Say for every template whether it is fluid or restricted to a paper format, and hold it to that #9

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opened 2026-10-01 07:02:07 +00:00 by tiagoagueda · 0 comments

tiagoagueda commented

2026-10-01 07:02:07 +00:00

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The list says: "A template can either be 'fluid' and prints great in all common formats and orientations, or restricted, for example, export only to portrait A4 paper size."

What the core does today

Every page is A4. PAGE_FORMAT = "A4" is a constant in the core's src/postulo/documents/pdf.py, every built-in theme says @page { size: A4 }, and the DOCX export is A4 too.
The two renderers differ. WeasyPrint honours whatever @page a template writes. Chromium is called with the A4 constant and no orientation, so there a template's own page size is ignored (read from the code and the renderer's documented default; not tried).
Nobody can choose the paper: there is no setting per export, per person or per instance.
A theme cannot say what it supports: Theme has a name, a label, its templates and its provider.

So a template can only be A4 portrait in practice. The rest waits for postulo/postulo#344.

What the plugin should do

Every template declares what it is: fluid, or restricted to the formats it names.
A fluid template uses relative measures and no fixed widths, and is tested on every common format in both orientations: nothing overflows, no heading is left alone at the foot of a page, no table loses a column.
A restricted template is offered only for its formats; the README says which, and why (a form with fixed boxes, a layout drawn for one sheet).
The render test of #1 draws each template on each format it declares.

Decisions

Which formats are "common". Recommended: A4 and US Letter, portrait and landscape. A5 and Legal later if asked for.
Which templates are fluid. Recommended: lists (#5) and calendars (#6) fluid, since they are the ones printed wide; CVs and letters fluid between A4 and Letter in portrait; a form for an employment service (#4) restricted to the sheet it was drawn for.
Before the core change. Recommended: every template ships as A4 portrait and declares it in its README, and the declaration becomes real when postulo/postulo#344 lands.

Needs from the core

postulo/postulo#344: a choice of paper, a way for a theme to declare what it supports, and both renderers honouring it.

Done when

Each template's README line and its declaration say fluid or name its formats.
A fluid template passes the render test on A4 and US Letter in both orientations.
A restricted template is not offered for a format it does not support.

From the list of template improvements of 2026-09-30.

The list says: "A template can either be 'fluid' and prints great in all common formats and orientations, or restricted, for example, export only to portrait A4 paper size." ## What the core does today - **Every page is A4.** `PAGE_FORMAT = "A4"` is a constant in the core's `src/postulo/documents/pdf.py`, every built-in theme says `@page { size: A4 }`, and the DOCX export is A4 too. - **The two renderers differ.** WeasyPrint honours whatever `@page` a template writes. Chromium is called with the A4 constant and no orientation, so there a template's own page size is ignored (read from the code and the renderer's documented default; not tried). - **Nobody can choose the paper**: there is no setting per export, per person or per instance. - **A theme cannot say what it supports**: `Theme` has a name, a label, its templates and its provider. So a template can only be A4 portrait in practice. The rest waits for postulo/postulo#344. ## What the plugin should do - **Every template declares what it is**: fluid, or restricted to the formats it names. - **A fluid template** uses relative measures and no fixed widths, and is tested on every common format in both orientations: nothing overflows, no heading is left alone at the foot of a page, no table loses a column. - **A restricted template** is offered only for its formats; the README says which, and why (a form with fixed boxes, a layout drawn for one sheet). - The render test of #1 draws each template on each format it declares. ## Decisions - **Which formats are "common".** Recommended: A4 and US Letter, portrait and landscape. A5 and Legal later if asked for. - **Which templates are fluid.** Recommended: lists (#5) and calendars (#6) fluid, since they are the ones printed wide; CVs and letters fluid between A4 and Letter in portrait; a form for an employment service (#4) restricted to the sheet it was drawn for. - **Before the core change.** Recommended: every template ships as A4 portrait and declares it in its README, and the declaration becomes real when postulo/postulo#344 lands. ## Needs from the core postulo/postulo#344: a choice of paper, a way for a theme to declare what it supports, and both renderers honouring it. ## Done when - Each template's README line and its declaration say fluid or name its formats. - A fluid template passes the render test on A4 and US Letter in both orientations. - A restricted template is not offered for a format it does not support. From the list of template improvements of 2026-09-30.

tiagoagueda added the

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2026-10-01 07:02:07 +00:00

tiagoagueda referenced this issue from Postulo/postulo

2026-10-01 07:02:08 +00:00

Choose the paper: a size and orientation for an export, themes that declare what they support, and both renderers honouring it #344

tiagoagueda referenced this issue

2026-10-01 10:39:56 +00:00

A first test CV template from the official Europass template, if its licence allows #12