Basic FreeMarker Syntax in NetSuite Advanced PDF

NetSuite Advanced PDF/HTML templates use FreeMarker, a Java-based template engine, to insert dynamic data into your PDF layouts. FreeMarker allows you to:

• Print field values (e.g., customer name, invoice total).
• Loop through line items.
• Apply conditions (e.g., show a field only if not empty).
• Format dates, numbers, and currencies.

Below are the most common FreeMarker syntax elements allowed in NetSuite with practical examples.

🔹 Printing Fields

Use ${} to display field values.

<p>Invoice Number: ${record.tranid}</p>
<p>Customer: ${record.entity}</p>
<p>Total Amount: ${record.total}</p>

• record = transaction object (Invoice, Sales Order, PO, etc.).
• ${record.fieldId} = inserts the value of that field.

🔹 Conditional Statements

Use <#if> and <#else> for logic.

<#if record.custbody_discount?has_content>
   <p>Discount Applied: ${record.custbody_discount}</p>
<#else>
   <p>No discount available.</p>
</#if>

✔️ ?has_content checks if the field has a value.
✔️ You can compare values too:

<#if record.status == "Paid">
   <p><b>Thank you for your payment!</b></p>
</#if>

🔹 Looping Through Line Items

Use <#list> to iterate over sublists like item.

<table border="1" width="100%">
   <tr>
      <th>Item</th>
      <th>Quantity</th>
      <th>Rate</th>
      <th>Amount</th>
   </tr>
   <#list record.item as i>
      <tr>
         <td>${i.item}</td>
         <td>${i.quantity}</td>
         <td>${i.rate}</td>
         <td>${i.amount}</td>
      </tr>
   </#list>
</table>

✔️ record.item = item sublist.
✔️ ${i.fieldId} = field inside the sublist.

🔹 Formatting Dates & Numbers

NetSuite supports FreeMarker built-ins for formatting.

<p>Transaction Date: ${record.trandate?string("MMMM dd, yyyy")}</p>
<p>Total Amount: ${record.total?string["#,##0.00"]}</p>

• ?string("MMMM dd, yyyy") → formats dates as “September 26, 2025”.
• ?string["#,##0.00"] → formats numbers with commas and 2 decimals.

🔹 Escaping Null Values

If a field is empty, you can default it with !.

<p>Sales Rep: ${record.salesrep!"Not Assigned"}</p>

✔️ If salesrep is empty, it shows “Not Assigned”.

🔹 Useful FreeMarker Operators in NetSuite