Apple Numbers to PDF API#
The Apple Numbers to PDF API converts Apple iWork Numbers spreadsheets (.numbers) to PDF through the POST /v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf endpoint. Upload a .numbers file as multipart/form-data and receive raw PDF bytes back, or set direct_download=false to get JSON metadata with a presigned download URL. Rendering is handled server-side by LibreOffice, so the spreadsheet's own formatting, fonts, and layout are preserved in the PDF output.
Endpoint#
POST /v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf
Content-Type: multipart/form-data
Accepted input: .numbers files
Output format: .pdf (application/pdf)
Authentication#
Requires either a private API key or a JWT token from a public key.
X-API-Key: sk_your_private_key
Or:
Authorization: Bearer <jwt_token>
Request Parameters#
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
file |
file | Yes | -- | The .numbers file to convert. |
output_filename |
string |
No | Input filename | Custom output filename. The .pdf extension is added automatically. |
direct_download |
boolean |
No | true |
When true, returns raw PDF bytes. When false, returns JSON metadata with a presigned download URL. |
pdf_options |
string |
No | null |
JSON string. Only the grayscale option is supported for this endpoint (see below). |
PDF Options#
For document converters powered by LibreOffice, page layout (size, margins, orientation) is determined by the document's own settings. The only pdf_options field that applies is:
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
grayscale |
boolean |
false |
Convert the output PDF to grayscale via Ghostscript post-processing. |
pdf_options do not apply to this endpoint. The PDF output preserves the formatting defined in the original document. To change page layout, modify the source document before uploading.
Conversion Details#
- Uses LibreOffice (via unoserver) for server-side document rendering
- The document's own formatting, fonts, page layout, and embedded media are preserved
- Conversion timeout: 120 seconds
- The output faithfully reproduces the document as it would appear when printed from LibreOffice
Response#
Direct Download (direct_download=true, default)#
HTTP 200 OK
Content-Type: application/pdf
Content-Disposition: inline; filename="document_20260405_123456789.pdf"
Returns raw PDF bytes.
Metadata Response (direct_download=false)#
{
"presigned_url": "https://spaces.example.com/...",
"object_key": "env/files/{project_id}/numbers-to-pdf/document_20260405_123456789.pdf",
"filename": "document_20260405_123456789.pdf",
"file_size": 67890,
"conversion_time_seconds": 3.5
}
Code Examples#
Python#
import requests
with open("document.numbers", "rb") as f:
response = requests.post(
"https://api.enconvert.com/v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf",
headers={"X-API-Key": "sk_your_private_key"},
files={"file": ("document.numbers", f)}
)
with open("output.pdf", "wb") as out:
out.write(response.content)
Node.js#
const form = new FormData();
form.append("file", fs.createReadStream("document.numbers"));
const response = await fetch("https://api.enconvert.com/v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "X-API-Key": "sk_your_private_key" },
body: form
});
fs.writeFileSync("output.pdf", Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer()));
PHP#
$ch = curl_init("https://api.enconvert.com/v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf");
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
CURLOPT_POST => true,
CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => ["X-API-Key: sk_your_private_key"],
CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => ["file" => new CURLFile("document.numbers")]
]);
$pdf = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
file_put_contents("output.pdf", $pdf);
Go#
body := &bytes.Buffer{}
writer := multipart.NewWriter(body)
part, _ := writer.CreateFormFile("file", "document.numbers")
file, _ := os.Open("document.numbers")
io.Copy(part, file)
writer.Close()
req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.enconvert.com/v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf", body)
req.Header.Set("Content-Type", writer.FormDataContentType())
req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "sk_your_private_key")
resp, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
With Grayscale Output#
import requests
import json
with open("document.numbers", "rb") as f:
response = requests.post(
"https://api.enconvert.com/v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf",
headers={"X-API-Key": "sk_your_private_key"},
files={"file": ("document.numbers", f)},
data={"pdf_options": json.dumps({"grayscale": True})}
)
Error Responses#
| Status | Condition |
|---|---|
400 Bad Request |
File is not a .numbers file |
400 Bad Request |
Document conversion failed (corrupt or unsupported file) |
400 Bad Request |
Invalid pdf_options JSON |
401 Unauthorized |
Missing or invalid API key / JWT token |
402 Payment Required |
Monthly ops allowance exhausted |
402 Payment Required |
Storage limit reached |
413 Payload Too Large |
File exceeds plan's maximum file size |
500 Internal Server Error |
Conversion timed out (120-second limit) |
Limits#
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Max file size | Plan-dependent (Founding: 5 MB) |
| Conversion timeout | 120 seconds |
| Monthly conversions | Plan-dependent |
Frequently asked questions#
How do I convert an Apple Numbers spreadsheet to PDF with a REST API?#
Send a POST request to /v1/convert/numbers-to-pdf with the .numbers file in a multipart/form-data body, authenticated with an X-API-Key header or an Authorization: Bearer JWT. The response contains the converted PDF bytes by default.
Can I receive a download URL instead of the raw PDF bytes?#
Yes. Set direct_download=false and the API returns JSON metadata including a presigned_url, the output filename, file_size, and conversion_time_seconds.
Can I control page size, margins, or orientation when converting Numbers to PDF?#
No. Page layout is taken from the Numbers document's own settings; the only supported pdf_options field is grayscale. To change the layout, modify the source document before uploading.
Why does the numbers-to-pdf endpoint return 400 Bad Request?#
A 400 Bad Request is returned when the upload is not a .numbers file, when the document is corrupt or unsupported, or when the pdf_options value is not valid JSON.
What are the file size and timeout limits for Numbers to PDF conversion?#
Maximum file size is plan-dependent (5 MB on the Founding plan) and each conversion has a 120-second timeout; a timed-out conversion returns 500 Internal Server Error.