I want to generate a PDF File from a View using the PdfDocument android class introduced in KitKat. I managed to do it, and the file is so far generated ok, ending up having a correct PDF. The only problem is the file is huge, 12Mb for just one page. Is there a way to reduce the File size?
The code I am using to generate the PDF is:
public static File generateDocument(Activity activity, String fileName, ViewGroup container) throws IOException{
File f = new File(activity.getExternalFilesDir(null), fileName);
PdfDocument document = new PdfDocument();
try{
for(int i=0;i<container.getChildCount();i++){
View v = container.getChildAt(i);
PdfDocument.PageInfo.Builder pageBuilder = new PdfDocument.PageInfo.Builder(v.getWidth(), v.getHeight(), i);
Page page = document.startPage(pageBuilder.create());
v.draw(page.getCanvas());
document.finishPage(page);
}
document.writeTo(new FileOutputStream(f));
} finally{
if(document!=null){
document.close();
}
}
return f;
}
There are a few main things that increases the size of a PDF file:
hi-resolution pictures (where lo-res would suffice)
embedded fonts (where content would still be readable "good enough" without them)
PDF content not required any more for the current version/view (older version of certain objects)
embedded ICC profiles
embedded third-party files (using the PDF as a container)
embedded job tickets (for printing)
embedded Javascript
and a few more
Try using iText. Following links give a basice idea for iText in android.
http://technotransit.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/using-itext-in-android/
http://www.mysamplecode.com/2013/05/android-itext-pdf-bluetooth-printer.html