How to Print a Base64 PDF File Using Print.js

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The Challenge

When you attempt to print a Base64-encoded PDF file, it’s easy to overlook some specifics in your implementation. For instance, you might convert a PDF file into Base64 and then face issues due to a misconfiguration in the printing function. This is what happened in the code snippet that prompted the question. Let’s break it down and provide a clear solution.

Understanding the Code

The initial setup in your JavaScript involves the following steps:

Selecting a File: A user selects a PDF file through an input element in the HTML.

Reading the File: The FileReader is utilized to read the file and convert it to Base64 format.

Creating a Blob: A Blob object is created from the Base64 string.

Here’s what that looks like in code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Issue at Hand

The Solution

Here are two approaches you can take to fix this issue:

Option 1: Remove the base64 Flag

If you want to keep your existing code structure but correct the parameters for the printing function, simply remove the base64 flag from the print parameters. Your code will look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Option 2: Pass Base64 Directly

Assuming base64Data is the valid Base64 string you obtained:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

If you found this post helpful, feel free to leave a comment below or share it with others who might face similar challenges. Happy coding!