📄 07 Preview, PDF & Printing

Preview, PDF & Printing

Validate the canvas, generate PDFs and expose reports to business users.

10. Preview, render and print

Designer Preview

Preview mode removes most editing aids so you can assess the layout without leaving the Designer. It is fast and uses the currently selected sample record.

Print Preview

  1. Save the layout.
  2. Select a sample record.
  3. Choose Print in the Designer or Print Preview on the report record.
  4. Inspect every page at 100% and compare against the selected paper dimensions.

Renderer choice

  • WKHTMLTOPDF (QWeb): default Odoo-compatible pipeline.
  • Pango/WeasyPrint: optional alternative installed by the render add-on; requires the documented server packages.

If CMYK is selected, true DeviceCMYK conversion requires the optional Ghostscript runtime on the server.

Add the report to the target model

Use Add Print Button to Model on the report template after the Target Model and Paper Size are correct. This creates or updates the Odoo report action. The report then appears in the target model's Print menu.

When a template is duplicated for a different model, generated report bindings are not copied. Select the new target model, validate the fields, and run Add Print Button to Model again. Removing the print button also removes stale bindings from earlier target models.

Company restrictions

A company-restricted template is hidden from the Print menu for users working in non-allowed companies. Direct PDF rendering is also blocked. Leave Companies empty only when the template is intentionally shared across all companies.

Print server output

When the Print Server Integration is installed, each report can produce a PDF, dispatch a job to the selected printer, or do both. Select the host, printer and optional print profile on the template. Verify physical paper size, orientation and printer media settings before unattended production use.

Print actions and specialised output

  • Add Print Button to Model binds the report to the target model's Print menu.
  • Sales Order layouts also create a Pro-Forma action. Expressions may use context, ctx, proforma or is_proforma.
  • Print Server Integration supports PDF, Print Server, or PDF + Print Server with host, printer and profile.
  • Company restrictions hide print actions and block direct rendering outside allowed companies.