How to export product roadmap markdown as modern pdf
- Step 1Paste or drop the roadmap — Paste your roadmap Markdown into the input, or drop a
.md,.mdx, or.markdownfile. One file per run. - Step 2Run the conversion — Click Run.
markedparses the Markdown into the fixed Modern business stylesheet. There are no options to configure. - Step 3Preview the layout — The rendered roadmap appears in an embedded frame. Scroll to confirm quarter tables and section headings look right before exporting.
- Step 4Open the print dialog — Click Print to PDF to invoke the preview frame's
print(), which opens your browser's native print dialog. - Step 5Save as PDF — Pick Save as PDF (or Microsoft Print to PDF) as the destination, choose paper size, and save the file.
- Step 6Add to the meeting pack — The PDF is named after your input file with the extension changed to
.pdf. Drop it into the board deck or investor data room.
Modern theme rendering rules (md-to-pdf-modern)
The fixed CSS the tool applies. None of these are user-adjustable inside the tool.
| 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 | Comfortable leading for board-pack reading |
| Page margins | @page { margin: 25mm 20mm; } | Applied by the print engine when you save |
| H1 / H2 | 2em 2px rule / 1.5em 1px rule | Clear Now / Next / Later section dividers |
| Tables | Collapsed 1px #ddd borders, #f0f0f0 header fill | GFM pipe tables — ideal for quarter grids |
| Code blocks | #f6f8fa panel, 0.85em monospace | Rarely used in a roadmap, but preserved verbatim |
| Links / images | Links #0066cc; images max-width: 100% | Links stay clickable; logo image scales to page |
Free vs paid input limits (markdown family)
Applies to the single roadmap file you convert. 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 roadmap structures render in the Modern theme. Each shows the Markdown source and the rendered behaviour.
A quarter grid renders as a bordered table
The classic roadmap grid maps directly to a GFM pipe table — on by default, so no setup. Dropped items can be struck through inline.
Source Markdown: | Initiative | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | |------------|----|----|----| | Billing v2 | x | x | | | ~~Legacy export~~ | | | | Rendered: bordered table, grey header row; "Legacy export" shows struck through.
Now / Next / Later sections via headings
Use H1 or H2 per horizon. The grey heading rules visually separate the sections on the printed page.
Source Markdown: # Now (this quarter) - Ship SSO # Next - Usage-based billing Rendered: each H1 at 2em with a 2px grey underline, giving clean section dividers.
Shipped vs planned with task checkboxes
GFM task lists render as checkboxes, a quick visual for delivered vs pending milestones.
Source Markdown: - [x] Mobile push (shipped Q1) - [ ] Webhooks (planned Q3) Rendered: a ticked box and an empty box, respectively (GFM task-list support).
Investor links stay clickable
Links to a metrics dashboard or epic survive into the PDF as clickable blue links.
Source Markdown: See the [growth dashboard](https://metrics.example.com/growth). Rendered: "growth dashboard" as a clickable #0066cc link in the saved PDF.
A company logo on the cover
There is no logo control. Put a Markdown image at the top of the file; it scales to page width and appears once above your title.
Source Markdown (first line):  # 2026 Product Roadmap Rendered: logo above the H1, scaled to fit; it does not repeat per page.
Edge cases and what actually happens
Roadmap file over 1 MB on Free
RejectedFree caps markdown input at 1 MB. Large embedded images can push a roadmap over. Upgrade to Pro (10 MB) or link images by URL instead of inlining them.
Over 500,000 characters on Free
RejectedcharLimit is enforced separately. A long multi-year roadmap can exceed 500,000 characters while staying under 1 MB. Pro raises the cap to 5,000,000.
Several roadmap docs at once
By designOne file per run. To combine team roadmaps into a single PDF, merge first with md-merger, then convert the merged document.
Wanting brand colors or a custom template
Not availableThe Modern theme is fixed — no color picker, template, or custom-CSS field. The only choice is Modern vs the Academic serif theme.
Wide quarter table overflows the page
ExpectedTables are width: 100% within the 20mm side margins; a very wide grid with many quarters can crowd. Split horizons into separate tables, or reduce columns, to keep it readable.
Page break splits a table row
ExpectedThe browser print engine decides page breaks against the 25mm 20mm margins; there are no manual break controls. Reorder content if a clean break matters for the deck.
Repeating header/footer on every page
Not availableThere is no running-header feature. A top-of-document image appears once. Use your PDF reader or a dedicated layout tool if you need per-page headers.
Print dialog blocked
ExpectedOutput is produced by the browser's print engine via the preview frame. If a pop-up blocker intercepts it, allow printing for the page or use the browser menu's Print on the preview.
Need an editable board doc
SupportedUse md-to-docx for a Word file with real heading and list styles that board members can comment on.
Prefer a formal serif look
SupportedUse md-to-pdf-academic for Georgia serif at 12pt — same engine and margins, different fixed stylesheet.
Frequently asked questions
Will this look right in a board pack?
The Modern theme uses Segoe UI/Helvetica Neue/Arial sans-serif at 10.5pt with 25mm 20mm margins and grey-ruled headings — a clean, dense business look suited to a board deck. For a formal serif alternative, use md-to-pdf-academic.
Can I match our brand colors?
No. The theme is fixed with no color or custom-CSS controls. The only style choice is Modern vs the Academic serif theme.
Do quarter grids render as tables?
Yes. GFM pipe tables are on by default and render with collapsed 1px #ddd borders and a #f0f0f0 header row — ideal for an initiative × quarter grid.
Is a confidential roadmap uploaded anywhere?
No. marked parses in your browser and the PDF is produced by your browser's print engine. The roadmap never reaches a server.
How large a roadmap can I export 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 is it a print dialog rather than a direct download?
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, which is how the file is produced.
Can I add our logo to the cover?
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 header.
Do links to dashboards stay clickable?
Yes. Markdown links and bare URLs render as clickable #0066cc links and remain clickable in the saved PDF.
Can I export multiple team roadmaps into one PDF?
This tool is single-file. Merge them with md-merger first (Pro for many files), then convert the merged document.
Do strikethrough and checkboxes work for de-scoped and shipped items?
Yes. ~~text~~ renders struck through and - [x] / - [ ] render as checkboxes — both part of the default GFM support.
Can I control where page breaks fall?
No. The browser print engine decides breaks using the 25mm 20mm margins; there are no manual break controls. Reflow your source if a specific break matters.
I also need an editable version — what should I use?
Use md-to-docx for a Word document that board members can edit and comment on, with proper heading and list styles.
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.