DocuJSON - JSON to Beautiful PDF Templates

Quickstart (5 minutes)

Generate your first PDF in under 5 minutes. All you need is an API key.

Sign up and grab your API key

Create a free account, head to API Keys, and generate a new key. Your key format: dj_ followed by 32 characters. Treat it like a password — never commit it to a public repo.

Build a template (or use a preset)

Use the AI Template Builder to draft a layout from a prompt, screenshot, reference PDF, or sample JSON. Or start from a public template like invoice-basic.

Make your first request

Send a POST request with your template ID and data.

bash

curl -X POST https://api.docujson.com/v1/generate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer dj_your_api_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": "invoice-basic",
    "data": {
      "invoice_number": "INV-0001",
      "issue_date": "2026-04-13",
      "due_date": "2026-05-13",
      "from": { "name": "Your Company" },
      "to":   { "name": "Customer Corp" },
      "line_items": [
        { "description": "Consulting", "quantity": 10, "unit_price": 150 }
      ],
      "tax_rate": 0.0875
    }
  }'

You get back a PDF URL

A standard HTTPS URL. Download it, email it, or store it according to your retention requirements.

json

{
  "success": true,
  "pdfUrl": "https://blob.vercel-storage.com/...",
  "templateId": "invoice-basic",
  "generatedAt": "2026-04-13T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Authentication

All API requests require authentication via an API key. Keys use the format dj_<uuid> and are created from your dashboard. Only a SHA-256 hash of the key is stored on our side.

You can pass the key using either header:

bash

# Recommended: Authorization Bearer header
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer dj_your_api_key" https://api.docujson.com/v1/generate

# Also supported: X-API-Key header
curl -H "X-API-Key: dj_your_api_key" https://api.docujson.com/v1/generate

Keep your API key secure

Never expose your API key in client-side code. Use it from server-side scripts, automation platforms, or scripting extensions like Airtable.

AI Template Builder

The AI Template Builder is how you go from an idea to a published, mapped template. It is a creation workflow, not the standard runtime generation path. Inputs are accepted as a prompt, a screenshot, a reference PDF or HTML document, or sample JSON.

Draft from anything

Prompt, screenshot, reference doc, or sample JSON.

Visual field mapping

Connect JSON paths like customer.name or line_items[] to document regions.

Publish to a workspace

Published templates expose a stable templateId for your API.

Iterate with revisions

Refine via natural-language chat until the layout matches.

Generate PDF

POST/api/v1/generate

Generate a PDF document from a published template and data. Returns a hosted PDF URL by default.

Request Body

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
templateId	string	Required	Template to use. Public templates: invoice-basic, weekly-report, calendar-schedule, kpi-dashboard. Or a custom published templateId.
data	object	Required	Data that matches the template schema. See Template Payloads below.
options	object	Optional	PDF output options (format, orientation, margins). See PDF Options.
outputFormat	string	Optional	"url" (default), "base64", or "buffer". See Output Formats.
webhook	object	Optional	Async delivery. Object with url (string) and optional headers (object). See Webhooks.

Response

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
success	boolean	Required	Whether the request succeeded
pdfUrl	string	Optional	Hosted PDF URL (when outputFormat is "url")
base64	string	Optional	Base64-encoded PDF (when outputFormat is "base64")
templateId	string	Required	The template that was used
generatedAt	string	Required	ISO 8601 timestamp

Response Headers

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
X-Generation-Time-Ms	number	Required	Time taken to generate the PDF (ms)
X-PDF-Size-Bytes	number	Required	Size of the generated PDF (bytes)
X-Usage-Remaining	number	Required	Remaining PDF generations for the current billing period
X-RateLimit-Limit	number	Required	Requests allowed per minute
X-RateLimit-Remaining	number	Required	Requests left in this window
X-RateLimit-Reset	number	Required	Unix timestamp when the window resets

Example

javascript

const response = await fetch('https://api.docujson.com/v1/generate', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': 'Bearer dj_your_api_key',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 'weekly-report',
    data: {
      reportTitle: 'Engineering Weekly Status',
      versionAsOf: '04/13/2026',
      projects: [
        {
          title: 'Platform Migration',
          status: 'In Progress',
          progress: 68,
          releaseDate: '05/15/2026',
        },
      ],
    },
    options: {
      format: 'Letter',
      orientation: 'portrait',
    },
  }),
});

const { success, pdfUrl } = await response.json();
console.log(pdfUrl);

List Templates

GET/api/v1/templates

Returns all available templates. No authentication required for public templates.

Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
category	string	Optional	Filter by category: calendar, report, dashboard, invoice
id	string	Optional	Get a specific template by ID

Example Response

json

{
  "templates": [
    { "id": "invoice-basic",     "name": "Basic Invoice",          "category": "invoice",   "version": "1.0.0" },
    { "id": "weekly-report",     "name": "Weekly Project Report",  "category": "report",    "version": "1.0.0" },
    { "id": "calendar-schedule", "name": "Project Calendar",       "category": "calendar",  "version": "1.0.0" },
    { "id": "kpi-dashboard",     "name": "KPI Dashboard",          "category": "dashboard", "version": "1.0.0" }
  ],
  "total": 4,
  "categories": ["calendar", "report", "dashboard", "invoice", "certificate", "custom"]
}

Template Schema

GET/api/v1/templates/:id/schema

Returns the JSON schema and default PDF options for a specific template. Use this to validate your data before calling the generate endpoint.

Path Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
id	string	Required	Template ID (e.g., invoice-basic, weekly-report)

Example

bash

curl https://api.docujson.com/v1/templates/invoice-basic/schema

json

{
  "templateId": "invoice-basic",
  "templateName": "Basic Invoice",
  "schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "required": ["invoiceNumber", "items", "client"],
    "properties": {
      "invoiceNumber": { "type": "string", "description": "Invoice number" },
      "items": { "type": "array", "items": { ... } },
      "client": { "type": "object", "properties": { ... } }
    }
  },
  "defaultOptions": {
    "format": "Letter",
    "orientation": "portrait",
    "margin": { "top": "0.75in", "right": "0.75in", "bottom": "0.75in", "left": "0.75in" }
  }
}

Output Formats

Control how the generated PDF is delivered using the outputFormat field.

urlDefault

Returns a hosted PDF URL via Vercel Blob Storage. The URL is permanent and never expires. Best for Airtable attachment fields, email links, and most integrations.

base64

Returns the PDF as a base64-encoded string in the JSON response body. Useful when you need to process the PDF directly without downloading it.

buffer

Returns the raw PDF binary as the response body with Content-Type: application/pdf. Ideal for direct file downloads or piping to storage.

json

{
  "templateId": "invoice-basic",
  "data": { ... },
  "outputFormat": "base64"
}

// Response:
{
  "success": true,
  "base64": "JVBERi0xLjQKJeLjz9MKMSAwIG9ia...",
  "templateId": "invoice-basic",
  "generatedAt": "2026-04-13T12:00:00.000Z"
}

PDF Options

Customize the PDF output using the options field. These override template defaults.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
format	string	Optional	"Letter" (default), "A4", or "Legal"
orientation	string	Optional	"portrait" (default) or "landscape"
margin	object	Optional	Custom margins: { top, right, bottom, left } as CSS strings (e.g., "0.5in", "10mm")
displayHeaderFooter	boolean	Optional	Show header/footer in the PDF
headerTemplate	string	Optional	Custom HTML header template
footerTemplate	string	Optional	Custom HTML footer template

json

{
  "templateId": "kpi-dashboard",
  "data": { ... },
  "options": {
    "format": "A4",
    "orientation": "landscape",
    "margin": { "top": "0.5in", "right": "0.5in", "bottom": "0.5in", "left": "0.5in" }
  }
}

Webhooks

For long-running PDF generation, include a webhook.url in your request. DocuJSON will POST the result to your URL when the PDF is ready.

Webhooks are available on Starter and above. This is the recommended pattern when using platforms with short timeouts (Airtable 30s, Zapier 30s).

json

// Request
{
  "templateId": "calendar-schedule",
  "data": { ... },
  "webhook": {
    "url": "https://hooks.zapier.com/your-catch-hook",
    "headers": { "X-Webhook-Secret": "your-secret-value" }
  }
}

When the PDF is ready, DocuJSON sends a POST request to your webhook URL:

json

// Webhook payload (POST to your URL)
{
  "success": true,
  "pdfUrl": "https://blob.vercel-storage.com/calendar-abc123.pdf",
  "templateId": "calendar-schedule",
  "generatedAt": "2026-04-13T12:00:00.000Z"
}

Errors

Standard HTTP status codes. Error bodies follow this shape:

json

{
  "error": {
    "code": "invalid_template_data",
    "message": "Field 'invoice_number' is required",
    "request_id": "req_xyz789"
  }
}

Include request_id when filing a support ticket — it makes debugging much faster.

Status	Error	Description
400	Missing required field: templateId	Request body is missing templateId
400	Missing required field: data	Request body is missing data object
400	Template 'x' not found	Invalid template ID. Returns list of available templates.
400	Invalid data for template	Data doesn't match the template schema. Returns validationErrors array.
401	Missing API key	No Authorization or X-API-Key header provided
401	Invalid or inactive API key	API key is incorrect or has been deactivated
403	Template 'x' is not enabled	Template exists but isn't enabled for your workspace
403	Workspace is suspended	Your workspace has been suspended
429	Monthly PDF generation limit reached	You've hit your plan's monthly limit.
500	PDF generation failed	Internal error during rendering. Returns details.

