How to Install Print Designer App in ERPNext (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you're looking to enhance your document print formats using a visual editor in ERPNext, the print_designer app is a great tool. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and configure print_designer for both new and existing sites, including production setup and compatibility requirements.

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Step 1: Install the print_designer App in Frappe Bench

Start by getting the app from the GitHub repository:

bench get-app https://github.com/frappe/print_designer 

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Installing on a New Site

Step 2: Create a New Site

bench new-site <site-name>

Step 3: Install the App on Your New Site

bench --site <site-name> install-app print_designer 

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Installing on an Existing Site

Step 2: Update the "Print Format" Doctype (If Needed)

Check if a PDF generator option exists. If not, add the following:

• Label: PDF Generator

• Fieldname: pdf_generator

• Options:

  wkhtmltopdf 

Then, save the Doctype.

Step 3: Install the App on Your Existing Site

bench --site <site-name> install-app print_designer 

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Compatibility Note

Ensure your system meets the following version requirements:

• ERPNext: v15.x.x or above

• Frappe Framework: v15.x.x or above

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Setting Up a Production Server

To make your site live and production-ready, follow these steps:

1. Enable the Scheduler Service

bench --site site1.local enable-scheduler 

2. Disable Maintenance Mode

bench --site site1.local set-maintenance-mode off 

3. Setup Production Config

sudo bench setup production [frappe-user] 

4. Setup NGINX Web Server

bench setup nginx 

5. Restart Supervisor Processes

sudo supervisorctl restart all 

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Important Note

Before completing the setup wizard, ensure that ERPNext is installed. ERPNext can only be installed on a fresh site where the setup wizard hasn’t been completed.

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Checking wkhtmltopdf Version (for Ubuntu 22.04)

Step 1: Check Current Version

wkhtmltopdf --version 

If it's not version 0.12.x (with patched Qt), proceed with the steps below.

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Reinstalling wkhtmltopdf (Patched Version)

Step 2: Remove Existing Version

sudo apt-get remove --purge wkhtmltox wkhtmltopdf -y sudo apt-get autoremove -y sudo apt-get clean 

Step 3: Install Required Version

wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/0.12.6-1/wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.bionic_amd64.deb sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.bionic_amd64.deb sudo apt-get install -f -y 

💡 If any dependency errors occur, install the missing packages and rerun the commands above.

Step 4: Verify Installation

wkhtmltopdf --version 

If you get an error like:

-bash: /usr/bin/wkhtmltopdf: No such file or directory 

Then try:

/usr/local/bin/wkhtmltopdf --version 

If it works, create a symlink:

sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/wkhtmltopdf /usr/bin/wkhtmltopdf 

Now verify again:

wkhtmltopdf --version 

Expected result:

wkhtmltopdf 0.12.6 (with patched qt) 

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Step 5: Finalize with Bench Build

After all installations:

bench build 

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With this setup complete, your print_designer app should be ready to use on your ERPNext site with full compatibility and functionality.

Need Help with ERPNext Customization or Deployment?

At Techsolvo, we specialize in ERPNext implementations, custom app development, and production server setups tailored to your business needs. Whether you're just getting started or scaling your ERP to the next level—we’ve got you covered.

📞 Contact us today to streamline your ERP journey!

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