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.
Contents
• See also
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Current status
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:
• ASCII text file facsimile
• Direct printer output (PCL)
• AFP
• RTF
In progress:
• MIF
• SVG
See also
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.