Rate Limits

PDF generation is rate-limited per workspace based on your plan. Every response includes rate-limit headers so you can adapt your client.

Plan	Monthly PDFs	Templates	Webhooks
Hobby	100	All public	—
Starter	1,000	All + custom uploads	Included
Business	10,000	All + AI builder	Included
Enterprise	100,000+	Custom	Included

When you hit your limit, the API returns a 429 with your current usage. Limits reset on the 1st of each month. View full pricing

Template Payloads

Complete example payloads for each public template. Use the Schema API to get the full JSON schema for validation.

Basic Invoice

invoice-basicHobby

Required fields: invoiceNumber, items, client

json

{
  "templateId": "invoice-basic",
  "data": {
    "invoiceNumber": "INV-2026-001",
    "invoiceDate": "2026-04-13",
    "dueDate": "2026-05-13",
    "company": {
      "name": "Northwind Consulting",
      "address": "742 Evergreen Terrace, Suite 200",
      "email": "billing@northwind.io"
    },
    "client": {
      "name": "Meridian Technologies",
      "address": "1600 Innovation Blvd",
      "email": "accounts@meridiantech.com"
    },
    "items": [
      { "description": "Web Development", "quantity": 40, "unitPrice": 150, "amount": 6000 },
      { "description": "Design Review",   "quantity": 8,  "unitPrice": 125, "amount": 1000 }
    ],
    "subtotal": 7000,
    "tax": 630,
    "total": 7630
  }
}

Weekly Report

weekly-reportHobby

Required fields: projects

json

{
  "templateId": "weekly-report",
  "data": {
    "reportTitle": "Engineering Weekly Status",
    "versionAsOf": "04/13/2026",
    "projects": [
      {
        "title": "Platform Migration",
        "status": "In Progress",
        "releaseDate": "06/15/2026",
        "progress": 68,
        "milestones": [
          { "name": "Architecture Review", "startDate": "03/15/2026", "status": "Pending" }
        ],
        "updates": {
          "thisWeek": { "text": "Completed database schema migration." },
          "lastWeek": { "text": "API gateway configuration finalized." }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Calendar Schedule

calendar-scheduleStarter

Required fields: months

json

{
  "templateId": "calendar-schedule",
  "data": {
    "projectTitle": "Product Launch 2026",
    "orientation": "Landscape",
    "masthead": ["04.13.26", "PRODUCT LAUNCH", "RELEASE SCHEDULE", "12 WEEKS"],
    "palette":   { "dev": "#7c3aed", "review": "#ea580c", "milestone": "#b45309" },
    "legend":    { "dev": "Development Sprint", "review": "Review", "milestone": "Milestone" },
    "months":    [{ "y": 2026, "m": 3 }, { "y": 2026, "m": 4 }, { "y": 2026, "m": 5 }],
    "events":    [{ "date": "2026-05-01", "kind": "milestone", "text": "Launch Day" }],
    "ranges":    [{ "start": "2026-04-01", "end": "2026-04-12", "kind": "review", "label": "QA" }]
  }
}

KPI Dashboard

kpi-dashboardStarter

Required fields: title, metrics

json

{
  "templateId": "kpi-dashboard",
  "data": {
    "title": "Q1 2026 Performance Dashboard",
    "subtitle": "January - March 2026",
    "metrics": [
      { "label": "Revenue",       "value": "$1.2M", "change": "+12%",  "trend": "up" },
      { "label": "Active Users",  "value": "8,432", "change": "+5%",   "trend": "up" },
      { "label": "Churn Rate",    "value": "2.1%",  "change": "-0.3%", "trend": "down" },
      { "label": "NPS Score",     "value": "72",    "change": "+4",    "trend": "up" }
    ]
  }
}

Ready to generate your first PDF?

Create a free account, draft your first template with AI, and ship it to your API in minutes.

Build a template with AI.Call it from your API.

Quickstart (5 minutes)

Sign up and grab your API key

Build a template (or use a preset)

Make your first request

You get back a PDF URL

Authentication

AI Template Builder

Generate PDF

Request Body

Response

Response Headers

Example

List Templates

Query Parameters

Example Response

Template Schema

Path Parameters

Example

Output Formats

PDF Options

Webhooks

Errors

Rate Limits

Template Payloads

Basic Invoice

Weekly Report

Calendar Schedule

KPI Dashboard

Ready to generate your first PDF?

Build a template with AI.
Call it from your API.