SandroBegashvil/MQLPDF
Watch
1
0
Fork
You've already forked MQLPDF
 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases 2 Packages Wiki Activity Actions
2 releases 2 tags
  • part-01 d2f81363c3

    Part 1 - Writing a PDF by hand Stable

    Sandro Begashvili released this 2026-08-25 13:12:35 +00:00 | 5 commits to main since this release

    MQLPDF — a PDF creation library in pure MQL5

    Source code for the mql5.com article series "Building a PDF Creation Library in MQL5".

    Part 1: https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/24094

    MQLPDF is developed step by step throughout the series, starting with the
    fundamentals of the PDF file format and gradually building the components needed
    to create complete PDF documents directly from MQL5.

    The goal is not to wrap an external PDF library or rely on third-party tools.
    Instead, the series explores how a PDF document is structured internally and
    implements the required pieces in pure MQL5, eventually forming a reusable
    library for generating PDF files.

    Which version do I want?

    Use the release that matches the article you are reading. Each part of the
    series has its own release, frozen at the state explained in that article. This
    means you can follow the implementation step by step without finding code that
    depends on concepts introduced only in later parts.

    Release Article What it adds
    part-01 Part 1 — Writing a PDF by Hand Review the PDF structure and write the first PDFs
    ... ... Later parts will be added as they are published

    Later parts are added to this table as they are published. The main branch is
    always the newest state of the library and may therefore be ahead of the latest
    published article.

    Installing

    Download the release archive that matches the article you are reading and
    extract it over your terminal's data folder (File → Open Data Folder in
    MetaTrader 5). The archive already has the correct directory structure, so the
    files land where they belong:

    MQL5/
├── Include/
│   └── MQLPDF/
└── Scripts/
    └── MQLPDF/
        └── Part 01/
           └── Demo01_HelloPdf.mq5

    Then open the demo for the article in MetaEditor, compile it with F7, and
    run it as described in the corresponding article.

    Library headers are included in the usual way:

    #include <MQLPDF/...>

    Each release contains only the library components and demonstration files needed
    for that stage of the series, allowing the codebase to evolve alongside the
    articles.

    What is this series building?

    A PDF file may look like a single document from the user's perspective, but
    internally it is a structured collection of objects, streams, references and
    other components. MQLPDF is built by exploring and implementing these concepts
    step by step.

    As the series progresses, the library will gradually grow from low-level PDF
    file construction into a higher-level interface for creating documents.

    The implementation may eventually cover concepts such as:

    • PDF file and document structure
    • Objects and indirect references
    • Cross-reference information
    • Pages and page trees
    • Content streams
    • Text and fonts
    • Drawing operations and graphics
    • Images
    • Tables and higher-level document elements
    • Document layout and reusable components

    The exact scope of each release follows the progression of the article series.

    Scope

    MQLPDF is a native MQL5 PDF generation library. Its purpose is to allow MQL5
    programs to create PDF documents directly from code while keeping the underlying
    PDF structure accessible and understandable.

    The project is developed as both a practical library and an educational journey.
    Rather than treating PDF generation as a black box, the series explains the
    format and the implementation decisions behind the code.

    The final library is intended to provide progressively higher-level tools for
    creating documents, while the lower-level components remain available for users
    who need more control over the generated PDF.

    Removing it

    All library files and demonstration programs are installed inside the terminal's
    data folder. Removing the MQLPDF folders from MQL5/Include/ and
    MQL5/Scripts/ removes the installed source code and demos.

    Generated PDF files are handled by the corresponding demonstration or user
    program and may need to be removed separately if they are no longer required.

    Copyright and use

    Copyright 2026, Sandro Begashvili

    You are free to use this code in your own projects and to extend it,
    commercially or otherwise. The only thing asked in return is attribution: keep a
    mention of the author's mql5.com profile in the source you derive from it.

    If you build something with it, I would genuinely like to see it — the Telegram
    link above is the fastest way to reach me.

    Downloads