Document is not getting generated after preview

CaptainG
Tera Contributor

Hello team,

 

I have selected document template and after preview i am getting below error and logs. Can someone please help with this. Its for ootb document template and as well as custom document template.
Error:

CaptainG_0-1775064900231.jpeg

 

Logs:

Request : <sysid> failed with ' Conversion failed. Cannot invoke "java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream.toByteArray()" because "pdfOS" is null': no thrown error

8 REPLIES 8

pr8172510
Tera Guru

Hi CaptainG,

 

1. Understanding the error

Error:

Conversion failed. Cannot invoke "java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream.toByteArray()" because "pdfOS" is null

This means:

  • The PDF engine failed to generate output
  • So the stream (pdfOS) was never initialized

2. Why this happens (most common causes)

 1. Missing / misconfigured PDF Generation Plugin

Check if required plugins are active:

  • Document Generation
  • PDF Generation (iText / DocGen related plugins)

Sometimes after upgrades or changes, dependencies break


 2. HTML in template is not valid

Even for OOTB templates, if you modified:

  • HTML structure
  • CSS
  • Embedded scripts

It can break PDF rendering

Things to check:

  • Unclosed tags
  • Unsupported CSS
  • Images / external references

3. Fonts / attachments issue

If template uses:

  • Custom fonts
  • Images

 And system cannot access them → PDF fails silently


4. Instance-level issue (very common)

This error is often seen when:

  • PDF generation service is not responding properly
  • Node/cache issue

Try:

  • cache.do
  • Switch node (if multi-node instance)

5. Template context / data issue

If preview works partially but fails on generate:

  • Check:
    • Fields used in template
    • Null/invalid data

3. Quick validation steps

Try these to isolate:

  1. Use completely OOTB template (no changes)
  2. Generate for a simple record
  3. Check:
    • Same error or not

 If still failing → platform issue
 If not → template issue

Hi @pr8172510 ,

I have verified all the things, its completely OOTB template but still failing.

Tanushree Maiti
Giga Patron

Hi @CaptainG 

 

Can you confirm whether your document template is published

 

 

Please mark this response as Helpful & Accept it as solution if it assisted you with your question.
Regards
Tanushree Maiti
ServiceNow Technical Architect
Linkedin:

Hi @Tanushree Maiti ,

Its published and its completely ootb template but still facing issue.