Looking for Java API for PDF generation

[D Rog]

I use XSLT based API, I do not remember its name, but file extension is .fo. The library is good however it is outdated, so I'm wondering if somebody knows a better solution? Certainly open source is a must.

[Ulf Dittmer]

You're probably talking about Apache FOP (which continues to be updated, so I wouldn't call it "outdated"). Other good libraries include iText and xhtmlrenderer. Which of these would be most appropriate depends on how you (need to) generate PDFs.

[D Rog]

Thanks. I generate reports in PDF. Current approach is based on processing report XML template by some template engine, like Velocity and then process by XSLT. Does it make senese to choose some other library?

[arulk pillai]

All depends on your requirements. Have a look at the following links. Some information might not be accurate (i.e. out dated).


http://itblackbelt.wordpress.com/2008/02/29/comparing-fop-and-jasperreports/


http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.birt/msg00678.html

http://www.netuality.ro/comparing-fop-and-jasperreports/tools/20040525
[ September 12, 2008: Message edited by: arulk pillai ]

[ashoksrinivasan babu]

IText API is Consuming More Memory than Apache FOP. In case of Apache FOP, Designing the Template work is heavier task. Like Those Libraries, any open source libraries for generation of PDF documents without consuming more memory and less design work...

[Ulf Dittmer]

IText API is Consuming More Memory than Apache FOP.

I doubt that, since FOP uses iText internally. If anything, it might use more because of all the XSL processing. But memory use is unlikely to be an important differentiator in this day and age.