SQL to PDF

About SQL to PDF

This SQL to PDF tool converts SQL queries into formatted PDF documents using client-side JavaScript processing. The tool includes a SQL formatter that tokenizes input and adds appropriate line breaks before keywords like SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN, and ORDER BY.

The conversion uses jsPDF library to generate PDF files with monospace font (Courier) for proper code alignment. All processing happens locally in your browser without any server upload.

SQL Formatting Algorithm

The formatter uses a tokenization approach to parse SQL:

1. Tokenization: Split SQL into tokens (keywords, identifiers, operators, punctuation)
2. String Handling: Preserve string literals (single/double quoted) exactly as written
3. Keyword Detection: Identify SQL keywords that should start new lines
4. Indentation Tracking: Increase indent after opening parentheses, decrease after closing
5. Line Building: Assemble formatted output with appropriate line breaks and indentation

SQL Keywords That Trigger Line Breaks

PDF Generation Process

// Initialize PDF with A4 size (points unit)
const pdf = new jsPDF('p', 'pt', 'a4');

// Set fonts
pdf.setFont('helvetica', 'bold');
pdf.setFontSize(14);
pdf.text(title, margin, y); // Title line

// Switch to monospace for code
pdf.setFont('courier', 'normal');
pdf.setFontSize(9);

// Process each line
lines.forEach(line => {
  const wrapped = pdf.splitTextToSize(line, usableWidth);
  wrapped.forEach(segment => {
    if (y > pageHeight - margin) {
      pdf.addPage();
      y = margin;
    }
    pdf.text(segment, margin, y);
    y += 12; // Line height
  });
});

pdf.save('sql-document.pdf');

Common Use Cases

• Query Documentation: Create readable documentation for complex stored procedures and views
• Code Review: Share SQL queries with team members in a universally readable format
• Training Materials: Generate handouts for database training sessions and workshops
• Compliance Archiving: Preserve audit queries and reporting SQL for regulatory requirements
• Specification Documents: Include SQL specifications in technical documentation packages
• Client Deliverables: Provide query definitions to clients who need PDF format

SQL Tokenization Implementation

function tokenizeSql(sql) {
  let tokens = [];
  let current = "";
  let quote = null;

  for (let i = 0; i < sql.length; i++) {
    let ch = sql[i];

    // Handle string literals
    if (quote) {
      current += ch;
      if (ch === quote && sql[i-1] !== "\\") {
        quote = null;
      }
      continue;
    }

    if (ch === "'" || ch === '"' || ch === "`") {
      current += ch;
      quote = ch;
      continue;
    }

    // Handle whitespace
    if (/\s/.test(ch)) {
      if (current) {
        tokens.push(current);
        current = "";
      }
      continue;
    }

    // Handle punctuation
    if (ch === "," || ch === "(" || ch === ")") {
      if (current) {
        tokens.push(current);
        current = "";
      }
      tokens.push(ch);
      continue;
    }

    current += ch;
  }

  if (current) tokens.push(current);
  return tokens;
}

Font Selection for Code PDFs

Page Layout Considerations

• Margins: 36 points (0.5 inches) on all sides provides adequate white space
• Line Height: 12 points for 9pt font gives comfortable reading spacing
• Page Breaks: Automatic when content exceeds page height minus margin
• Text Wrapping: splitTextToSize handles word breaks at usable width