PDF Generator turns your Pattern PXM product data into finished PDF sell sheets, spec sheets and line lists. This article covers the two template types, mapping attributes and images, adding header and footer art, generating PDFs and fixing common problems.
Availability: PDF Generator is a contracted feature, so availability can vary by account; check with your Pattern CSM (Customer Success Manager).
1. Types of PDF templates
PDF Sheet (single product)
One product per PDF.
Pulls the product’s mapped attributes and its Primary Display image. Multi-image layouts pull from a media stack.
Each field on the template maps to an attribute in PXM.
If a product has no value for a mapped attribute, that field is blank in the PDF.
Line List (multiple products)
Several products in one PDF.
Add the products to a Lightbox first, then generate the PDF from the Lightbox.
Attributes are mapped the same way as PDF Sheet templates.
2. Open your PDF template settings
You need Admin or Super Admin access to see PDF template settings.
Go to Settings > EXPORTS.
Choose PDF SHEET for single-product templates or LINE LIST for multi-product templates.
Click EDIT on the template you want to set up.
Don’t see a template? Templates aren’t pre-built. Your Pattern CSM requests each one for your account, and it appears under Settings > EXPORTS once it’s ready.
3. Map attributes
Map one attribute to each field in the template. The number of mapped attributes should match the number of fields in the template.
To change an attribute, click the pencil icon, then search for and select the attribute you want.
To print the attribute name before its value, check the box next to the attribute.
Drag attributes to reorder them.
Save after each change.
4. Map images
Single-image templates always use the product’s Primary Display image. They can’t be set to pull from a media stack.
Multi-image templates pull images from a media stack, in stack order. Put the stack in the order you want before generating. See Creating Media Stacks.
5. Add header and footer art
Headers and footers are images, not mapped fields. Create one JPG that includes both the header and the footer, built to these specs:
Small header/footer: 2448 x 305 pixels (each)
Large header: 2448 x 1024 pixels
Large footer: 2448 x 360 pixels
Large middle section: 2448 x 3168 pixels
Leave the middle section blank; PXM fills it with your mapped content. Your Pattern CSM can share the header and footer reference templates.
Set the background image on a template
Upload your header/footer JPG to PXM.
Go to Settings > EXPORTS and click EDIT on the template.
Click Set a Template Background Image, then SELECT AN IMAGE and choose your file.
Save the template.
The image picker only lists image files. PDFs don’t work as template images, so if your letterhead is a PDF, convert it to an image first.
6. Generate PDFs
Single-product PDF
In the product folder, click ••• (bottom right), then select Generate PDF.
Or, in the Products view, select exactly one product, open the ••• Batch Action menu and select Generate PDF. Pick a template under SELECT TEMPLATE, then click GENERATE PDF.
The PDF opens in a new browser tab. On some accounts, Generate PDF in the Products view appears greyed out; availability can vary by account; check with your Pattern CSM.
Multi-product PDF (Line List)
In the Products view, tick the products using the product checkboxes, then use ••• > Add to lightbox.
Open the Lightbox, click ••• (bottom right) and select Generate PDF.
Choose your Line List template.
A Line List needs products in the Lightbox, not individual files or images. You can add up to 1,000 items to a Lightbox at a time, so add larger sets in batches.
7. Limitations
PDF templates are hard-coded, with a fixed number of text fields and image slots.
Long attribute values (for example, descriptions) may be cut off. There’s no fixed character limit; your Pattern CSM can share rough per-template estimates.
Very large generations (several thousand images) can time out, so split big catalogs into smaller runs.
PDF Generator doesn’t create price-book or catalog table layouts. Instead, export your data with a Custom Export template, lay it out in your own design tool, upload the finished PDF to PXM and use Get Shareable Link to share it. Anyone with the link can view the PDF; no sign-in is needed.
8. Troubleshooting
“Template not found” error: check that the number of mapped attributes matches the template’s fields. Some templates need a minimum number of mapped attributes.
“lightbox does not create folders” error: the Lightbox holds files instead of products. Clear the Lightbox and re-add the items using the product checkboxes.
Images aren’t showing in the PDF: templates with smaller images use the small PNG variant. Make sure it’s enabled in Settings > ASSETS > Image Conversion, then rebuild variants in the Files view: select the files > ••• > Convert. Convert starts as soon as you click it, so select only about 100–200 images at a time; converting too many at once can make your account unresponsive.
Generate PDF is greyed out or missing: in the Products view, select exactly one product. If it’s still unavailable, availability can vary by account; check with your Pattern CSM.
9. Custom templates
Want your own layout? Create a mock-up and send it to your Pattern CSM with detailed requirements, including:
Font preferences (custom fonts can be requested)
Bold, italic and underline specifications
Colors (include hex codes)
Any other design or mapping details
Pattern confirms whether the design is feasible and quotes the build based on its complexity. Your Pattern CSM confirms any fee before work starts.