Wiki print-as-PDF: Tables are missing or cut off

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Summary

Tables in Wiki pages do not render properly when printing to PDF, making it difficult to share documentation that includes tabular data. This affects both standard markdown tables and GLQL embedded views.

Implementation Path

  • Step 1: We provide a scale to fit option that compresses tables no matter the size. It wouldn't look great in some instances, but that's more of a user-by-user decision, and at least we would be providing an option.
  • Step 2: We update the documentation with recommended workarounds. This could include:
    • Keep tables narrow - GitLab's PDF export doesn't handle wide tables well. Aim for 4-5 columns max if possible. If you need more data, split into multiple tables. If its a GLQL table we could recommend they remove some columns.
    • Bypass GitLab's PDF export - Use alternatives:
      • Print directly to PDF from the browser (often handles wide content better with landscape mode)
      • Use a browser extension for better PDF rendering
      • Export to HTML then convert with a better PDF tool
      • Use pandoc or similar if you can access the markdown files

Problem to Solve

When users print Wiki pages containing tables (using "Print as PDF" or browser print), the tables either:

  • Don't appear at all in the print output
  • Are cut off at page margins
  • Lose their structure and formatting
  • Display incorrectly with broken layouts

With GLQL and embedded views becoming more common in Wiki pages, users increasingly rely on tables to document data, metrics, and structured information. The inability to print these tables means:

  • Documentation cannot be reliably shared offline
  • Printed reference materials are incomplete
  • Users must resort to screenshots or manual table recreation

Current Behavior

Testing on GitLab.com (using GDK locally confirmed similar behavior):

Wiki page PDF image from the Wiki page
CleanShot 2025-12-10 at 15.20.25@2x.png CleanShot 2025-12-10 at 15.21.48@2x.png

PDF resource:

Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Advanced CICD Pipelines with GitLab Runner Configuration and Best Practices · Wiki · Flightjs _ Flight · GitLab.pdf

When printing a Wiki page with tables:

  1. Standard markdown tables may not appear in print preview
  2. GLQL embedded view tables don't render
  3. Wide tables get truncated instead of adjusting to page width
  4. Table formatting (borders, cell padding) is lost or inconsistent

Expected Behavior

When printing Wiki pages with tables:

  1. Tables render in print output - all tables should be visible
  2. Table structure is preserved - headers, borders, cell content remain intact
  3. Tables fit page width - wide tables should scale or reflow to fit printed page
  4. Headers repeat on page breaks - for multi-page tables, headers should repeat
  5. GLQL embedded views print - embedded table content should render in print

Intended Users

  • Parker (Product Manager): needs to print wiki documentation for stakeholder meetings
  • Sasha (Software Developer): prints wiki pages as reference material
  • Documentation teams: share printed wiki content for compliance or offline distribution
  • Teams using GLQL: rely on embedded data views in wiki documentation

What Does Success Look Like?

Users can print Wiki pages with tables and receive professional, complete documentation suitable for offline sharing. Tables maintain their structure and are fully readable in the printed output.

Edited by Matthew Macfarlane