Define the empty state first
No work items can be a valid report, a source failure or a missing approval. Decide which meaning applies before choosing a message. For a valid empty period, a clear approved sentence may replace the table. For an unexpected missing list, hold the file. The template should not decide the business meaning of silence.
Use identifiable synthetic rows
Give every test row a stable unique ID and different short text. A table filled with identical placeholders can hide duplicated or missing rows. For the large case, compare the number and order of IDs with the source and inspect page boundaries. Keep input size within the provider’s documented limits and your evaluation allowance.
Check usability, not just successful generation
A long file may need repeated headings, clear section labels and useful page numbering. If readers only need a summary, consider whether a detailed appendix belongs in the same report. Do not remove records solely to make the file shorter without the source owner approving the presentation change.
Do not turn a teaching tool into a load test
The local fixture generator caps its examples at 60 rows. It makes cases for manual acceptance planning, not provider throughput claims. A production volume or performance test needs its own authorized scope, representative workload and measured results. A single large PDF does not establish sustained capacity.
Worked end-to-end row check
Generate a fictional thirty-row list with IDs TEST-001 through TEST-030. Require each ID once in the approved order and inspect the last row on the last page. Now test zero rows separately using the declared empty-state rule. Passing both tells you only about those named cases. It does not establish intermediate page-break behavior, larger inputs, render speed, concurrent capacity or the correctness of different row content.
Sources used for this page
These records support the facts and comparisons above. Merchant-controlled records are labelled so you can separate product claims from independent evidence.
- CraftMyPDF: documented template workflow — Merchant documentation · craftmypdf.com · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-30