Save as PDF WordPress Plugin

Overview

The Save as PDF plugin lets you add a full-featured PDF download button to your WordPress site in minutes, without custom code or server-side PDF software. Visitors can save a page, post, or selected content as PDF with one click.

Use this plugin when you want native WordPress integration with UI-based configuration. For a JavaScript-configured button, use WebSave as PDF. For backend PDF generation from application code, use the HTML to PDF HTTP API.

Getting Started

Start by confirming that the button appears and creates a file.

First PDF Download

1. Open one post or page that you can safely test.
2. Click the Save as PDF button.
3. Check the generated PDF.

Next, use Adjust the PDF Result to tune the PDF output. Use Troubleshooting only if the button does not respond or conversion fails.

Testing safely

By default, the button can appear automatically on common content types such as posts and pages. If you are testing on a production site, review Settings > Save as PDF first and limit where the button appears before testing with real visitors.

After the button creates a file, use the option reference for detailed button and PDF settings.

License

The plugin can run in demo mode without a PDFCrowd account or API key. Demo output is functional, but it includes a PDFCrowd watermark and branding.

For production output without demo branding, activate a PDFCrowd license in WordPress under Settings > Save as PDF > License.

To get production credentials, choose a PDFCrowd license. Current plan limits and credits are listed on the license page.

The plugin uses PDFCrowd's cloud conversion service. Your plan controls production limits and credits; use the pricing and account pages for current details. A PDFCrowd license can also be used with the PDFCrowd API for direct application integrations.

Adjust the PDF Result

Start with the conversion mode when tuning the PDF result. It controls which version of the WordPress page is used for the PDF.

Choose the right conversion mode

The default Conversion Mode option is URL. That works for a normal public page, but the result can be wrong when the page requires login, uses form values, shows a generated result, or runs only on a local development site.

You may also see Auto in the Conversion Mode option. Auto uses URL when a page URL is available and Upload otherwise. For troubleshooting, choose an explicit mode from the table so the PDF result is predictable.

Common result issues

The WordPress FAQ has answers and solutions for other common plugin issues.

Browse WordPress FAQ

Advanced Usage

Shortcode

Use a shortcode when you want to place the button manually in post or page content. If automatic placement is also enabled for the same content type, disable it in the Show Button on setting so the button does not appear twice.

You can use either a plain or block shortcode.

• [save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd] saves the entire webpage as PDF.
• [block_save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd] saves only the enclosed code block as PDF. To style the block, include CSS rules within the shortcode.

The examples below demonstrate how to use the shortcodes and override the default settings configured in the plugin.

<h3>Save the print version of the page</h3>

The button is placed in the middle
[save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd \
    use_print_media=1 \
    output_name='inline.pdf' \
    button_text='Save print version to PDF']
of this sentence.


<h3>Save the screen version of the page</h3>

[save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd \
    use_print_media=0 \
    output_name='browser.pdf' \
    button_text='Save screen version to PDF']


<h3>Save only a code block</h3>

[block_save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd \
    output_name='just_div.pdf' \
    button_text='Download just this section as PDF' \
    page_size='letter' \
    button_background_color='green' \
    button_alignment='left']
<style>
 .invoice {
     font-size: 150%;
 }
</style>
<div class="invoice">
 Save only this div and its descendants.
</div>
[/block_save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd]


<h3>Convert any web page</h3>

[save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd \
    url='https://wikipedia.org' \
    output_name='wikipedia.pdf' \
    button_text='Save Wikipedia as PDF']

PHP button helper

Use this helper when a theme or plugin needs to print the normal Save as PDF button from PHP instead of placing a shortcode in page content:

create_save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd_button($options = array())

The helper returns button HTML. The visitor still clicks the button in the browser, and the button uses the same conversion flow as automatic placement or shortcode placement.

The $options argument overrides the saved plugin settings for this button only. Omit any settings that should keep their values from Settings > Save as PDF. For example:

echo create_save_as_pdf_pdfcrowd_button(array(
         'page_size' => 'Letter',
         'button_text' => 'Save as Letter'
));

Server-initiated PHP conversion

Use this function only when PHP code should run a conversion immediately, without showing a visitor-facing button:

pdfcrowd_save_as_pdf($options = array())

This function does not use the saved plugin settings as defaults. Pass the conversion input and all options the conversion needs, including your PDFCrowd username and API key. The function returns the generated file data on success or WP_Error on failure. For example:

<?php
    $output = pdfcrowd_save_as_pdf(array(
        'username' => '',
        'api_key' => '',
        'page_size' => 'Letter',
        'url' => 'https://www.example.com/'
    ));
    if(!is_wp_error($output)) {
        echo $output;
    }
?>

Troubleshooting

Use this section when the button does not respond, conversion fails, or no PDF is created. If a PDF is created but the result looks wrong, start with Adjust the PDF Result.

For other WordPress plugin questions, browse the WordPress FAQ.

Option Reference

Refer to the Save as PDF WordPress Plugin Reference for a description of all options.