Generate PDF from multiple records, with customized design

[ceskie]

Hello guys,

I have got to generate a PDF with contents from multiple records and customize its design/template to meet customers needs. I have spent several hours googling and I am out of ideas atm.

I am stuck at the PDF generation part.

I know there is OOB functionality Export directly from URL which can export any record or list by typing '?PDF' after the '.do', but there is no way (or tell me I am wrong) how to customize this generic 'form-like' looking template, also it can export only one record/list at a time.

Also, I have found generalPDF class (Script Include), which is global but restricted to global only (huh?) and then another class GeneralPdfUtils which is global and accessible from all scopes, but I have no idea how to use this one as there is no documentation nor comments and from the method names I have a general vibe its a no-use for my case.

My approach is sth like:

1. code an UI page with appropiate html mark up and CSS media queries so its meets the branding and layout requirements
2. fill in the UI page on the fly with data each time it is called (query the records smh via URL)
3. make a "snapshot" of the UI page and export it to PDF
4. fetch the PDF and append it to a record

Currently I am struggling to generate custom PDF in ServiceNow UI16.

I am restricted to scripting and/or OOB functionality, no 3rd party libraries, rest calls and definitely no paid plugins.

ANY ideas are welcomed and appreciated in advance!

[Zaafira]

You can customize any of the buttons or widgets to generate information for multiple records for a PDF. For the specific script that can be used to reference in a server GwtExportScheduleDialog object with parameters based off of custom functionality within a server script. 

function runContextAction() {

	var sysparm_rows = g_list.grandTotalRows;
	var num_rows = parseInt(sysparm_rows);
	var sysparm_query = "change_request.sys_id=" + g_form.getUniqueValue();//add in your own sysparam query here you can get this from the URL when you do your own query 
	var sysparm_view = g_list.view;
	if (num_rows < g_export_warn_threshold) {
		var dialog = new GwtPollDialog(g_list.tableName, sysparm_query, sysparm_rows, sysparm_view, 'unload_pdf+');
		dialog.execute();
		return;
	}
	var dialog = new GwtExportScheduleDialog(g_list.tableName, sysparm_query, sysparm_rows, sysparm_view, 'unload_pdf+');
	dialog.execute();
}

This can be referenced in any widget or form action, etc.

Source: https://www.servicenow.com/community/now-platform-articles/exporting-detailed-portrait-pdf-by-using-...