rst2pdf is a command-line application that converts reStructuredText documents directly into PDF files. It uses ReportLab rather than passing documents through a LaTeX toolchain, making it a useful option for automated documentation, publishing scripts and Python-based workflows. Output appearance can be extensively controlled through reusable stylesheets and page templates.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Converts reStructuredText source files directly into PDF documents from the command line.
- Uses ReportLab for PDF generation without requiring an intermediate LaTeX document.
- Supports user-defined page templates, page sizes, margins and document layouts.
- Allows multiple frames on a page and multiple page layouts within one document.
- Provides a cascading stylesheet mechanism for controlling typography, spacing, colours and other presentation details.
- Accepts YAML stylesheets that can be maintained separately and reused across documents.
- Embeds TrueType and Type 1 fonts in generated PDF files.
- Supports custom paragraph styles through reStructuredText class directives.
- Supports character-level formatting through custom interpreted-text roles.
- Uses Pygments to provide syntax highlighting for source-code examples.
- Embeds raster images and supported vector graphics in generated documents.
- Offers optional hyphenation to improve line breaking and paragraph layout.
- Includes Sphinx integration for producing PDF versions of larger documentation projects.
- Can add diagrams through optional integrations including PlantUML and aafigure.
- Provides optional support for mathematical content, SVG graphics and raw HTML processing.
- Supports page transitions and other presentation-oriented PDF features.
- Can be installed in an isolated environment using tools such as pipx or uv.
- Runs on contemporary Python releases and is suitable for scripted or continuous-integration workflows.
Website: github.com/rst2pdf/rst2pdf
Support:
Developer: rst2pdf maintainers
License: MIT License
rst2pdf is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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