---
author: ''
category: ''
date: 2008/09/10 23:32
description: ''
link: ''
priority: ''
slug: BB753
tags: programming, python, rst2pdf
title: Using vector images in reportlab
type: text
updated: 2008/09/10 23:32
url_type: ''
---
One of the big limitations of reportlab is that it has no support for vector-based images. You can't insert SVG, EPS or any other vector-based format in your documents.

Until now.

By hijacking another app called uniconvertor_, I have managed to insert *as vectors* SVG images in a reportlab document.

Here's the hackish code:

.. code-block:: python

  import sys,os
  from app.io import load
  from app.plugins import plugins
  import app
  from reportlab.platypus import *
  from reportlab.lib.styles import getSampleStyleSheet
  from reportlab.lib.units import inch

  app.init_lib()
  plugins.load_plugin_configuration()


  class SVGImage(Flowable):
    def __init__(self,imgname):
      self.doc = load.load_drawing(imgname)
      for k in dir(self.doc):
        print k    
      self.saver = plugins.find_export_plugin(plugins.guess_export_plugin(".pdf"))
      Flowable.__init__(self)
      
    def wrap(self,aW,aH):
      br=self.doc.BoundingRect()
      return br[2],br[3]
      
    def drawOn(self,canv,x,y,_sW=0):
      canv.translate(x,y)
      self.saver (self.doc,".ignoreme.pdf",options={'pdfgen_canvas':canv})
      os.unlink(".ignoreme.pdf")
    
  styles = getSampleStyleSheet()
  def go():
      doc = SimpleDocTemplate("phello.pdf")
      Story = [Spacer(1,2*inch)]
      style = styles["Normal"]
      p = SVGImage('warning.svg')
      Story.append(p)
      doc.build(Story)

  go()

It has several problems (see where the second paragraph ended), but it *does* work. 

To run it, you need a warning.svg file (edit as needed) and
you run it this way (replacing the path as proper for your setup)::

  PYTHONPATH=/usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/uniconvertor/ python use_uniconv.py

In fact, this is not limited to SVG files. You should be able to use the following formats:

* CorelDRAW ver.7-X3,X4 (CDR/CDT/CCX/CDRX/CMX)

* Adobe Illustrator up to 9 ver. (AI postscript based)

* Postscript (PS)

* Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)

* Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)

* Windows Metafile (WMF)

* XFIG

* Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)

* Skencil/Sketch/sK1 (SK and SK1)

* Acorn Draw (AFF)

.. _uniconvertor: http://sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor