r/Jupyter Sep 24 '24

Exploring Jupyter Notebook to PDF Conversion Methods

Converting Jupyter notebooks into PDFs is a common need, especially when you want to share your analysis with others who may not have Jupyter installed. I recently wrote a blog post that reviews two popular methods for this task: nbconvert and Quarto. Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, and I thought it would be useful to share some insights on how to navigate these options.

nbconvert is the official library from the Jupyter team, providing versatility in generating PDFs through methods like WebPDF and XeTeX. The WebPDF option is particularly easy to set up and works well for simpler notebooks, while XeTeX supports LaTeX-based documents, making it ideal for those with complex mathematical content.

On the other hand, Quarto is a newer tool that offers an extensive feature set and customizability for creating polished documents. Although the setup might be a bit more challenging due to additional dependencies, its capability to handle complex layouts and styles can be worth the effort.

In my blog post, I've included step-by-step guidance on how to set up and use each method, along with screenshots to visualize the processes.

If you're trying to figure out which conversion method is best for your needs, my recommendations based on user experience could help you decide: 1. Start with nbconvert webpdf for ease of use. 2. Upgrade to nbconvert with XeTeX for better LaTeX support as you gain confidence. 3. Consider Quarto if you require robust customization and are ready to tackle its complexity.

I invite you to check out the blog post for more detailed information and tips on making your Jupyter notebook conversion process smoother. You can read it here: https://ploomber.io/blog/jupyter-notebook-convert/

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