the accompanying files, preserving their relative paths.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o report.zip \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  -F css_mode=separate \
  -F font_mode=separate \
  -F force_zip=true \
  -F image_mode=separate \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Customize the document preview

Scale pages to 75% and change the background, page spacing, and corners in preview.html. Use !important to override the generated background and margin rules.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o preview.html \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  --form-string 'custom_css=#page-container { background: #eaf0f6 !important; } .page { margin: 24px auto !important; border-radius: 8px; }' \
  -F scale_factor=75 \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Avoid naming conflicts

Prefix generated IDs, CSS classes, and font names with report_ in namespaced.html. This helps avoid naming conflicts when integrating the converted content into another page; adjust the surrounding layout separately.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o namespaced.html \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  -F html_namespace=report_ \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Reduce image resolution

Render page graphics at 72 DPI instead of the default 144 DPI and save smaller.html. Lower resolution can reduce file size at the cost of image detail; text remains HTML text.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o smaller.html \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  -F dpi=72 \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/

Preserve vector graphics with SVG

Use SVG for page graphics in vector.html, preserving vector shapes when zooming. Raster images in the PDF remain raster images within the SVG.

curl -f -s -S \
  -u 'demo:demo' \
  -o vector.html \
  -F file=@report.pdf \
  -F input_format=pdf \
  -F output_format=html \
  -F image_format=svg \
  https://api.pdfcrowd.com/convert/24.04/