Plain text is the longest-lasting document format there is. But a raw TXT file is awkward to print, attach to a formal record or read on a phone, where it may open as one long unwrapped line. TXT to PDF lays the text out on A4 pages in a monospaced font, keeps your line breaks and spacing, and wraps long lines so nothing runs off the edge.
How to use TXT to PDF
- Add the TXT file.
- Select Convert to PDF.
- Download the PDF.
- Scroll through to check that any special characters display correctly.
How the text is laid out
- Heading and monospaced pages: The file is read as text, placed under a heading showing its file name and rendered on A4 pages in a monospaced font.
- Why monospacing matters: Monospacing keeps columns of figures, code and aligned log entries lined up exactly as they were in the file.
- Line breaks are kept: Every line break and blank line is kept, and lines too long for the page wrap onto the next line instead of being cut off.
- Nothing is reflowed: Nothing else is reformatted or reflowed.
Character encoding matters
Text files don't record which character encoding they use.
- VelloDoc reads UTF-8: VelloDoc reads them as UTF-8, the standard on modern systems, which covers every script from accented Latin letters to Arabic and Chinese.
- Legacy encodings: Older files saved in legacy encodings, like some Windows or DOS exports, may show odd symbols in place of accented characters.
- The fix: Re-saving the file as UTF-8 in a text editor before converting fixes that.
Text that has structure
- If it's really Markdown: If the text is really Markdown, with headings marked by # signs and lists by dashes, Markdown to PDF turns that structure into formatted headings and lists.
- Data files convert better with CSV to PDF or JSON to PDF.
- Getting text back out: To get text back out of any PDF, use PDF to TXT.
- Where to read more: The format guide covers when plain text is the better format to keep.
When people use TXT to PDF
Server logs and error reports
Attach a readable, paginated log to a support ticket or incident report instead of a raw text file.
Exported chats and notes
Preserve exported message histories or meeting notes as a document that's easy to print and file.
Code listings for review
Share source code or configuration files as pages with alignment kept intact for printed review.
Limitations to know
TXT to PDF uses A4 pages and a fixed monospaced layout with no font or size options. Files are read as UTF-8, so legacy encodings may show incorrect characters, and the tool requires the WeasyPrint library on the server.
TXT to PDF: common questions
Will my line breaks and spacing be kept?
Yes. Line breaks, blank lines, tabs and spaces are preserved, and a monospaced font keeps aligned text lined up.
What paper size is used?
Pages are A4. When printing on US Letter paper, choose fit to page in the print dialog.
Why do some characters look wrong?
The file is probably saved in an older encoding instead of UTF-8. Open it in a text editor, save it as UTF-8 and convert it again.
Can I change the font or size?
Not in this tool. For formatted output, write the text as Markdown and use Markdown to PDF, or format it in a word processor and use Word to PDF.
Why is this tool unavailable on some servers?
Text conversion uses the WeasyPrint rendering library. When it isn't installed on a server, the tool says so clearly.