ASP.NET MVC Generate PDF from View (Code Example Tutorial)
January 25, 2023
Updated October 20, 2024
It is possible to serve an existing HTML file or string, an existing PDF document, as well as a PDF in ASP.NET MVC. We outline how in the tutorial below, making it easy to convert MVC view to PDF in your C# project.
ASP.NET MVC Generate PDF from View Tutorial
- Download ASP.NET MVC Generate PDF from View Library
- Install in your Visual Studio
- Serve PDF in ASP.NET MVC
- Serve Existing PDF File
- Serve Existing HTML File or String
Step 1
1. Install IronPDF
In order to serve existing PDF files, HTML files or strings, as well as serving a PDF in ASP.NET MVC, we can use the C# PDF Library from IronPDF. Download it free for development and get started with the tutorial below. Access it via IronPDF DLL ZIP file or through the IronPDF NuGet package.
Install-Package IronPdf
How to Tutorial
2. Serve PDF in ASP.NET MVC
To serve a PDF document in ASP.NET MVC requires generating a FileResult method. With IronPDF you can use ASP.NET MVC framework to return a PDF file.
This method may then be served by your controller as shown below.
/**
Serve PDF in ASPNET MVC
anchor-serve-pdf-in-asp-net-mvc
**/
public FileResult GetHTMLPageAsPDF(long id) {
//Create a PDF Document
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf and MVC</h1>");
//return a pdf document from a view
var contentLength = PDF.BinaryData.Length;
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", contentLength.ToString());
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "inline; filename=Document_" + id + ".pdf");
return File(PDF.BinaryData, "application/pdf;");
}/**
Serve PDF in ASPNET MVC
anchor-serve-pdf-in-asp-net-mvc
**/
public FileResult GetHTMLPageAsPDF(long id) {
//Create a PDF Document
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf and MVC</h1>");
//return a pdf document from a view
var contentLength = PDF.BinaryData.Length;
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", contentLength.ToString());
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "inline; filename=Document_" + id + ".pdf");
return File(PDF.BinaryData, "application/pdf;");
}'''
'''Serve PDF in ASPNET MVC
'''anchor-serve-pdf-in-asp-net-mvc
'''*
Public Function GetHTMLPageAsPDF(ByVal id As Long) As FileResult
'Create a PDF Document
Dim PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf and MVC</h1>")
'return a pdf document from a view
Dim contentLength = PDF.BinaryData.Length
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", contentLength.ToString())
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "inline; filename=Document_" & id & ".pdf")
Return File(PDF.BinaryData, "application/pdf;")
End Function
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For a more advanced example, you might use your HTML View to generate an HTML string and then convert it to PDF as shown above.
3. Serve Existing PDF File
To directly serve a PDF file in other ASP.NET contexts is also possible.
/**
Serve Existing PDF
anchor-serve-existing-pdf-file
**/
Response.Clear();
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=\"FileName.pdf\"");
// edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite(System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("MyPdf.pdf"));
// gets our pdf as a byte array and then sends it to the buffer
Response.Flush();
Response.End();
/**
Serve Existing PDF
anchor-serve-existing-pdf-file
**/
Response.Clear();
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=\"FileName.pdf\"");
// edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite(System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("MyPdf.pdf"));
// gets our pdf as a byte array and then sends it to the buffer
Response.Flush();
Response.End();
'''
'''Serve Existing PDF
'''anchor-serve-existing-pdf-file
'''*
Response.Clear()
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf"
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=""FileName.pdf""")
' edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite(System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes("MyPdf.pdf"))
' gets our pdf as a byte array and then sends it to the buffer
Response.Flush()
Response.End()
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4. Serve Existing HTML File or String
/**
Serve Existing HTML File or String
anchor-serve-existing-html-file-or-string
**/
var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");
// or to convert an HTML string
//var PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf</h1>");
Response.Clear();
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=\"FileName.pdf\"");
// edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite( PDF.BinaryData );
Response.Flush();
Response.End();
/**
Serve Existing HTML File or String
anchor-serve-existing-html-file-or-string
**/
var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");
// or to convert an HTML string
//var PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf</h1>");
Response.Clear();
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=\"FileName.pdf\"");
// edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite( PDF.BinaryData );
Response.Flush();
Response.End();
'''
'''Serve Existing HTML File or String
'''anchor-serve-existing-html-file-or-string
'''*
Dim Renderer = New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html")
' or to convert an HTML string
'var PDF = Renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf</h1>");
Response.Clear()
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf"
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition","attachment;filename=""FileName.pdf""")
' edit this line to display in browser and change the file name
Response.BinaryWrite(PDF.BinaryData)
Response.Flush()
Response.End()
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Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.
