utils.serializePage() not working for a handful of items

[Orestis_Skoutellas]

I am using utils.serializePage() to effectively create a pdf from what the screen is displaying. And after that's done, I display what was captured in a nice PDF view.

While it works wonders for page Setup (see first screenshot), for page Export with the same elements (e.g. timeline) just a layer deeper nested, it doesn't work! shows blank for where these elements are (see second screenshot).

Unsure what's at fault - looks like a bug (that's what Office Hours suggested). would love some help, bc customers are waiting.

Page Setup:

Page Export

[Jack_T]

Hello @Orestis_Skoutellas,

Apologize for this issue, very odd that the page serializing isn't capturing the nested component for you

Are you self hosted? If so, what version of Retool are you on?

I just tried to reproduce this issue on Cloud with components nested inside a container and nested another level deeper in a second inner container, but the whole page still showed up for me.

If you could try my reproduction steps and let me know if they either work for you or if there is a step I am missing to reproduce the bug you are seeing that would be very helpful!

Step 1: Nested several components

Step 2: Used a JS Query block to call utils.serializePage()

Step 3: Used a PDF component with its data source set to the query.data and was able to see the the nested components inside of the PDF viewer.

We did have another user in office hours today who tried using utils.serializePage() and it was also missing some of his components so I can confirm I saw someone else with this bug. They might have been on an older version of Retool with this bug now being fixed

I just did this repro on 3.117.0

[Orestis_Skoutellas]

Hey Jack!

re-selfhosted: nop. it's on your cloud.

problem still persists - just checked again. no difference. I can email you my app's JSON now.

@Jack_T what's your email?

thanks for taking a look to fix

[Jack_T]

Hi @Orestis_Skoutellas!

You should be able to DM/message the app's json to be from the forums if you click on my account profile.

That's standard practice for app sharing, no problem at all! Hopefully I can download the app and see. Thanks for letting me know you are on cloud.

[Jack_T]

Thanks for sending the app!

I just tested out the serializePage function and the modal pop up seems to display the components under Export and not any of the hidden components.

Is there a specific component under Export that is not being shown?

[Brendan_Uyeshiro]

@Jack_T

I just did this repro on 3.117.0

Hey @Jack_T,

I'm having the same issue. I'm on Cloud and have the same serializePage not showing nested containers in the PDF output. It's actually working for me but not for some other users so I feel like it might be a computer/browser-specific issue.

I can DM you an app export so you can try to recreate, but what would be the most helpful user info I could get you from the users experiencing the issue to help recreate exactly?

Thanks in advanced!

[Jack_T]

Hello @Brendan_Uyeshiro,

Sorry you are having this issue. Yes definitely me a DM of the app and let me know what steps to follow to reproduce.

Are there components inside the nested containers, or what components are the containers nested inside of?

Just explaining the architecture and what the intended flow of events to run the page serialization and where that is being stored and then displayed will help me understand and reproduce.

[Zack_Barett]

Any updates on this issue? I am also running into the same issues where nested containers are not rendering on DownloadPage or Serialize utilities

[Jack_T]

Hi @Zack_Barett,

No update yet unfortunately, just added your plus 1 to the ticket so that should increase its weight. Will post in this thread with any further news I hear.

[neilbalthaser]

It is March 2025. Any update on this? Anyway figured out a workaround or has anyone gotten this to work?