Aspose.Page for Python – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Aspose.Page for Python and which file formats does it support?

A: Aspose.Page for Python is a library that enables creation, modification, conversion, and rendering of PostScript (PS), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) and XPS documents. It can output PDF, XPS, PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, SVG and export PDF‑XObject or XPS‑Canvas objects.

Q: Do I need any external tools like Ghostscript or a .NET runtime to use the library?

A: No. All required rendering and conversion logic is bundled in a self‑contained native binary that the aspose.page package loads at runtime. No external dependencies are needed on Windows, macOS or Linux.

Q: How do I install Aspose.Page for Python?

A: Use pip:

pip install aspose-page

The wheel extracts the native binaries automatically into your site‑packages folder.

Q: How can I apply a license to avoid evaluation watermarks?

A: Place your .lic file somewhere reachable and add the following code before any processing:

import aspose.page as ap
license = ap.License()
license.set_license('Aspose.Page.Python.lic')

The path may be absolute or relative to the script.

Q: What is the minimal code to convert a PS file to PDF?

A:

import aspose.page as ap

doc = ap.Document('sample.ps')
pdf_opt = ap.save.PdfSaveOptions()
doc.save('sample.pdf', pdf_opt)

The call processes all pages by default.

Q: How do I render a specific page of an XPS document to PNG?

A:

import aspose.page as ap

doc = ap.Document('sample.xps')
img_opt = ap.save.ImageSaveOptions(ap.SaveFormat.PNG)
img_opt.page_number = 2          # 1‑based index
doc.save('page2.png', img_opt)

Set resolution, jpeg_quality, etc., on img_opt as needed.

Q: Can I create a new PostScript document from scratch?

A: Yes. Define a page size, obtain the canvas, and draw graphics objects:

import aspose.page as ap

size = ap.base.SizeF(595, 842)           # A4 in points
doc = ap.Document(size)
canvas = doc.pages[0].canvas
canvas.draw_line(ap.base.PointF(0, 0), ap.base.PointF(595, 842))
canvas.draw_string('Hello Aspose!', ap.base.Font('Arial', 24),
                   ap.base.Brushes.black, ap.base.PointF(100, 100))
doc.save('new_doc.ps', ap.save.PSOptions())

Q: How can I add PDF metadata such as title and author during conversion?

A: Use the PdfSaveOptions object:

pdf_opt = ap.save.PdfSaveOptions()
pdf_opt.title = 'My Document'
pdf_opt.author = 'John Doe'
doc.save('output.pdf', pdf_opt)

Q: Is it possible to merge several PS/EPS/XPS files into a single PDF?

A: Yes. Load each source sequentially and enable append mode:

options = ap.save.PdfSaveOptions()
options.append_mode = True
for src in ['a.ps', 'b.eps', 'c.xps']:
    doc = ap.Document(src)
    doc.save('merged.pdf', options)

Q: How do I delete or rotate a page in a loaded document?

A:

doc = ap.Document('multi_page.ps')
doc.pages.remove_at(2)          # removes the third page (0‑based)
page = doc.pages[0]
page.transform.rotate(90)       # clockwise 90°
doc.save('updated.pdf', ap.save.PdfSaveOptions())

Q: Can I replace placeholder text inside a PS/EPS template?

A: Use the replace_text API:

doc = ap.Document('template.eps')
doc.replace_text('{{name}}', 'John Doe')
doc.save('filled.pdf', ap.save.PdfSaveOptions())

Only searchable text streams are affected.

Q: What are the memory considerations for processing large (>500 MB) documents?

A: The engine streams data where possible but loads each page into memory. To keep RAM usage low, process pages individually by setting options.page_numbers = [n] in a loop, or use a ThreadPoolExecutor to handle pages in parallel without holding the entire document.

Q: Is multithreading safe when converting many files simultaneously?

A: Yes. Each Document instance is independent, so you can run conversions on separate threads or processes. No static global state is shared, making parallel execution straightforward.

Q: Which Python versions and operating systems are supported?

A: Python 3.7 – 3.12 on 64‑bit interpreters. Supported OSes: Windows 10/11 (x64), Linux distributions with glibc 2.17+ (x64), macOS 10.15+ (x64 and Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2). Docker containers based on official Python images work out‑of‑the‑box.

Q: I get ImportError: No module named 'aspose'. How do I fix it?

A: The package is not installed in the current environment. Run pip install aspose-page using the same interpreter you intend to run the script (which python to verify). Activate the correct virtual environment if needed.

Q: How do I resolve SystemError: Unable to load native libraries on Linux?

A: Ensure the standard C++ runtime is present (apt-get install libstdc++6) and that your glibc version meets the minimum requirement (2.17). If using an older distribution, upgrade the libc packages or use a newer base Docker image.

Q: Where can I find official documentation, code samples, and support?

A:

• Official docs & tutorials
• PyPI page
• Community samples (search “Aspose Page Python”)
• Support & issue tracker: submit tickets via your Aspose account portal; also use the aspose-page tag on Stack Overflow.