How to convert an XML file to PDF
You are the owner of a commercial activity and, after adopting the electronic invoicing system, you found yourself managing dozens and dozens of XML files containing the data relating to the invoices issued and received. Although you have full track of your accounting, you would still like to “keep” digital invoices in PDF format, so that you can read them from any device, without the need to rely on specific software or dedicated online services.
How do you say? Have I definitely hit the point? Perfect, then let me tell you: you’ve come to the right place, at a time that couldn’t have been better! In fact, below I will explain to you in detail how to convert an XML file to PDF either by using specific programs or functionalities of the computer operating systems, or by using a series of Web portals for the purpose. In particular, it will be my care to provide you with instructions that are valid both for the “generic” XML files (ie those that must be read as they are) and for files containing information relating to electronic invoicing.
So, without waiting a moment longer, take a few minutes of free time for yourself and read very carefully everything I have to explain on the subject: I am sure that, once you have finished reading this guide, you will be able to carry out the conversion of the files in question, thus making them conveniently usable through any device you have. Having said that, there is nothing left for me to do but wish you good reading and good work!
Index
- How to convert XML to PDF for free
- Print to PDF (Windows / macOS)
- AssoInvoice (Windows / macOS)
- How to convert an XML file to PDF online
- Aconvert XML to PDF
- MKT Converter
- How to convert an XML file to PDF Agenzia delle Entrate
- How to convert a p7m XML file to PDF
How to convert XML to PDF for free
If you need software that allows you to convert an XML file to PDF for free, then you are in the section of this guide that is best for you.
In fact, below I am going to provide you with a couple of solutions that will surely help you achieve your goal: the first involves converting the file via the PDF printer integrated in Windows 10 and macOS (and obtainable on other versions of Windows via specific free software); the second, on the other hand, is dedicated to the correct conversion of XML files containing electronic invoices (which, therefore, require additional formatting) and involves the use of the open-source program AssoInvoice, which is available for free for Windows, macOS and Linux: here are all the details.
Print to PDF (Windows / macOS)
If you need to convert an XML file to PDF as it is, therefore, without applying additional formatting to make it “readable” (which, as you will soon discover, is necessary to correctly view the electronic invoices available in this format), you can act easily using the PDF printer available “standard” in Windows 10 and in all versions of macOS.
If you were using an older version of Windows, you can perform direct printing (and therefore conversion) to a PDF file by installing additional software such as doPDF in advance: if you need help in this regard, consult my guide on how to print to PDF, in which I have provided you with all the relevant information.
In any case, first of all, open the XML file of your interest using one of the programs compatible with this format (e.g. the browser, WordPad / Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS or, again, Microsoft Excel ) and access the Print functionality integrated in the program of your choice, using the most appropriate menu or the key combination Ctrl + P (for Windows) or cmd + p (for macOS). If you don’t know how to open an xml document using one of the programs I mentioned earlier, you can refer to the instructions I pointed out to you in my tutorial on how to open .xml files.
Once the program print screen is displayed, if you are on Windows, locate the drop-down menu for the printer you are using and set it to Microsoft Print to PDF (on Windows 10) or doPDF (on previous versions of Windows), then click on the Print button and indicate the folder in which to save the generated PDF file.
If, on the other hand, you are on macOS, click on the PDF drop-down menu located at the bottom left, select the item Save as PDF and indicate the folder in which to store the converted file. That’s all!
AssoInvoice (Windows / macOS)
If you intend to convert an XML file related to an electronic invoice to PDF, a program like AssoInvoice can help you: this software, available free for Windows, macOS and Linux and based on Java, allows you to view and print (also in PDF, after appropriate configuration) XML documents relating to electronic invoicing.
To obtain it, connected to the software website, click on the icon relating to the operating system you are using (eg Windows or macOS ) and wait for the most appropriate package to be downloaded to your computer. Once this is done, if you are on Windows, launch the .exe file obtained (eg. Windows_AssoInvoice_xy.exe ), click on the Yes and Next buttons, accept the license agreement by placing the checkmark next to the appropriate item, press the button Next, repeat the same operation again in the next window, press Next twice in a row, then on the Install and Finish buttons, therefore, start the newly installed program by recalling it from the Windows Start menu.
If you are using macOS, on the other hand, open the Downloads folder in the Finder, right-click on the .zip file obtained previously, click on the Open item located in the proposed menu and then on the Open button. If you receive an error regarding the absence of Java software, install the Java Runtime Environment following the instructions I have provided you in this guide and try to open the file as seen above.
Once started AssoInvoice, press the two buttons I approve shown on the screen to accept the license of use of the program, click on the button (⋮) placed in the upper left, then on the small icon in the folder placed in the box Select Working Directory therefore, it indicates the folder in which you have previously saved the XML file (or files) to be displayed.
Subsequently, presses on the preview of the invoice indicated in the central box of the program and choose the saving format you prefer ( Simplified, Complete or Ministerial ) by acting on the drop-down menu located next to the customer’s company name.
At this point, you can proceed to save the file in PDF using the print-to-file function integrated in the Windows 10 operating system: click, therefore, on the printer-shaped icon located in the right pane of the program, intervene on the Select drop-down menu the printer to set the Printer Microsoft Print to PDF item and, finally, click the OK button to choose the folder in which to save the converted file.
