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PDF Converter Misses Repeating Group Content on Page

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#1

Hello, I’m using the PDF converter plugin to generate PDFs when a user clicks a button. All of the content is visible on the page that holds the button, and it’s all rendered/visible to the user at the time that they click the button, but occasionally the PDF seems to simply miss some content. So far it seems to be limited to Repeating Groups. Has anyone else dealt with PDF conversion intermittently missing elements? Our specific implementation is:

  1. Content to be converted is all in a popup, the popup has an ID, and the PDF Converter action aims at the popup ID.

  2. A Repeating Group is present on the popup and is used to enumerate related records (Line Items of the parent Quote is one application).

  3. All elements on the popup that should be included in the PDF are visible, and are done rendering before the Convert button is clicked.

  4. The Convert button connects to a workflow with a single action, Generate PDF.

  5. Occasionally the PDF document is missing the Repeating Group element.

Are there any best practices regarding how the Generate PDF action is invoked that would address this issue?

Thank you!

Paul

#2

Hi @pmundell,

The issue you’re seeing with Repeating Groups not appearing in generated PDFs is a known challenge, especially when using popups in Bubble.

Even if the content looks rendered, it might not be fully processed by the DOM when the PDF is triggered.

Here are a few best practices to help resolve it:

  1. Add a short delay (500–1000ms) before triggering the Generate PDF action using “Pause before next action” or a scheduled event.
  2. Ensure the popup is fully open before PDF generation. Trigger the PDF from a button inside the popup, not as part of the popup opening.
  3. Check that the Repeating Group is loaded using conditions like: Only when: RepeatingGroup's :count > 0.
  4. Avoid lazy loading in the Repeating Group. Use a full list or fixed number of cells to ensure all content is rendered.
  5. Consider using a hidden print-only group instead of a popup to avoid rendering issues altogether.

These steps should help make the PDF generation more consistent. Let me know if you need help setting up the workflow.

Best,
Support Team
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#3

Hey @constantin.raicovici thank you for your reply! Could you expand on your 5th point, consider using a hidden print-only group? Is there a manner to do this that effectively hides the PDF content from user view, but is still accessible for PDF conversion? I know that all content needs to be rendered on page and I believe also needs to be visible (?) when the Generate action is called. I’ve tried placing content with Opacity 0%, fixed size at 1px by 1px, etc. Thank you, Paul

#4

Hey @pmundell ,

Thanks for the update. Let’s tackle your question about the 5th point - using a hidden print-only group to get this sorted.

On Point 5: Using a Hidden Print-Only Group

The idea here is to set up a group just for PDF content, keeping it out of sight for users but available for the plugin. Your try with Opacity 0% and 1px by 1px is on the right track, but it might not work fully with the plugin.

How to Make It Work:

  1. Set Up a Print-Only Group:
  • Add a new group on your page for PDF stuff.
  • Hide it from users with Visibility - Hidden.
  1. Keep Content Accessible:
  • Pop your Repeating Group and related elements into this group.
  • Just using Opacity 0% or tiny sizes might cause the plugin to skip it.
  1. Tweak Your Method:
  • Skip relying only on Opacity 0% or small dimensions—those can trip up the renderer. Try Visibility = Hidden with Auto sizing, or position it off-screen (e.g., left: -9999px) and use print styles to bring it back.
  • This keeps it hidden from users but ready for the plugin.
  1. Check the Workflow:
  • Make sure the “Generate PDF” action grabs the whole page or includes this group. Tweak the plugin settings if needed.

You’re spot on that the content has to be rendered and maybe visible during the action. The trick is hiding it neatly for users while letting the plugin do its job.

Test this in Bubble’s preview mode to see if the group loads right before generating the PDF.

Also, please consider trying out other suggestions from my previous reply.

Give it a shot and let me know how it goes or if you need a hand tweaking it further - happy to assist you further!

Regards,
Support Team
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#5

Hi @pmundell,

Just checking in to see if the hidden print-only group setup worked for your PDF generation.

Let me know how it went or if you need help adjusting the approach - I’m happy to assist further!

Best regards,
Support Team
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