Getting Started with Advanced PDF in NetSuite

Advanced PDF/HTML templates in NetSuite allow you to design and customize transaction forms (Invoices, Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, Credit Memos, etc.) with full control over formatting, branding, and data fields. Unlike standard layouts, Advanced PDFs use HTML, CSS, and FreeMarker to give you flexibility.

🔹 Why Use Advanced PDF?

• Branding Control – Add company logos, headers, footers, and custom styling.
• Dynamic Data – Pull in NetSuite fields, custom fields, and transaction details.
• Conditional Logic – Show or hide fields depending on values (e.g., display VAT only for EU customers).
• Multi-Subsidiary Support – Handle multiple legal entities with different branding.
• Professional Layouts – Create invoice and statement formats that match your corporate identity.

🔹 Enabling Advanced PDF Templates

1. Go to Setup > Company > Enable Features.
2. Under SuiteCloud, ensure Advanced PDF/HTML Templates is checked.
3. Save your changes.

🔹 Working with Templates

• Navigate to Customization > Forms > Advanced PDF/HTML Templates.
• You can either:
  • Clone an existing template (recommended) so you don’t edit NetSuite defaults.
  • Create New to design from scratch.
• Once saved, assign it to a transaction form under Customization > Forms > Transaction Forms.

🔹 Editing Templates

• Templates are built with HTML + CSS for structure and styling.
• Use FreeMarker syntax (e.g., ${record.entity}) to insert NetSuite data fields.
• You can add logic like:

<#if record.subsidiary == "Canada">
   <p>GST Number: ${record.custbody_gstnumber}</p>
</#if>

(This will show GST number only for Canadian subsidiary transactions.)

🔹 Best Practices

• Always clone first, never edit the standard templates directly.
• Use inline CSS for consistent printing results.
• Keep a backup copy before applying changes.
• Test across multiple records (different subsidiaries, currencies, etc.).