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Here is a sample Java program that uses an API library called iText for creating PDF in Java.

Download: itextpdf.zip
PDF sample: test.pdf

This one sample includes two programs of different execution styles:

• PDFbyiText.class - A console appilcation for creating a PDF file
• PdfServlet.class - Servlet directly sending PDF to web browser
• Rendering codes are separated into other classes as shown below.

iText provides three ways to create PDF. This sample is trying the three ways in each page of the total three pages -> see test.pdf

• iTextNative.class - iText-specific APIs are used to draw high-level objects. No control for coordinates.
• PdfSyntax.class - Direct writing of PDF operators and operands with precise position control.
• Java2D.class - Java 2D compatibility mode. A rendering code written in Java 2D API can be used to draw PDF.

The direct PDF writing of page 2 tries the same text, filled shape and line drawing as in the Hand-written PDF sample.

• Introduction to PDF using a sample PDF written with a text editor (Japanese only) -> Hand-Written PDF

Layout sample files as below, compile and run the program. You need iText library (itext-2.1.3.jar) and East Asian fonts (iTextAsian.jar).

[layout of files]
  test.gif
  test.pdf <- this is created when you run the program
  test
    iTextNative.java
    PdfSyntax.java
    Java2D.java
    PDFbyiText.java

[compile]
javac -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;. test/iTextNative.java
javac -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;. test/PdfSyntax.java
javac -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;. test/Java2D.java
javac -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;. test/PDFbyiText.java

[run]
java -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;iTextAsian.jar;. test.PDFbyiText

In addition to files compiled above, compile PdfServlet.java. You need to point to the servlet-api.jar.

javac -classpath iText-2.1.3.jar;<location-of-servlet-api.jar>;. test/PdfServlet.java

Layout files in the servlet container as below:

<tomcat-install-directory>/webapps
  itext
    test.gif
    WEB-INF
      web.xml
      classes/test
        iTextNative.class
        Java2D.class
        PDFbyiText.class
        PdfServlet.class
        PdfSyntax.class
      lib
        iText-2.1.3.jar
        iTextAsian.jar

Try accessing this servlet (for example by http://localhost:8080/itext), you can see the same contents as test.pdf above.