If a header is missing from a Wicked PDF, check the PDF render options first, then the header template, top margin and header spacing, resource access, JavaScript readiness, and the type of PDF page being generated. Wicked PDF uses the wkhtmltopdf utility, so the Rails render and the converter’s own environment both matter; there is no single fix that applies to every setup.
1. Confirm the PDF render includes a header option
Start at the controller or other code path that renders the PDF. Confirm that the PDF request actually passes a header setting to Wicked PDF. wkhtmltopdf accepts text in header fields such as header-left, header-center, and header-right, or an HTML header through header-html. Its manual summarizes the feature this way: “Headers and footers can be added to the document by the –header-* and –footer* arguments respectively.”
If the header is HTML, check that the template or content option is set and that the URL or path passed to the converter is the one you intend. Wicked PDF’s documentation shows header and footer template content being rendered for PDF generation. When a template is used without a layout, it must itself be a valid HTML document. A missing option, incorrect template reference, or incomplete document can leave the generated PDF without the expected header.
Isolate the header before debugging the full template
As a diagnostic step, temporarily use a short, static text header. If that appears in the PDF but the full HTML header does not, concentrate on the template’s markup, CSS, and referenced resources. If even the static header is absent, inspect whether the option reaches the PDF render, whether the page has enough top space, and whether the content is being rendered as a page type that supports headers.
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2. Adjust top margin and header spacing together
A header can be present but positioned beyond the page or obscured by the body. Check the top page margin and header spacing as a pair. header-spacing is the gap between the header and page content; wkhtmltopdf documents its default as 0 mm. The settings reference warns that excessive spacing can put the header outside the PDF page and points to margin.top as the dimension to adjust.
There is no universal margin or spacing value that fixes every document. The appropriate values depend on the page size, the height of the rendered header, and the body layout. Increase the top margin to reserve room where needed, and reduce spacing if the header is being pushed away from the content or beyond the page. Regenerate the PDF after each change and inspect the result for clipping or overlap.
- Header clipped or apparently absent at the top: inspect whether the top margin leaves room for the header.
- Header too far from the body or pushed off the page: reduce header spacing and reassess the top margin.
- Body overlaps the header: reserve more top margin, then check the spacing and rendered header height.
The manual also documents header-line and no-header-line. These options control a decorative line below the header; a line does not supply header content. Seeing—or not seeing—the line is therefore not proof that the header text or HTML is configured correctly.
3. Verify the HTML header and every resource it uses
Check that the HTML header is valid and reachable at the exact URL or path given to wkhtmltopdf. Then check its images, stylesheets, and fonts separately. A header document may load while one or more of its referenced files fail, making it appear blank or incomplete.
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Do not assume that a path available to a browser or to the Rails process is automatically available to the converter process. wkhtmltopdf controls access to local files through its options, including an allow-path option. If the header uses local assets, confirm that the converter’s local-file policy permits the specific files or directories it needs. Prefer granting access only to the necessary paths rather than making a broader change without checking the policy in use.
Interpret HTML debug mode carefully
Wicked PDF documents a show_as_html debugging path that lets you inspect the page as HTML. Use it to check the rendered page and template structure, but compare its appearance with the actual PDF. The project documentation notes that file-based asset URLs can be affected by browser cross-domain protections in this debug view. An asset missing in the browser view does not by itself prove it will be missing from the converter output; likewise, a successful browser preview is not a substitute for checking the generated PDF and converter diagnostics.
4. Check JavaScript timing and resource failures
If JavaScript creates or fills in the header, verify that JavaScript is enabled and that the converter waits for the content to be ready. The wkhtmltopdf manual documents JavaScript as enabled by default and a default JavaScript delay of 200 milliseconds. That default is not a guarantee that custom scripts, especially those waiting on asynchronous network requests, will finish in time.
Use a readiness condition or wait strategy suited to the application’s actual header-generation process. Increasing a delay blindly can make a capture slower without ensuring that the right content has loaded. Inspect converter output for failed template or asset requests as well. The settings reference documents configurable handling of load errors as abort, skip, or ignore. Those choices govern what happens after a resource fails; they do not make the resource load successfully.
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5. Check the page object and the converter actually in use
Confirm whether the missing header is on a normal page or a cover. The wkhtmltopdf manual says that a cover object does not have headers or footers. If the content is a cover, changing header spacing or repairing a header template will not make a header appear there; verify which PDF object should carry the header.
Also identify the wkhtmltopdf binary and build invoked by the Rails process. A shell session and an application service can resolve different executables or run with different environments. The manual documenting these settings identifies its program as wkhtmltopdf 0.12.6 with patched Qt; that describes the manual’s build, not necessarily the binary installed on your system. Check the actual executable and its version before applying assumptions tied to a particular build.
6. A focused troubleshooting sequence
- Verify the render option. Trace the PDF request and confirm it passes a text header option or the HTML header content and URL/path.
- Try static text. Temporarily replace the full header with a simple text header to separate option or layout problems from template problems.
- Inspect page geometry. Review top margin and header spacing together; change one value at a time and check for clipping or overlap.
- Check the HTML and its dependencies. Validate the header document, then verify every image, stylesheet, and font from the converter’s point of view.
- Check scripts and logs. Confirm JavaScript is enabled if needed, wait for the real readiness condition, and inspect converter warnings and failed loads.
- Verify page type and binary. Check that the content is not a cover object and identify the converter executable/build used by the Rails process.
- Compare debug HTML with the PDF. Use Wicked PDF’s HTML debug view to inspect markup, but rely on the generated PDF and converter diagnostics to confirm converter behavior.
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Common symptoms and what to check
| Symptom | Check first |
|---|---|
| No header of any kind appears | Confirm a header option is passed to the PDF render and that the page is not a cover. |
| Static text appears, but the HTML header does not | Inspect the HTML document, its URL/path, CSS, and each referenced asset. |
| The header is cut off or outside the page | Adjust top margin and header spacing together; inspect the resulting PDF. |
| Header content created by a script is missing | Check JavaScript enablement, readiness timing, and converter load diagnostics. |
| Assets differ between HTML debug view and PDF | Account for browser restrictions on file URLs; verify behavior in the actual PDF and converter output. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a header line create a missing header?
No. The line options control decoration below the header; header text or HTML must be supplied separately.
Is wkhtmltopdf’s 200 ms JavaScript delay enough for every header script?
No. It is the documented default delay, not a guarantee that asynchronous or application-specific work has finished.
Will ScreenshotNeo fix a missing Wicked PDF header?
No. It is a separate website screenshot API, not a repair for Wicked PDF’s Rails render or PDF layout.
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