Creating clean, print-ready PDFs from Markdown can be frustrating—especially when lists, code blocks, headers, and pagination don’t behave as expected. Pandoc Markdown to PDF Utility solves this problem by combining Pandoc, Paged.js, and carefully crafted CSS themes into a single, easy-to-use Windows automation tool.
🚀 What Is Pandoc Markdown to PDF Utility?
Pandoc Markdown to PDF Utility is a command-line automation script that converts Markdown files into professional, publication-quality PDFs. It is designed for educators, developers, and technical writers who need consistent layout, reliable list rendering, and clean code formatting.
Unlike traditional LaTeX-based exports, this tool uses CSS-driven pagination via Paged.js, giving you full control over typography, spacing, headers, footers, and themes.
✨ Key Features
- ✔ Print-quality PDF output using Paged.js
- ✔ Correct rendering of ordered, unordered, and task lists
- ✔ Reliable code block formatting with preserved line breaks
- ✔ Automatic headers, footers, page numbers, and dates
- ✔ Multiple built-in CSS themes
- ✔ One-command export on Windows
🧩 Supported Markdown Elements
Lists
The utility correctly handles:
- Ordered lists (
1. 2. 3.) - Unordered lists (
-,*) - Task lists (
- [ ]) - Nested lists
Line breaks and spacing are preserved, ensuring lists appear exactly as written in Markdown.
Code Blocks
Code blocks are styled for readability and correctness:
public class Example {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World");
}
}
Semicolons no longer collapse lines, and long lines wrap safely without breaking layout.
🎨 Built-in Themes
The utility ships with multiple ready-to-use themes:
- Professional — Corporate and documentation-friendly
- Academic — Ideal for reports and teaching materials
- Modern — Bold and visually engaging
- Minimal — Clean, distraction-free reading
Switching themes is as simple as passing a command-line option.
⚙️ How It Works
- You write content in Markdown
- Pandoc converts Markdown to HTML
- Paged.js paginates the document using CSS
- A styled PDF is generated automatically
Headers and footers are dynamically injected using Paged.js string sets, including title, author, date, and page numbers.
📂 Project Structure
pandoc-pdf-utility/
├── export_v2.bat
├── header-footer.html
├── README.md
└── themes/
├── professional.css
├── academic.css
├── modern.css
└── minimal.css
🛠️ Requirements
- Pandoc (latest version recommended)
- Node.js
- Paged.js CLI
- Windows OS
🔮 What’s Coming in v2.2.0?
The next planned version focuses on polish and extensibility:
- Improved edge-case handling for complex lists
- Optional base theme for easier customization
- Cleaner CSS architecture
- Optional Lua filters for advanced Markdown normalization
🎓 Who Is This Tool For?
- Educators preparing lecture notes and exams
- Students creating structured reports
- Developers writing technical documentation
- Anyone who values clean, consistent PDFs
✅ Final Thoughts
Pandoc Markdown to PDF Utility bridges the gap between simple Markdown writing and professional PDF publishing. If you need reliable formatting, beautiful layouts, and a workflow that just works—this tool is built for you.
Write once in Markdown. Export beautifully. Every time.