electron-hiprint + vue-plugin-hiprint
Electron local client + Vue plugin with a drag-and-drop print designer. Best when you already invested heavily in hiprint templates and a designer-first Vue workflow.
hiprint, electron-hiprint & web-print-pdf selection guide
Both electron-hiprint and web-print-pdf can silent-print in Vue stacks. hiprint shines at a visual drag-and-drop designer; if your layouts are already HTML reports and you need Windows + macOS + Kylin/UOS with one npm API, web-print-pdf is often the smoother path. hiprint details: official repo.
How to read this page
Compare hiprint's visual designer with web-print-pdf HTML reports in parallel. Keep hiprint when designer templates are core assets; PoC web-print-pdf for greenfield HTML modules on Win/Mac/domestic OS. This is not a verdict against hiprint.
electron-hiprint & vue-plugin-hiprint
electron-hiprint is the Electron-based local print service in the hiprint stack, often paired with the vue-plugin-hiprint drag designer: templates live in the designer, output goes through the local service. If you have no hiprint template estate and layouts are HTML/Vue components across Win/Mac/domestic OS, PoC web-print-pdf in parallel. Both need a desktop client; template shape and integration differ—see the comparison table and scenario cards below.
What each approach is
Web Print Expert + web-print-pdf
Open npm package + official clients (Windows exe / macOS dmg / Linux deb, including Kylin & UOS). Layout via HTML/CSS, Chromium PDF render, silent print—same API for Vue, React, and Next.js. See Linux/macOS deployment and live demos.
Where web-print-pdf stands out
- Full-platform clients: Windows, macOS, and Linux/domestic OS (Kylin, UOS)—one
printHtmlcodebase. - Framework-agnostic: standard npm for Vue/React/Next; built-in TypeScript types.
- HTML as templates: reuse Web layout skills; Chromium WYSIWYG—edit the page, edit the printout.
- Production features: silent print,
batchPrint, remote WebSocket/HTTP, watermarks, paper & printer control—25 live demos on this site. - Fast PoC:
npm install web-print-pdf+ client install; open npm with free client trial.
Greenfield projects without hiprint template assets—and mixed Win/Mac/domestic OS fleets—often PoC web-print-pdf first. Keep hiprint when designer templates are the core asset.
Feature comparison (reference)
hiprint still leads on designer depth; this table highlights web-print-pdf cross-platform and engineering strengths—verify current releases.
| Dimension | hiprint stack | web-print-pdf |
|---|---|---|
| Silent print | Yes (electron-hiprint) | Yes (Web Print Expert client) |
| Cross-platform clients | Electron-centric; Linux/domestic per vendor | Windows + macOS + Linux/domestic (exe/dmg/deb), one API |
| Templates | Visual designer (hiprint strength) | HTML/CSS, same as Web reports |
| Vue / React | Vue plugin-centric | Framework-agnostic npm |
| PDF render | hiprint render pipeline | Chromium engine, matches browser preview |
| Batch / remote | Varies by integration | batchPrint + WebSocket/HTTP remote |
| TypeScript | Depends on plugin | Built-in types |
| Adoption | Designer + template learning curve | HTML + npm, faster for most Web teams |
| Best for | Designer-driven legacy templates | HTML reports, multi-OS, modern stacks |
Decision matrix (by requirement)
Designer depth is often hiprint's strength; cross-platform clients and framework-agnostic npm are common web-print-pdf strengths.
| If your top priority is… | Start with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large vue-plugin-hiprint template library | Keep hiprint | Migration rewrites layouts—PoC in phases |
| HTML/Vue reports, multi-OS | web-print-pdf | One printHtml across Win/Mac/Kylin/UOS |
| Manual dialog print | window.print / Print.js | window.print guide |
| Legacy Lodop overlays | Lodop comparison | Lodop guide |
| React + Ant Design tables | Framework guides | React / Ant Design |
Choose by scenario
Only when designer templates are core assets
Large vue-plugin-hiprint template libraries with no near-term move to HTML—staying on hiprint minimizes change.
Win + Mac + domestic OS + Vue/React reports
HTML business layouts, mixed Windows/Mac/Kylin/UOS rollout, shared npm for Vue/React—web-print-pdf usually lowers integration and ops cost.
New projects without hiprint history
No hiprint templates yet? web-print-pdf + HTML is often faster than importing a full designer stack—try live demos first.
How this page fits with related guides
- Silent print guide
- This page: hiprint / electron-hiprint vs web-print-pdf
- Vue silent printing: HTML integration steps
- Lodop comparison: intranet overlay route
- Print.js / jsPDF: dialog print & PDF export boundaries
FAQ
How is hiprint different from web-print-pdf?
hiprint: visual designer + Vue plugin. web-print-pdf: HTML/CSS reports, Windows/macOS/Linux/domestic clients, framework-agnostic npm, Chromium rendering. Both need a local client to silent-print.
Can web-print-pdf replace hiprint?
Greenfield HTML report projects often pick web-print-pdf first. Deep designer template estates need layout rework—PoC in phases, not a drop-in API swap.
Which for a Vue project?
Must use hiprint drag designer → hiprint. Layouts are HTML/Vue components and you need Mac or domestic OS → web-print-pdf is usually the better fit.
Does web-print-pdf support Mac and Windows?
Yes—official Windows exe, macOS dmg, and Linux deb share the same web-print-pdf API with domestic desktops. See macOS deployment and Linux deployment.
hiprint vs Lodop?
hiprint: Vue visual designer; Lodop: intranet overlay controls. Both can be evaluated alongside web-print-pdf—see Lodop comparison and scenario cards on this page.
Notice & disclaimer
Selection reference only—not commercial disparagement of hiprint or others. hiprint is an independent ecosystem; trademarks belong to their owners.
Client deployment by platform
The same web-print-pdf front-end runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux/domestic OS—install the matching client on each desktop.