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The reliable UTF-8 setup
wkhtmltopdf treats the footer as an HTML resource loaded separately from the main document. Configure both resources explicitly; setting the input encoding alone does not repair a footer that was saved with the wrong bytes, decoded incorrectly, or rendered without a suitable font.
- Save
footer.htmlas UTF-8 without silently converting it to a legacy code page. - Declare the charset in the footer document’s
<head>. - Use
--footer-html footer.htmland keep--encoding UTF-8for the input. - URL-encode values inserted into the footer and decode them once with
decodeURIComponent(). - Make sure the runtime has fonts containing every script you need.
Build a complete UTF-8 footer document
A complete document is more dependable than a fragment. HTML5 syntax is appropriate for current builds; the older HTTP-equiv form is also widely used by wkhtmltopdf integrations.
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<style>
body { margin: 0; font: 9pt Arial, sans-serif; color: #333; }
.footer { width: 100%; text-align: center; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="footer">
<span class="mytitle"></span> · Page <span class="page"></span> of <span class="topage"></span>
</div>
<script>
function subst() {
const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
document.querySelector('.mytitle').textContent = params.get('mytitle') || '';
document.querySelector('.page').textContent = params.get('page') || '';
document.querySelector('.topage').textContent = params.get('topage') || '';
}
window.onload = subst;
</script>
</body>
</html>If your integration expects the compatibility declaration, use this instead of (or in addition to) the HTML5 declaration:
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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Do not merely change the declaration while leaving the file encoded as Windows-1252, ISO-8859-1, or another encoding. The declaration describes the bytes; it cannot convert them.
Generate the PDF with the correct options
Local footer file
wkhtmltopdf --encoding UTF-8 --footer-html footer.html input.html output.pdf--encoding UTF-8 is the default text encoding for input. --footer-html tells wkhtmltopdf to load an HTML footer source. The footer can use documented substitution variables such as [page], [topage], [webpage], [section], and [title]; when your script reads values from the footer URL, apply the decoding rule below.
Remote footer URL
You can provide an HTTP(S) footer URL, but the server response must identify a UTF-8-compatible content type. Check the response headers, not only the HTML source:
Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8A remote footer also has to be reachable from the machine and service account running wkhtmltopdf. Authentication, redirects, TLS policy, or network isolation can make a correct footer appear blank.
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A common failure is that literal characters written directly in footer.html render correctly, while a title or other value passed through the footer query string is garbled. The transport is URL-encoded, so decode each value exactly once with decodeURIComponent(). Do not use the deprecated unescape() function.
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function getUtf8Param(name) {
const raw = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get(name);
return raw ? decodeURIComponent(raw) : '';
}
window.onload = function () {
document.querySelector('.mytitle').textContent = getUtf8Param('mytitle');
};URL-encode before constructing the footer URL. In a shell, for example, use a URL-encoding utility rather than concatenating a title containing spaces, ampersands, percent signs, or non-ASCII bytes. Never decode a value twice: a second pass can turn literal percent sequences into errors or different characters.
Why –encoding UTF-8 sometimes appears not to work
The footer is a separate resource
The option establishes a default for input text. It does not override a footer saved with bad bytes or a remote response that declares a conflicting charset.
The URL value was decoded incorrectly
If hard-coded text works but substituted text fails, inspect the query-string code first. Replace unescape() with the one-pass decodeURIComponent() approach and verify the producer URL-encodes the value.
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A glyph is missing
Encoding and font coverage are different problems. A PDF can contain valid UTF-8 while showing empty boxes or dropping Chinese characters because the selected font is absent or lacks those glyphs. Install a font covering the target script and select it explicitly in CSS when necessary.
The build or locale differs
Production may run a different wkhtmltopdf build, operating system, locale, or service account than your workstation. Reproduce with the exact binary and environment before attributing the symptom to charset configuration. Issue reports have documented environment-specific footer behavior, including cases where an explicit charset on footer-html avoided dropped non-ASCII text.
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footer-html versus footer-text
| Aspect | footer-html | footer-text |
|---|---|---|
| Markup and styling | Supports HTML, CSS, and script-based substitutions. | Text-only path; no rich layout. |
| Non-ASCII reliability | Preferred for rich or non-ASCII content when the document declares UTF-8. | Issue reports describe characters being dropped in some environments. |
| Debugging | Lets you inspect bytes, headers, DOM, and fonts separately. | Fewer controls when diagnosing charset or glyph problems. |
For a footer containing names, legal text, translated labels, or symbols, use footer-html and test the actual PDF output.
A repeatable diagnostic procedure
- Inspect the file bytes. Open and save the footer as UTF-8 in an editor that displays the current encoding. Test with one unmistakable character such as
éor界. - Check the declaration. Confirm
<meta charset="utf-8">or the equivalent HTTP-equiv form appears in the footer head. - Test literal text. If literal text fails, focus on file encoding, response headers, fonts, and the wkhtmltopdf environment.
- Test one substituted value. If literal text succeeds but a parameter fails, log the encoded URL, then verify one-pass
decodeURIComponent(). - Check the response. For a remote footer, inspect HTTP status, redirects, and
Content-Typecharset. - Check fonts. Install coverage for the target language and run as the same account used by the service.
- Reduce the case. Use one input page, one footer, one non-ASCII string, and the exact production command. Record the wkhtmltopdf version, operating system, locale, and architecture.
Common errors and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Accented text is mojibake everywhere | Footer bytes are not UTF-8. | Re-save the file as UTF-8 and declare the charset. |
| Literal Chinese works, parameterized Chinese does not | Deprecated or incorrect URL decoding. | URL-encode the value and use decodeURIComponent() once. |
| Body is correct, footer is blank | Footer URL cannot be loaded or its HTML is malformed. | Test the footer URL from the production host and use a complete document. |
| Boxes replace characters | Missing glyphs in the runtime font. | Install a suitable font and set it in footer CSS. |
| Text disappears only in production | Different build, locale, user, fonts, or response headers. | Compare the complete runtime environment and run the minimal test there. |
Performance and operational notes
A local footer avoids a network dependency and is usually the simplest production choice. A remote footer gives centralized updates but adds DNS, TLS, authentication, and availability failure modes. Keep the footer small, avoid unnecessary scripts, and wait for the page only as long as your layout requires. Cache or reuse a tested template, but do not cache a response whose charset headers or substituted values can vary.
When integrating through the libwkhtmltox API, pass settings as UTF-8 encoded strings and set the web default encoding and footer HTML URL explicitly. The API setting names correspond to the command-line concepts, so apply the same file, decoding, font, and environment checks.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo documentation for capture options and response headers. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots, and every feature is included on every plan. Sign up free.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Can I put the charset only on the main HTML page?
No. The footer is loaded as its own HTML resource, so declare UTF-8 in that document or ensure its HTTP response declares it.
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Should I decode every footer parameter?
Decode values that were URL-encoded for transport, exactly once. Do not apply decoding to already decoded text.
Does a correct charset guarantee every language will render?
No. The selected runtime fonts must also contain the required glyphs, and the production build and service account must match the environment you tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put the charset only on the main HTML page?
No. The footer is loaded as its own HTML resource, so declare UTF-8 in that document or ensure its HTTP response declares it.
Should I decode every footer parameter?
Decode values that were URL-encoded for transport, exactly once. Do not apply decoding to already decoded text.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDoes a correct charset guarantee every language will render?
No. The selected runtime fonts must also contain the required glyphs, and the production build and service account must match the environment you tested.
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