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Choose a PDF export method
| Method | Rendering route | Main requirement | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| nbconvert PDF | LaTeX with XeTeX | A functioning TeX installation, including required packages and fonts | Repeatable exports or LaTeX template control |
| nbconvert WebPDF | HTML rendered by headless Chromium | nbconvert’s WebPDF extra and Playwright browser support | A browser-based export without a TeX toolchain |
| HTML, then browser print | HTML rendered and printed by a browser | An HTML-capable browser | Print-dialog controls, including a workaround for SVG-only outputs in VS Code |
| VS Code Export PDF | Direct PDF export | TeX | One-off export while working in the notebook editor |
| Notebook app Download as / Export | Depends on the frontend and configured exporter | A PDF option in the installed application and its required backend | A convenient GUI entry point |
The first three routes are available as explicit nbconvert workflows. nbconvert’s command-line documentation describes PDF, WebPDF, and HTML output; its Notebook web application Download as feature is also implemented through nbconvert. The menu is therefore a frontend to conversion, not necessarily an independent PDF engine. See nbconvert command-line usage and nbconvert documentation.
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Method 1: Convert with nbconvert and TeX
Use this route if TeX is already installed, or if you need the LaTeX templates and rendering controls. Open a terminal in the directory containing the notebook and run:
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jupyter nbconvert --to pdf notebook.ipynbReplace notebook.ipynb with your file’s name. The PDF exporter uses the LaTeX route with XeTeX. A complete TeX installation can take substantial space; nbconvert’s installation documentation names TeX Live for Linux, MacTeX for macOS, and the LaTeX Project distribution for Windows. Missing TeX packages or fonts can stop conversion. See the nbconvert installation guide.
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If conversion fails
If the error reports a missing executable, check that XeLaTeX is available in your environment and that the required TeX packages and fonts are installed. To inspect or adjust the generated source, export to LaTeX first and run XeLaTeX manually; this separates notebook conversion from PDF compilation. The nbconvert command options and formats are documented in its command-line guide.
Method 2: Use nbconvert WebPDF without TeX
WebPDF renders the notebook to HTML, then uses headless Chromium to create the PDF. It avoids a TeX toolchain but requires Playwright’s browser automation support.
- Install the WebPDF extra:
pip install "nbconvert[webpdf]" - From the notebook’s directory, run:
jupyter nbconvert --to webpdf notebook.ipynb - If Playwright cannot find a suitable browser, follow nbconvert’s documented Chromium setup and use
--allow-chromium-downloadwhen needed.
Choose this when Chromium-based rendering suits your notebook and installing the browser dependency is practical. The steps and option are documented in the nbconvert usage guide and installation guide.
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Method 3: Export HTML and print it to PDF
This method keeps HTML conversion separate from PDF printing, so you can use your browser’s print controls.
- Create an HTML file:
jupyter nbconvert --to html notebook.ipynb - Open the generated HTML file in a browser.
- Open the browser’s Print command and choose the browser or operating system’s Save as PDF option.
Inspect the resulting PDF for page breaks, wide tables, code wrapping, and image scaling. Visual Studio Code recommends this route for notebooks with SVG-only outputs because its direct PDF export does not display those outputs. See Microsoft’s Jupyter notebooks in VS Code guide.
Method 4: Export PDF from VS Code
In the notebook editor, open the main toolbar’s … menu, choose Export, then choose PDF. Microsoft’s notebook guide says this direct export requires TeX and warns that SVG-only notebook outputs will not display in the PDF. If those outputs matter, use the HTML-and-browser-print route instead. The exact commands and caveat are in the VS Code notebook guide.
Method 5: Use the notebook application’s Download as or Export menu
If your installed notebook application offers Download as or Export to PDF, that is often the quickest GUI route for an occasional conversion. The exact label and available formats depend on the frontend and version. Since the Notebook web application’s Download as feature is implemented by nbconvert, the menu can depend on the exporters and dependencies available in its configured environment. If PDF is missing from the menu or the export fails, use an explicit nbconvert command instead. See nbconvert documentation.
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Check the PDF before sharing it
- Confirm that plots, images, and rich outputs appear, especially if the notebook contains SVG-only plots and you used VS Code’s direct export.
- Review page breaks and page orientation for wide tables or long code cells.
- Check that code and output are readable and that images have not been clipped or scaled too small.
- If the layout is poor, try a different rendering path: LaTeX/XeTeX, WebPDF/Chromium, or HTML and browser printing use different pipelines.
For a general overview of notebook conversion formats, see Jupyter’s formatting and conversion documentation.
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