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Formatting Objects Processor
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Formatting Objects Processor (FOP, also known as Apache FOP) is a Java application that converts XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO) files to PDF or other printable formats. FOP was originally developed by James Tauber who donated it to the Apache Software Foundation in 1999. It is part of the Apache XML Graphics project.

FOP is open source software, and is distributed under the Apache License 2.0.

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Current status

The latest version of Apache FOP is 2.11.cite-ref-2[2]

Major limitations

Most important elements added in XSL-FO 1.1 (flow maps, table markers, indexes. etc.) are not available cite-ref-3[3]

In addition, older XSL-FO 1.0 features are still not fully supported including automatic table layout, floats and more.

Input support

Apache FOP supports embedding a number of image formats in the XSL-FO (through the <fo:external-graphic> element). These include:

SVG
PNG
• Bitmap BMP
PostScript (as EPS)
JPEG
• Some TIFF formats.

Apache FOP implements the <fo:float> element with some limitations.cite-ref-4[4] In versions prior to 2.0, external graphics objects were limited to being drawn inline or in a block with no wrapped text.

Output formats

Apache FOP supports the following output formats:

PDF (best output support), including PDF/X and PDF/A with some limitationscite-ref-5[5]
ASCII text file facsimile
• Direct printer output (PCL)
AFP
RTF
Java2D/AWT for display, printing, and page rendering to PNG and TIFF

In progress:

MIF
SVG

See also

XSL

External links

• Apache FOP Project
• XSL-FO formatter comparison

References

cite-note-wikidata-7dbabc1f9b475374d408a5071b1af0a955a0fd1c-v20-11. "Release 2.11". 28 April 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
cite-note-22. "Apache FOP Status".
cite-note-33. "Apache FOP XSL-FO Compliance".
cite-note-44. "Apache FOP 2.0 release notes". Retrieved 2015-12-18.
cite-note-55. "FOP 0.95 - PDF/X (ISO 15930)". Retrieved 2011-05-22.