Learn how to create RTL (Right-to-Left) Invoices on your WooCommerce store using the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin.
Are you struggling to create invoices that cater to your Arabic, Hebrew, or Urdu-speaking customers? Creating Right-to-Left (RTL) invoices in WooCommerce might seem tricky at first, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s easier than you think.
If your business operates in regions where RTL languages are common, properly formatted invoices are not just a courtesy—it’s a necessity. These invoices ensure clear communication, professional branding, and compliance with local customs, making them an essential component of your eCommerce operations.
WooCommerce is a robust platform for managing online stores, but its default features don’t fully accommodate RTL requirements out of the box. However, with a few tweaks and the right plugins, you can create RTL-compatible invoices that look polished and professional.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, covering everything from choosing the right tools to customizing layouts for your RTL customers. Whether you’re targeting Middle Eastern markets or catering to multilingual audiences, you’ll find everything you need to get started here.
Key Takeaways:
- WooCommerce does not natively support RTL invoices, but with plugins like the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin and the mPDF Add-on, you can easily create professional RTL-compatible invoices.
- RTL invoices are essential for businesses catering to customers who use languages like Arabic, Hebrew, or Urdu, ensuring clear communication, cultural alignment, and compliance with local regulations.
- By enabling RTL support and customizing your invoices, you can enhance customer satisfaction, build trust, and expand your eCommerce reach in regions where RTL languages are prevalent.
RTL (Right-to-Left) invoices are specially designed for languages read and written from right to left. These languages include Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu, among others. Unlike standard invoices designed for Left-to-Right (LTR) languages like English or French, RTL invoices have a reversed layout and alignment to cater to the reading habits and formatting conventions of RTL users.
Key Characteristics of RTL Invoices:
- Text Alignment: All text, including headings, labels, and descriptions, is aligned to the right to ensure it follows the natural reading flow of RTL languages.
- Reversed Layout: Elements like tables, item descriptions, and contact details are restructured to mirror the RTL reading direction. For example, columns in tables are flipped, with item names appearing on the right and quantities or prices on the left.
- Language-Specific Fonts: RTL invoices use fonts that support the specific script of the language, ensuring proper rendering of characters and diacritics.
- Localization: Dates, numbers, and currency formats are adapted to match the locale’s conventions. For example, an RTL invoice for a customer in Saudi Arabia would display the Hijri calendar date alongside localized currency symbols.
- Professional and Legal Compliance: Businesses in regions where RTL languages are predominant often require RTL invoices to meet legal, cultural, and professional standards.
RTL invoices play a critical role for businesses that operate in regions where languages like Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu are predominant. These invoices are more than just a linguistic adaptation—they demonstrate cultural understanding, professionalism, and a commitment to meeting customer needs.
1. Catering to Local Preferences
Customers in regions where RTL languages are used expect invoices and documents that are aligned with their reading habits. An invoice written in a left-to-right (LTR) format can feel awkward and confusing to these customers. RTL invoices ensure a seamless and intuitive experience, showing your business understands and respects their preferences.
2. Building Trust and Professionalism
A well-designed invoice that aligns with the local language builds trust and portrays your business as professional and reliable. It signals to customers that you pay attention to details and value their experience. Conversely, a misaligned or improperly formatted invoice can appear unprofessional and affect customers’ confidence in your business.
3. Legal and Compliance Requirements
In many countries where RTL languages are used, there are legal standards for invoice formatting, including language, alignment, and even date and currency formats. Generating RTL invoices ensures compliance with these regulations, reducing the risk of legal complications and penalties.
4. Improving Customer Satisfaction
Providing invoices in a format that matches customers’ linguistic and cultural expectations contributes to a positive customer experience. It helps prevent misunderstandings or errors in interpreting invoice details, such as product descriptions, quantities, or prices, which could lead to disputes or dissatisfaction.
5. Expanding Business Reach
If you aim to tap into markets in the Middle East, North Africa, or other regions with RTL languages, adapting your invoices is a key step. RTL invoices make your business accessible and appealing to a broader audience, helping you expand your market share in these regions.
While WooCommerce is a powerful platform, it doesn’t natively support generating RTL invoices in PDF format. To overcome this limitation, we’ll use the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin along with the mPDF Add-on, which enables seamless creation of RTL-compatible invoices.
Follow these steps to set up and create RTL invoices in WooCommerce:
Step 1: Install WebToffee WooCommerce Invoice Plugin With mPDF Add-on
The WooCommerce Invoices plugin by WebToffee is available in free and paid versions. For this article, we will be using the free version of the plugin.
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins, and select Add New.
- Search for the “WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips” plugin by WebToffee.
- Install and activate the plugin on your WordPress website.
- Now, search for the “mPDF add-on” plugin for the WebToffee Invoices plugin.
- Install and activate the add-on plugin too.
- After installing the plugins, enter the details about your online store for initial configuration.
Step 2: Enable WooCommerce Invoices
- Go to Invoice settings from the Invoice/Packing tab.
- Select the Enable Invoice option.
- Choose a date for the invoice.
- Select the order statuses to auto-generate invoices.
- Then, choose the order emails to attach the PDF copies of invoices.
- Select where to show the print invoice button on your WooCommerce store.
Step 3: Choose an Invoice Number Format
- Choose an invoice number format for the RTL invoice.
- Also, configure the length of the invoice number.
- There are some other advanced options with this plugin; choose the required options for setting up WooCommerce invoices.
- Click on Update Settings to save the changes.
Step 4: Enable RTL Support for WooCommerce Invoices
- Go to the Invoice/Packing tab from the WordPress sidebar menu and navigate to the General Settings page.
- Click on the Advanced tab on the plugin’s settings page.
- Enable the RTL support checkbox.
- Then, choose a PDF library.
That’s it; you have successfully configured RTL invoices for your WooCommerce store.
Below is a preview of the RTL invoices in PDF format.
RTL (Right-to-Left) invoices are invoices formatted specifically for languages written from right to left, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu. These invoices align text and layout in a right-to-left direction to cater to the reading and formatting habits of these languages.
No, WooCommerce does not support generating RTL invoices in PDF format. You need additional plugins, such as the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin and its mPDF add-on, to create RTL-compatible invoices.
To enable RTL support:
-> Navigate to the Invoice/Packing tab in the WebToffee plugin settings.
-> Go to General Settings > Advanced Tab.
-> Check the Enable RTL support option and choose a suitable PDF library.
Yes, most plugins, including the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin, allow customization of invoice layouts. You can modify text alignment, fonts, and other design elements to suit your requirements.
For more information on customizing WooCommerce invoices, check out this article: Customize WooCommerce Invoices – A How-To Guide
Creating RTL invoices in WooCommerce may seem challenging, but with the right tools, like the WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices plugin and the mPDF add-on, the process becomes straightforward and efficient.
By offering RTL-compatible invoices, you not only cater to the language preferences of your customers but also enhance your brand’s professionalism and expand your market reach.
Plus, providing well-formatted invoices demonstrates your commitment to delivering a seamless customer experience. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll be ready to create polished, compliant, and customer-friendly RTL invoices for your WooCommerce store.
