Create or Generate PDF in ASP.NET Core

17 Dec 20254 minutes to read

The Syncfusion® JavaScript PDF library is used to create, read, and edit PDF documents. This library also offers functionality to merge, split, stamp, fill forms, and secure PDF files.

This guide explains how to integrate the JavaScript PDF library into an ASP.NET Core application.

Integrate the PDF library into an ASP.NET Core application

Step 1: Start Visual Studio and select Create a new project.
Step 2: In the Create a new project dialog, select ASP.NET Core Web App.
ASP.NET Core PDF creation1
Step 3: In the Configure your new project dialog, enter the project name and select Next.
ASP.NET Core PDF creation2
Step 4: In the Additional information dialog, select a .NET LTS version (for example, .NET 8.0 (Long-term Support)) and then select Create.
ASP.NET Core PDF creation3

Step 5: Add script reference: Add the required scripts using the CDN inside the <head> of ~/Views/Shared/_Layout.cshtml as follows:

<head>
    <!-- Syncfusion JavaScript PDF Library (CDN) -->
    <script src="https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.2.15/dist/ej2.min.js"></script>
</head>

NOTE

Check out the following topics for including script references in an ASP.NET Core application to enable PDF creation using the Syncfusion® JavaScript PDF library:

  • CDN
  • NPM Package
  • CRG
    And ensure the application includes an openjpeg folder under wwwroot (or a publicly accessible static path). This folder must contain the openjpeg.js and openjpeg.wasm files, along with the PDF file to extract images. Keep these in the same static content area as ej2.min.js.

Step 6: Create a PDF document: Add the script in ~/Views/Home/Index.cshtml by creating a button and attaching a click event that uses the JavaScript PDF API to generate a PDF document.

<div class="container py-4">
    <h1 class="h4 mb-3">Create PDF document</h1>
    <p class="text-muted">Click the button to generate and download a PDF.</p>
    <button id="btnCreatePdf" class="btn btn-primary">Generate PDF document</button>
</div>
@section Scripts {
    <script>
        document.getElementById('btnCreatePdf').addEventListener('click', function () {
        // Create a new PDF document
        let pdf = new ej.pdf.PdfDocument();
        // Add a new page
        let page: ej.pdf.PdfPage = pdf.addPage();
        // Get graphics from the page
        let graphics: ej.pdf.PdfGraphics = page.graphics;
        // Set font
        let font: ej.pdf.PdfStandardFont = pdf.embedFont(ej.pdf.PdfFontFamily.helvetica, 36, ej.pdf.PdfFontStyle.regular);
        // Create a new black brush
        let brush = new ej.pdf.PdfBrush({r: 0, g: 0, b: 0});
        // Draw text
        graphics.drawString('Hello World!!!', font, {x: 20, y: 20, width: graphics.clientSize.width - 20, height: 60}, brush);
        // Save and download PDF
        pdf.save('output.pdf');
        // Destroy the PDF document instance
        pdf.destroy();
        });   
    </script>
}

step 7: Build the project: Click on Build > Build Solution or press Ctrl + Shift + B to build the project.

Step 8: Run the project: Click the Start button (green arrow) or press F5 to run the app.

By executing the program, you will generate the following PDF document.

ASP.NET Core PDF output