databrickslabs PDF Generation from HTML
Convert HTML content to PDF documents and upload them to Unity Catalog Volumes.
Overview
The generate_and_upload_pdf MCP tool converts HTML to PDF and uploads to a Unity Catalog Volume. You (the LLM) generate the HTML content, and the tool handles conversion and upload.
Tool Signature
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content: str, # Complete HTML document
filename: str, # PDF filename (e.g., "report.pdf")
catalog: str, # Unity Catalog name
schema: str, # Schema name
volume: str = "raw_data", # Volume name (default: "raw_data")
folder: str = None, # Optional subfolder
)
Returns:
{
"success": true,
"volume_path": "/Volumes/catalog/schema/volume/filename.pdf",
"error": null
}
Quick Start
Generate a simple PDF:
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content='''<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 40px; }
h1 { color: #1a73e8; border-bottom: 2px solid #1a73e8; padding-bottom: 10px; }
.section { margin: 20px 0; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Quarterly Report Q1 2024</h1>
<div class="section">
<h2>Executive Summary</h2>
<p>Revenue increased 15% year-over-year...</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>''',
filename="q1_report.pdf",
catalog="my_catalog",
schema="my_schema"
)
Performance: Generate Multiple PDFs in Parallel
IMPORTANT: PDF generation and upload can take 2-5 seconds per document. When generating multiple PDFs, call the tool in parallel to maximize throughput.
Example: Generate 5 PDFs in Parallel
Make 5 simultaneous generate_and_upload_pdf calls:
# Call 1
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content="<html>...Employee Handbook content...</html>",
filename="employee_handbook.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog", schema="policies", folder="2024"
)
# Call 2 (parallel)
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content="<html>...Leave Policy content...</html>",
filename="leave_policy.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog", schema="policies", folder="2024"
)
# Call 3 (parallel)
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content="<html>...Code of Conduct content...</html>",
filename="code_of_conduct.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog", schema="policies", folder="2024"
)
# Call 4 (parallel)
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content="<html>...Benefits Guide content...</html>",
filename="benefits_guide.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog", schema="policies", folder="2024"
)
# Call 5 (parallel)
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content="<html>...Remote Work Policy content...</html>",
filename="remote_work_policy.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog", schema="policies", folder="2024"
)
By calling these in parallel (not sequentially), 5 PDFs that would take 15-25 seconds sequentially complete in 3-5 seconds total.
HTML Best Practices
Use Complete HTML5 Structure
Always include the full HTML structure:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
/* Your CSS here */
</style>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Your content here -->
</body>
</html>
CSS Features Supported
PlutoPrint supports modern CSS3:
- Flexbox and Grid layouts
- CSS variables (
--var-name) - Web fonts (system fonts recommended)
- Colors, backgrounds, borders
- Tables with styling
CSS to Avoid
- Animations and transitions (static PDF)
- Interactive elements (forms, hover effects)
- External resources (images via URL) - use embedded base64 if needed
Professional Document Template
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
:root {
--primary: #1a73e8;
--text: #202124;
--gray: #5f6368;
}
body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif;
margin: 50px;
color: var(--text);
line-height: 1.6;
}
h1 {
color: var(--primary);
border-bottom: 3px solid var(--primary);
padding-bottom: 15px;
}
h2 { color: var(--text); margin-top: 30px; }
.highlight {
background: #e8f0fe;
padding: 15px;
border-left: 4px solid var(--primary);
margin: 20px 0;
}
table {
width: 100%;
border-collapse: collapse;
margin: 20px 0;
}
th, td {
border: 1px solid #dadce0;
padding: 12px;
text-align: left;
}
th { background: #f1f3f4; }
.footer {
margin-top: 50px;
padding-top: 20px;
border-top: 1px solid #dadce0;
color: var(--gray);
font-size: 0.9em;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Document Title</h1>
<h2>Section 1</h2>
<p>Content here...</p>
<div class="highlight">
<strong>Important:</strong> Key information highlighted here.
</div>
<h2>Data Table</h2>
<table>
<tr><th>Column 1</th><th>Column 2</th><th>Column 3</th></tr>
<tr><td>Data</td><td>Data</td><td>Data</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="footer">
Generated on 2024-01-15 | Confidential
</div>
</body>
</html>
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Technical Documentation
Generate API documentation, user guides, or technical specs:
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content='''<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><style>
body { font-family: monospace; margin: 40px; }
code { background: #f4f4f4; padding: 2px 6px; }
pre { background: #f4f4f4; padding: 15px; overflow-x: auto; }
.endpoint { background: #e3f2fd; padding: 10px; margin: 10px 0; }
</style></head>
<body>
<h1>API Reference</h1>
<div class="endpoint">
<code>GET /api/v1/users</code>
<p>Returns a list of all users.</p>
</div>
<h2>Request Headers</h2>
<pre>Authorization: Bearer {token}
Content-Type: application/json</pre>
</body>
</html>''',
filename="api_reference.pdf",
catalog="docs_catalog",
schema="api_docs"
)
Pattern 2: Business Reports
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content='''<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><style>
body { font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 50px; }
.metric { display: inline-block; text-align: center; margin: 20px; }
.metric-value { font-size: 2em; color: #1a73e8; }
.metric-label { color: #666; }
</style></head>
<body>
<h1>Q1 2024 Performance Report</h1>
<div class="metric">
<div class="metric-value">$2.4M</div>
<div class="metric-label">Revenue</div>
</div>
<div class="metric">
<div class="metric-value">+15%</div>
<div class="metric-label">Growth</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>''',
filename="q1_2024_report.pdf",
catalog="finance",
schema="reports",
folder="quarterly"
)
Pattern 3: HR Policies
generate_and_upload_pdf(
html_content='''<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><style>
body { font-family: Arial; margin: 40px; line-height: 1.8; }
.policy-section { margin: 30px 0; }
.important { background: #fff3e0; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; }
</style></head>
<body>
<h1>Employee Leave Policy</h1>
<p><em>Effective: January 1, 2024</em></p>
<div class="policy-section">
<h2>1. Annual Leave</h2>
<p>All full-time employees are entitled to 20 days of paid annual leave per calendar year.</p>
</div>
<div class="important">
<strong>Note:</strong> Leave requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance.
</div>
</body>
</html>''',
filename="leave_policy.pdf",
catalog="hr_catalog",
schema="policies"
)
Workflow for Multiple Documents
When asked to generate multiple PDFs:
- Plan the documents: Determine titles, content structure for each
- Generate HTML for each: Create complete HTML documents
- Call tool in parallel: Make multiple simultaneous
generate_and_upload_pdfcalls - Report results: Summarize successful uploads and any errors
Prerequisites
- Unity Catalog schema must exist
- Volume must exist (default:
raw_data) - User must have WRITE permission on the volume
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Volume does not exist" | Create the volume first or use an existing one |
| "Schema does not exist" | Create the schema or check the name |
| PDF looks wrong | Check HTML/CSS syntax, use supported CSS features |
| Slow generation | Call multiple PDFs in parallel, not sequentially |