How to convert/save d3.js graph to pdf/jpeg

Question

I'm working on a client-side/javascript function to save or convert an existing D3-SVG graph into a file. I've searched a lot and found some recommendations, mainly using canvas.toDataURL().

I have no <canvas> in my page, and instead using:d3.select("body").append("svg").... I've also tried to append the SVG to the <canvas> but nothing happens.

Could you please help me to resolve this exception:

Uncaught TypeError: Object #<SVGSVGElement> has no method 'toDataURL' 

Thank you

Answer 1

To display your svg within a canvas, you first have to convert it using a parser/renderer utility such as http://code.google.com/p/canvg/

(code adapted from: Convert SVG to image (JPEG, PNG, etc.) in the browser, not tested)

// the canvg call that takes the svg xml and converts it to a canvas
canvg('canvas', $("#my-svg").html());

// the canvas calls to output a png
var canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
var img = canvas.toDataURL("image/png");