Custom Export PDF from Workspace Form Including Related Lists - Best Practice?

[NikhilSingh22_]

Hi Community,

I'm looking for the best practice to implement PDF export from a Workspace record form, including related list data, without attaching the generated PDF to the record.

Requirement

From a Workspace form, users should be able to:

• Export the current record as PDF
• Include selected related list records in the PDF
• Download the PDF directly
• Avoid attaching the PDF to the record
• Follow supported Workspace best practices

Approaches Evaluated

1. Classic URL-based PDF export

var url = '/' + g_form.getTableName() + '.do?sys_id=' + g_form.getUniqueValue() + '&PDF';

top.window.open(url, '_blank');

Issue:

• Relies on window.open()
• Uses global window objects
• Not considered a modern or Workspace-friendly approach

---

2. Using g_navigation

g_navigation.open(url, '_blank');

Issue:

• Works in classic UI
• Does not appear to work in Workspace

---

3. Server-side PDFGenerationAPI

var pdfAPI = new sn_pdfgeneratorutils.PDFGenerationAPI();

var result = pdfAPI.convertToPDF(

html,

current.getTableName(),

current.getUniqueValue(),

fileName

);

Issue:

• Generates the PDF successfully
• Automatically attaches the PDF to the record
• My requirement is to allow download without creating attachments
• Add Custom CSS using script is a big overhead. 

---

4. Legacy GwtPollDialog approach

var dialog = new GwtPollDialog(

g_form.getTableName(),  "",  "",  "",  "unload_pdf",  "",  "",  "",  "true",  g_form.getUniqueValue(),  "",  ""

);

dialog.execute();

Issue:

• Not supported in Workspace
• Appears to be tied to classic UI components

---

Question

Has anyone implemented a supported Workspace solution for exporting a record attached with related list data  to PDF?

Specifically:

1. What is the recommended approach in Workspace?
2. Is there a supported way to generate and download a PDF without creating a record attachment?
3. Has anyone leveraged UI Builder components, Scripted REST APIs, or a custom PDF generation framework for this requirement?
4. Are there any OOTB Workspace capabilities I'm overlooking?

I would appreciate any recommendations, architectural guidance, or examples of successful implementations.

Thanks in advance!

Nikhil | KPMG | Associate - Consultant