How to generate onboarding pdfs from markdown
- Step 1Paste or drop the doc — Paste your onboarding Markdown, or drop a
.md,.mdx, or.markdownfile. One file per run. - Step 2Run the conversion — Click Run.
markedparses the doc and applies the fixed Modern business stylesheet. No options to configure. - Step 3Preview the handbook — The rendered doc appears in an embedded frame. Confirm checklists, resource tables, and links look right before exporting.
- Step 4Open the print dialog — Click Print to PDF to call the preview frame's
print()and open your browser's native print dialog. - Step 5Save as PDF — Choose Save as PDF (or Microsoft Print to PDF) as the destination and save the file.
- Step 6Share with the new hire — The PDF is named from your input with the extension swapped to
.pdf. Email it ahead of day one or add it to the welcome pack.
Modern theme rendering rules (md-to-pdf-modern)
Fixed CSS the tool applies to your handbook. There is no settings panel for any of these.
| Element | Rendering | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Body font | Segoe UI, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif at 10.5pt | Academic theme uses Georgia serif at 12pt |
| Line height / color | line-height: 1.7, color #111 | Easy reading for a long handbook |
| Page margins | @page { margin: 25mm 20mm; } | Applied by the print engine on save |
| Headings | H1 2em 2px rule, H2 1.5em 1px rule | Separates Welcome / First Week / Tools / Policies |
| Task lists | GFM - [ ] / - [x] render as checkboxes | Day-one / week-one checklists |
| Tables | Collapsed 1px #ddd borders, #f0f0f0 header | Tools-and-access resource tables |
| Links / images | Links #0066cc; images max-width: 100% | Resource links stay clickable; logo scales to page |
Free vs paid input limits (markdown family)
Applies to the single handbook file. Character count is enforced separately from byte size.
| Tier | Max file size | Max characters | Files per run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 MB | 500,000 | 1 |
| Pro | 10 MB | 5,000,000 | 10 |
| Pro-media | 50 MB | 20,000,000 | 50 |
| Developer | 500 MB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Cookbook
How common onboarding-doc structures render in the Modern theme. Each shows source and rendered behaviour.
A day-one checklist
GFM task lists render as checkboxes — the natural fit for an onboarding checklist a new hire works through.
Source Markdown: ## Day one - [ ] Set up laptop and VPN - [ ] Join #team-welcome on Slack - [x] Sign offer letter Rendered: empty boxes for pending items, a ticked box for the completed one.
Tools-and-access resource table
A pipe table gives a clean grid of systems, links, and who grants access. It prints with bordered cells and a grey header.
Source Markdown: | System | Link | Access from | |--------|------|-------------| | Payroll | [portal](https://pay.example.com) | People Ops | | Code | [GitHub](https://github.com/acme) | Your manager | Rendered: bordered table; links clickable in the PDF.
Clickable resource links survive offline
Links to internal guides render as clickable blue links and remain clickable in the saved PDF, so a new hire reading offline can still tap through when online.
Source Markdown: Read the [VPN setup guide](https://wiki.example.com/vpn). Rendered: "VPN setup guide" as a clickable #0066cc link.
A welcome logo on the cover
There is no logo uploader. Put a Markdown image at the top of the handbook; it scales to page width and appears once above the title.
Source Markdown (first line):  # Welcome to Acme! Rendered: the logo above the H1, scaled to fit; it does not repeat on every page.
Output filename from the doc
The saved PDF is named after your input file, with the Markdown extension swapped for .pdf.
Input file: onboarding-handbook.md Output name: onboarding-handbook.pdf
Edge cases and what actually happens
Handbook file over 1 MB on Free
RejectedFree caps markdown input at 1 MB. A handbook with embedded base64 screenshots can exceed it. Upgrade to Pro (10 MB) or reference images by URL.
Over 500,000 characters on Free
RejectedA comprehensive handbook can exceed 500,000 characters while under 1 MB. charLimit is enforced separately; Pro raises it to 5,000,000.
Combining several team docs
By designOne file per run. To assemble multiple onboarding pages into one handbook PDF, merge them with md-merger first, then convert.
Wanting a branded handbook template
Not availableThe Modern theme is fixed — no template, color, or custom-CSS field. The only choice is Modern vs the Academic serif theme.
Emoji in a friendly handbook
PreservedEmoji render as glyphs in the PDF — fine for a welcoming tone. To strip them for a formal policy section, run md-emoji-remover first.
Credentials accidentally in a code block
SupportedIf a setup snippet contains a real token or password, run md-secret-redactor before converting so it isn't baked into a PDF shared with new hires.
Page break splits a checklist
ExpectedThe browser print engine decides breaks against the 25mm 20mm margins; there are no manual break controls. A long checklist may split across pages.
Repeating header/footer wanted
Not availableThere is no running-header feature; a top-of-document logo appears once. Use a dedicated layout tool if you need per-page branding.
Print dialog blocked
ExpectedOutput comes from the browser's print engine via the preview frame. If a blocker intercepts it, allow printing for the page or use the browser menu's Print on the preview.
New hires want to fill in fields
SupportedA PDF is read-only. For a fillable or editable handbook, export with md-to-docx instead.
Frequently asked questions
Will the onboarding checklist render as checkboxes?
Yes. GFM task lists are on by default, so - [ ] and - [x] render as empty and ticked checkboxes a new hire can tick off on paper.
Can I include a tools-and-access table?
Yes. A GFM pipe table renders with collapsed 1px #ddd borders and a #f0f0f0 header row — a clean grid for systems, links, and access owners.
Is internal handbook content uploaded anywhere?
No. marked parses in your browser and the PDF is produced by your browser's print engine, so policies and access details never reach a server.
Modern or Academic for an onboarding doc?
Modern (this tool) uses friendly sans-serif Segoe UI at 10.5pt — warmer for a welcome pack. Academic uses Georgia serif at 12pt. Both share 25mm 20mm margins.
Can I add a company logo?
Yes — place a Markdown image at the top of the document. It scales to page width and appears once above the title. There is no repeating per-page header.
Do resource links work offline once saved?
Links render as clickable #0066cc links and stay clickable in the saved PDF. A new hire reading offline can tap through once they're back online.
How large a handbook can I convert for free?
Free allows a 1 MB file with up to 500,000 characters, one file per run. Pro raises this to 10 MB / 5,000,000 characters and up to 10 files.
Why does it open a print dialog?
A pdf result renders into a preview frame, and Print to PDF runs your browser's print engine on it. You choose Save as PDF as the destination to produce the file.
Can I assemble several pages into one handbook?
This tool is single-file. Merge the pages with md-merger first, then convert the merged document into one PDF.
A setup snippet has a real token — how do I scrub it?
Run md-secret-redactor before converting; it replaces API keys, tokens, and passwords in code blocks with [REDACTED] so they aren't baked into the shared PDF.
Can I make a fillable handbook?
No — a PDF here is read-only. For an editable or fill-in version, use md-to-docx to produce a Word document.
Can I customize fonts or brand colors?
No. The Modern theme is fixed with no custom-CSS field. Your only style choice is Modern vs the Academic serif theme.
Privacy first
All Markdown processing runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. No file is ever uploaded to JAD Apps servers — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.