Create and Download PDF in ASP.NET MVC5

Most of the time as a developer; you need to generate PDF and make them available to download for user. In this article, I will explain how can you print and create a PDF file of div section and show a button to download PDF File.

This tutorial contains following part:

1. Add Reference of itextsharp.xmlworker
2. View – Index() view will be used for displaying and printing PDF file.
3. Controller – I will use HomeController.cs for writing code.

Step 1: Create a New MVC Project and Add a Reference of itextsharp.xmlworker

Create a new MVC project of any name as you want and follow the steps to add reference for itextsharp.xmlworker assembly.

Step 2: View Page – Index.cshtml

Here, I am using Index.cshtml as view page. You can use any of your view page to print pdf.

@model IEnumerable<CreatePDF_Apps.Models.ProductModel>
@{
    ViewBag.Title = "Home Page";
}

<div class="jumbotron">
    <h1>CREATE PDF in ASP.Net MVC</h1>    
</div>

<div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-8">
        <div id="PrintPDF">
            <h1>This section is going to be printed in PDF</h1>
        </div>
        <br />
        
        @using (Html.BeginForm("Export", "Home", FormMethod.Post))
        {
            <input type="hidden" name="ExportData" />
            <input type="submit" id="btnSubmit" value="Export" />
        }
        
        <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
        <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function () {
            $("#btnSubmit").click(function () {
                $("input[name='ExportData']").val($("#PrintPDF").html());
            });
        });
        </script>
    </div>
    
</div>

1. Use <div id="PrintPDF"> </div> and all your content is going to be printed in PDF file.

2. Saves content in a hidden field control and used a submit button to download PDF File.

@using (Html.BeginForm("Export", "Home", FormMethod.Post))
        {
            <input type="hidden" name="ExportData" />
            <input type="submit" id="btnSubmit" value="Export" />
        }

3. Used JQuery to fill hidden field control with div content.

@using (Html.BeginForm("Export", "Home", FormMethod.Post))
        {
            <input type="hidden" name="ExportData" />
            <input type="submit" id="btnSubmit" value="Export" />
        }
        

Step 3: HomeController.cs

using System.Web.Mvc;
using System.IO;
using iTextSharp.text;
using iTextSharp.text.pdf;
using iTextSharp.tool.xml;

namespace CreatePDF_Apps.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            return View();
        }

        [HttpPost]
        [ValidateInput(false)]
        public FileResult Export(string ExportData)
        {
            using (MemoryStream stream = new System.IO.MemoryStream())
            {
                StringReader reader = new StringReader(ExportData);
                Document PdfFile = new Document(PageSize.A4);
                PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.GetInstance(PdfFile, stream);
                PdfFile.Open();
                XMLWorkerHelper.GetInstance().ParseXHtml(writer, PdfFile, reader);
                PdfFile.Close();
                return File(stream.ToArray(), "application/pdf", "ExportData.pdf");
            }
        }        
    }
}

Summary

In this tutorial, I have simply explained how can you print a div in pdf in asp.net mvc5. In the next article, I will explain how to create a pdf from database table.