iText Alternative (and when you should consider one)

When it comes to finding an iText alternative, a name that often pops up is JPedal. Both libraries offer robust features for handling PDFs, but they cater to slightly different needs.

JPedal is still being developed by the same hardcore, geeky group who developed it originally while iText is now part of a large corporation.

iText is available under AGPL (open source) and commercial licenses, while JPedal is available under a commercial license, which might be more straightforward for businesses looking for a clear licensing model.

Java iText Alternative

Both iText and JPedal are designed to make working with PDF documents easier for Java developers. Here are some common features they share.

Both libraries allow you to create, edit, and manipulate PDF documents programmatically. They provide tools for extracting text from PDF files, which can be useful for data analysis and processing.

They offer functionalities for adding digital signatures to PDF documents, ensuring document authenticity and integrity.

Both are designed to be used within Java applications, making them suitable for developers working in this ecosystem.

Differences between iText and JPedal

While iText and JPedal share many features, they also have distinct differences that cater to different needs. iText is primarily focused on creating and manipulating PDF documents programmatically. It’s widely used for generating dynamic PDFs, such as invoices, reports, and forms.

JPedal, on the other hand, focuses more on viewing and rendering PDF documents. It includes a built-in PDF viewer and tools for converting PDFs to images or HTML.

iText does not include a built-in PDF viewer, whereas JPedal includes a Java Swing PDF viewer for displaying multi-page PDF documents, making it a great choice for applications that need to display PDFs directly to users.

iText has limited conversion features, mainly focused on PDF creation and manipulation. JPedal, however, has extensive conversion capabilities, including converting PDFs to images, thumbnails, and HTML, which can be particularly useful for web applications.

Simplified Pricing

Developers after extensive testing of a PDF SDK kit want a simplified pricing model which fulfils their specific needs. iText takes a different approach, by offering commercial licenses that are specific to use case.

In 2020, iText moved away from its perpetual pricing model and adopted an annual subscription model. The pricing for this is determined depending of many factors including number of machines and on premise operations. Developers have to initiate a conversation first then will get a tailored pricing plan.

In Comparison JPedal’s pricing is very simple and straightforward. There is a one-time fee for the OEM license with a yearly support fee beginning the following year. The server license also has a one time fee and is more suited for limited use.

Alternative to iText?

iText provides tools for optimizing PDF files, but with a focus on creation and manipulation. JPedal includes an optimizer to fix issues found in broken or poorly created PDF files, with a focus on rendering and viewing.

In conclusion, while iText remains a powerful tool for creating and manipulating PDFs, JPedal provides a compelling iText alternative for developers who need robust viewing and conversion features. Depending on your specific needs, JPedal might just be the right choice for your next project.

//Convenience static method (see class for additional options)
ExtractClippedImages.writeAllClippedImagesToDir("inputFileOrDirectory", "outputDir", "outputImageFormat", new String[] {"imageHeightAsFloat", "subDirectoryForHeight"});

final PdfManipulator pdf = new PdfManipulator();
pdf.loadDocument(new File("inputFile.pdf"));
pdf.addPage(1, PaperSize.A4_LANDSCAPE);
pdf.addText(1, "Hello World", 10, 10, BaseFont.HelveticaBold, 12, 1, 0.3f, 0.2f);
pdf.addImage(1, new BufferedImage(), new float[] {0, 0, 100, 100});
pdf.rotatePage(1, 90);
pdf.apply();
pdf.writeDocument(new File("outputFile.pdf"));

Viewer viewer = new Viewer();
viewer.setupViewer();
viewer.executeCommand(ViewerCommands.OPENFILE, "pdfFile.pdf");

//Convenience static method (see class for additional options)
ExtractTextAsWordList.writeAllWordlistsToDir("inputFileOrDirectory", "outputDir", -1);

PdfMerge.mergeFiles(new File("inputFile1.pdf"), new File("inputFile2.pdf"), new File("outputFile.pdf"));

PdfManipulator.splitInHalf(new File("inputFile.pdf"), new File("outputFolder"), pageToSplitAt);

PrintPdfPages print = new PrintPdfPages("C:/pdfs/mypdf.pdf");

if (print.openPDFFile()) {
    print.printAllPages("Printer Name");
}

//Convenience static method (see class for additional options)
ExtractClippedImages.writeAllClippedImagesToDir("inputFileOrDirectory", "outputDir", "outputImageFormat", new String[] {"imageHeightAsFloat", "subDirectoryForHeight"});

//Convenience static method (see class for additional options)
ArrayList resultsForPages = FindTextInRectangle.findTextOnAllPages("/path/to/file.pdf", "textToFind");

java -jar jpedal.jar --inspect "inputFile.pdf"

PdfSigner.signPdf(
        "inputFile.pdf",
        "outputFile.pdf",
        "keystorePassword",
        "keystoreFile.p12",
        "signerName",
        "signerLocation",
        "signingReason",
        ACCESS_PERMISSION.P1
);