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Convert XML to PDF in C# and VB.NET

Converting C# XML directly to PDF can be a complex challenge. We've found that when converting XML to PDF in C#, it is best to start with XSLT as a transformation template. XML can then be rendered to PDF via HTML(5) using XSLT transformations. XSLT documents define how XML from a given schema can be converted to an accurate HTML representation and are a well-established standard. In short, XSLT acts as a custom translator from XML to HTML.

Navigate to 'Using the XslCompiledTransform Class' article by Microsoft to learn more about XSLT transformation.

How to Convert XML to PDF in C#

  1. Install XML to PDF Converter C# library
  2. Use Load method to import XSLT transformer template
  3. Convert XML to HTML in C# utilizing Transform method
  4. Render the HTML to PDF with custom rendering options
  5. Export the PDF document to desired location

The resultant HTML string or file can then be rendered as a PDF using the .NET PDF Generator. You can download a file project from this link.

string xslt = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th colspan='3'>
        <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
      <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
      <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
      <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
    </tr>
    <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
    <tr>
      <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
      <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
      <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
    </tr>
    </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
";

string xml = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
";

XslCompiledTransform transform = new XslCompiledTransform();

using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xslt)))
{
    transform.Load(reader);
}
StringWriter results = new StringWriter();
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xml)))
{
    transform.Transform(reader, null, results);
}

IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// options, headers and footers may be set there
// Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT
Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf");
string xslt = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th colspan='3'>
        <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
      <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
      <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
      <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
    </tr>
    <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
    <tr>
      <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
      <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
      <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
    </tr>
    </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
";

string xml = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
";

XslCompiledTransform transform = new XslCompiledTransform();

using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xslt)))
{
    transform.Load(reader);
}
StringWriter results = new StringWriter();
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xml)))
{
    transform.Transform(reader, null, results);
}

IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// options, headers and footers may be set there
// Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT
Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf");
Dim xslt As String = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th colspan='3'>
        <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
      <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
      <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
      <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
    </tr>
    <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
    <tr>
      <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
      <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
      <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
    </tr>
    </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
"

Dim xml As String = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
"

Dim transform As New XslCompiledTransform()

Using reader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(New StringReader(xslt))
	transform.Load(reader)
End Using
Dim results As New StringWriter()
Using reader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(New StringReader(xml))
	transform.Transform(reader, Nothing, results)
End Using

Dim Renderer As New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
' options, headers and footers may be set there
' Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT
Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf")
VB   C#

Infographic

XML to PDF