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Invoices and receipts from JSON

This guide builds an invoice template in the dashboard and generates PDFs from your code.

1. Start from the library​

  1. In the dashboard, open Templates → Template library.
  2. Pick Invoice (A4) or Invoice (US Letter) and click Use this template.

The builder opens with a live preview on the right:

  • Blocks (left): add headings, text, details lists, addresses, item tables, totals, images, barcodes, signatures, columns and a footer. Drag blocks, or use the arrows, to reorder them.
  • Page & style (left): paper size, orientation, margins, font, colours, language, currency and date format.
  • Properties (right): edit the selected block. Any text box has an Insert field button ({ }) that places a value from your JSON, such as {{customer.name}}.

2. Decide what your JSON contains​

Click Fields & test data.

  • Fields lists every value the template expects. The JSON key is the property name you send. Mark a field Required to have the API reject requests that leave it out.
  • Test data fills in example values for the preview. The values are saved with the template and used as the example in Use via API.

A list field, such as items, becomes table rows. Its columns are defined under the field. A totals block adds up quantity × unit_price, applies discount and tax, and formats everything in the template currency.

3. Save and try it​

Click Save, then Generate PDF to fill the form and download a PDF. This uses one credit.

4. Call the API​

Click Use via API and copy the request. It already contains your template ID and every field.

const response = await fetch('https://api.podpdf.com/templates/01J8ZK3QW5V7N2B4X6C8D0E2F4/render', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'X-API-Key': process.env.PODPDF_API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    data: {
      invoice_number: order.number,
      issue_date: order.date,            // "2026-09-13"
      customer: { name: order.customerName, address: order.address },
      items: order.lines.map((line) => ({ description: line.name, quantity: line.qty, unit_price: line.price })),
      tax_rate: 20,
    },
  }),
});

if (response.status === 400) {
  const { error } = await response.json();
  console.error(error.details.errors); // [{ field: 'items[0].quantity', error: 'must be a number' }]
} else {
  const pdf = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
}

Tips​

  • Receipts: choose Receipt 80 mm or Receipt 58 mm. The page grows with the number of items, so a single roll-paper page is always produced.
  • Labels: the Shipping label 4 × 6 in starter includes Code 128 and QR codes generated from your tracking number.
  • Long invoices: table headers repeat on every page, rows never split across pages, and the footer can show "Page 2 of 3".
  • Logos: upload a PNG, JPEG or SVG (up to 1 MB) in an image block, or send an https:// image URL in your data.
  • Changing a template does not change its ID, so your integration keeps working. Use Duplicate to try a new layout without affecting live traffic.

See the Templates API reference for every option and error code.