Render RTF as PDF using Python

RTF (Rich Text Format) documents are widely used for creating styled text files that include fonts, tables, and formatting elements. However, when it comes to sharing or archiving, converting them to PDF ensures consistency and security across different platforms. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to render RTF as PDF using Python with just a few lines of code. This approach helps developers create PDF from RTF in Python without needing additional software or manual conversions. It’s ideal for automating document workflows, generating printable reports, or producing shareable PDF files directly from RTF sources — all while maintaining full control over layout and formatting.

Steps to Render RTF as PDF using Python

  1. Use the pip command to install GroupDocs.Viewer for Python via .NET, which provides the necessary tools to enable RTF rendering
  2. Import the groupdocs.viewer and groupdocs.viewer.options modules to access the components required for PDF generation
  3. Open the RTF file with the Viewer class inside a with block to ensure efficient memory handling and automatic resource cleanup
  4. Set up the PdfViewOptions class to specify the destination file name or output path for the generated PDF
  5. Execute the viewer.view(viewOptions) method to convert and export the RTF document as a PDF file

The above steps provide efficient way to convert RTF documents into professional, high-quality PDF files. This process is particularly useful for developers working on document management, reporting, or digital archiving solutions. Following short script loads the input RTF document, defines the PDF output settings, and exports a fully formatted PDF file. Each element of the original RTF—text, images, and layout—is retained exactly as intended. The approach is simple to implement, scalable for batch conversions, and perfect for web or desktop automation tasks. Here’s the Python code to render RTF as PDF and generate a ready-to-use PDF document.

Code to Render RTF as PDF using Python

In summary, the ability to render RTF to PDF in Python allows developers to maintain formatting accuracy and ensure consistent document presentation across platforms. This method delivers precise, print-ready results that can be easily integrated into custom software, business applications, or automated rendering systems. By leveraging this streamlined process, you can handle a wide range of document scenarios, from client reports to archived digital records, with full fidelity and minimal effort. This approach provides flexibility, security, and professional output quality — making it a reliable choice for developers building document processing, viewing, or sharing solutions.

For readers interested in exploring other document rendering options, we recommend checking out our detailed tutorial on render RTF as HTML using Python. It’s a great next step if you’re looking to integrate online document viewing or extend your workflow beyond PDF generation.