FAQs for Advanced Printing

When I print or preview my PDF, how is it created?.
Why do the templates use tables for formatting instead of divs?
Can I preview the HTML output for a template like I can for a PDF template?
In WYSIWYG mode, can I create multiple headers?
How can I refer to fonts and images in the File Cabinet without using the full URL?
Why am I getting an "Invalid PDF layout. Please contact your administrator" when I try to print multiple invoices in PDF format?
Why am I getting an "Invalid PDF Layout. Please contact your administrator" error when I try to print a transaction using Advanced PDF Template?
How do I print Standard Invoice Body Field on Customer Statements?
How can I fix my advanced printing template when it relies on a hidden field?
Is there a size limitation for XML file input for PDF creation?

When I print or preview my PDF, how is it created?

NetSuite completes the following processing when you preview or print an advanced PDF template, and when you move from WYSIWYG to Source Code mode:

Parse FreeMarker.
BFO libraries validate XML.
Generate PDF based on the BFO XML.

Why do the templates use tables for formatting instead of divs?

For optimum performance, you shouldn't use nested tables.

Can I preview the HTML output for a template like I can for a PDF template?

No, preview for HTML templates is not available. You should use PDF output unless there is a specific use case for HTML.

In WYSIWYG mode, can I create multiple headers?

No, you can’t create multiple headers in WYSIWYG mode.

How can I refer to fonts and images in the File Cabinet without using the full URL?

You can add data center agnostic URLs to your template. For a list of fields that you can use to dynamically generate a URL link, or part of a URL, see Syntax for Body Fields.

Ensure that any files that you access from the File Cabinet have either the Available Without Login box checked, or Company-Wide Usage box checked. Otherwise, you cannot use them during printing.

Note:

In case you check Company-Wide Usage box, you must either edit the template source code and use the <@filecabinet> directive, or check the File Cabinet Item box on the Advanced tab in the Template Editor. For more information, see Syntax for Advanced Template Fields and Including Images in Advanced Templates.

Why am I getting an "Invalid PDF layout. Please contact your administrator" when I try to print multiple invoices in PDF format?

The Print Using HTML box is selected in your preferences. To change this, see the following solution:

Go to Home > Set Preferences.
Click the Transaction subtab.
Clear the Print Using HTML box.
Switch the Transaction Email Attachment Format radio button from HTML to PDF.
Click Save.

Note:

This is one of the possible solutions to the error. If the error persists, contact NetSuite Customer Support.

Why am I getting an "Invalid PDF Layout. Please contact your administrator" error when I try to print a transaction using Advanced PDF Template?

The Print Using HTML box is selected in your preferences. To change this, see the following solution:

Go to Home > Set Preferences.
Click the Transaction subtab.
Clear the Print Using HTML box.
Switch the Transaction Email Attachment Format radio button from HTML to PDF.
Click Save.

How do I print Standard Invoice Body Field on Customer Statements?

You can print the Standard Invoice Body Field only on statements that have at least one transaction.

You can create a Custom Transaction Body Field and populate it using a Workflow. For a more detailed description, see SuiteAnswer 70591.

Statement is specific – there is no record – it is created based on browser request which specifies:

customer
time period
subsidiary

Some data are extracted directly from the database during data model build step.

How can I fix my advanced printing template when it relies on a hidden field?

A field will be hidden from an advanced printing template if the field's show box is cleared on the custom form. A visible field is represented in the advanced template as a Boolean value. If the field is hidden, you must change the advanced template to compare the value of the field with a string instead.

If you don't know whether the field is visible, it is best to create a condition in which the template will behave correctly in both cases.

For example, to create a condition for the Corporate Card field:

            <#if (expense.corporatecreditcard?is_boolean && expense.corporatecreditcard) | | (expense.corporatecreditcard?is_string && expense.corporatecreditcard == "T")> "Corporate Card" is checked!
</#if>

For more information, see Using FreeMarker to Work with Hidden Fields Used in Advanced Templates.

Is there a size limitation for XML file input for PDF creation?

Yes, the size limitation is 100MB. If the file size exceeds the limit, printing results in an error. For more information, see Error Messages in Advanced Templates.