Note: if you are using a version of Windows prior to Windows 10 and you do not have the system PDF printer available, you can work around it through a third-party software that can make up for this lack, as I explained to you in the previous section of this guide.
If, on the other hand, you are on Mac, you cannot use the system printing function directly, but you can work around by saving the xml document in an HTML file in advance: click on the Download button (the arrow with the line at the bottom ), proceed to save of the file in the folder you prefer and, when you are done, open it in Safari by simply double-clicking on it.
To conclude, access the browser print window ( File> Print menu or combination of keys cmd + p ), click on the PDF drop-down menu located at the bottom left and, finally, choose Save as PDF from the proposed menu.
How to convert an XML file to PDF online
Didn’t the solutions given above help you, since you don’t have the possibility to install any software for managing and converting XML files? No problem: in this case, valid online services that are equally efficient can come to your aid, such as Aconvert (for converting “generic” XML) and MKT (for converting electronic invoices). Below you will find everything explained in detail.
Aconvert XML to PDF
To convert an XML file to PDF using the service offered by Aconvert, proceed as follows: first connect to this website, click on the Choose file button located on the page that is proposed to you and select, with the help of the panel that appears on the screen, the XML file to convert.
Next, make sure that the Target format drop-down menu is set to PDF, press the Convert now button to start the analysis and conversion process and, finally, click on the xxxyyy.pdf link, located in the Output file column, to immediately download the file converted. It wasn’t difficult at all, was it?
I inform you that the site deletes the files uploaded to its servers a few hours after the upload, so it promises to better protect the user’s privacy.
MKT Converter
If you have the intention to turn into a PDF XML file containing an electronic invoice, then you’re in good advice to rely converter offered by MKT.it. Before proceeding, however, I want to warn you that, during the conversion phase, the system will apply an identification watermark, which is a small wording in the margin of the last sheet of the invoice indicating the name of the portal used.
Having made this important premise, it’s time to take action: first, connected to the website of the service in question, click on the Choose file button, then select the XML file you want to convert. Once the upload is complete, indicate the PDF Model ( Compact or Ministerial format ) that best suits your needs using the appropriate drop-down menu, put the check mark next to the item I’m not a robot to pass the security check and, to convert and view the file, click on the Convert and Print PDF buttons
Finally, use the save/download functionality attached to the window that opens, choose the folder in which to download the file and press the Save button to finalize everything.
Since there is no precise information in this regard, it is possible that the files uploaded to the service’s servers will not be deleted within a short time after the upload. Take this factor into account from a privacy perspective.
How to convert an XML file to PDF Agenzia delle Entrate
Mainly, you have two ways to convert an XML file to PDF from the Revenue Agency website: the first is to immediately download the PDF relating to an invoice being prepared (remembering that the file to be transmitted to the ES is in any case the XML type remains); the second, on the other hand, is to download the XML file from the Consultation area of the portal and convert it at a later time.
To convert an XML file into PDF relating to an invoice that you are preparing to fill out, proceed as follows: first, prepare the digital invoice by connecting to the Invoices and Fees area of the Revenue Agency website and entering, where required, the access credentials (or using the SPID system or, again, the National Service Card), therefore, access the electronic invoicing area and indicate the type of invoice to be filled in (eg ordinary invoice ).
At this point, enter all the necessary information (eg the recipient code or the electronic address communicated by the customer, the related personal data, the goods and services with the relative amounts and rates, and so on) as you usually would; when you are done, access the Summary tab and, after carefully checking the information entered, press the Confirm button to perform the checks of the receiving system.
Once this check has been carried out, the game is practically done: you can directly download the PDF file relating to the electronic invoice just processed by clicking on the View PDF button located at the bottom of the page and using the appropriate browser functionality to save it on your computer.
Remember that, in order for the invoice to be valid, you must proceed with the validation of the XML file through the Exchange System: save the XML file on your computer, digitally sign it and then submit it to the aforementioned system for appropriate checks.
If you want to transform the XML file of an invoice already processed or received into PDF, you must, instead, access the area of data relevant for VAT purposes located in the Consultation box of the Revenue Agency portal; Once this is done, define the reference date of the invoice of your interest using the left box, press the Search button and, once you have identified the invoice of your interest in the right part of the window, click on the button in the shape of a magnifying glass to view the details of the invoice.
Once the next screen has been downloaded, click on the Download invoice file item to obtain the XML file relating to the document just viewed and, later, convert it into a PDF file using the instructions I provided in the chapters dedicated to free conversion and conversion via online tools of this guide.
How to convert a p7m XML file to PDF
If you find yourself in front of a file with the extension XML.p7m, it is very likely that it is an electronic invoice to which a digital signature has been previously affixed: for this reason, before even carrying out the conversion, it is necessary to analyze and validate the signature to view the content of the XML document included in the file in question.
This result can be obtained using some software designed for the purpose, such as ArubaSign or Dike, or specific online services, such as PosteCert or InfoCert: for more detailed information about their use, I urge you to consult my specific guide on opening files. PDF.p7m, easily adaptable also for saving XML documents.
In any case, once the digital signature has been decrypted and the unprotected XML file of your interest has been “extracted”, you can proceed with its conversion using one of the methods I explained to you in the preceding bars of this guide.
Alternatively, you can upload the XML.p7m file directly to the conversion portal offered by MKT, which also offers full support to the type of documents in question, using the same steps I showed you previously.