Convert Word document to PDF in WinUI

4 Jul 20238 minutes to read

Syncfusion DocIO is a WinUI Word library used to create, read, edit, and convert Word documents programmatically without Microsoft Word or interop dependencies. Using this library, you can convert Word document to PDF in WinUI.

Prerequisites

To use the WinUI 3 project templates, install the Windows App SDK extension for Visual Studio. For more details, refer here.

WinUI Desktop app

Step 1: Create a new C# WinUI Desktop app. Select Blank App, Packaged with WAP (WinUI 3 in Desktop) from the template and click the Next button.

Create the WinUI Desktop app in Visual Studio

Step 2: Enter the project name and click Create.

Create a project name for your new project

Step 3: Install Syncfusion.DocIORenderer.NET NuGet package as a reference to your WinUI Desktop application from the NuGet.org.

Syncfusion.DocIORenderer.NET NuGet package

NOTE

Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion assemblies from trial setup or from the NuGet feed, you also have to add “Syncfusion.Licensing” assembly reference and include a license key in your projects. Please refer to this link to know about registering a Syncfusion license key in your application to use our components.

Step 4: Add a new button to the MainWindow.xaml as shown below.

<Window
    x:Class="Convert_Word_Document_to_PDF.MainWindow"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:Convert_Word_Document_to_PDF"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">

    <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center">
        <Button x:Name="button" Click="ConvertWordtoPDF">Convert Word to PDF</Button>
    </StackPanel>
</Window>

Step 5: Include the following namespaces in the MainWindow.xaml.cs file.

using Syncfusion.DocIO.DLS;
using Syncfusion.DocIO;
using Syncfusion.DocIORenderer;
using Syncfusion.Pdf;

Step 6: Add a new action method ConvertWordtoPDF in MainWindow.xaml.cs and include the below code snippet to convert the Word document to PDF.

//Loading an existing Word document
Assembly assembly = typeof(App).GetTypeInfo().Assembly;
using (WordDocument document = new WordDocument(assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Convert_Word_Document_to_PDF.Assets.Input.docx"), FormatType.Docx))
{
    //Instantiation of DocIORenderer for Word to PDF conversion
    using (DocIORenderer render = new DocIORenderer())
    {
        //Converts Word document into PDF document
        using (PdfDocument pdfDocument = render.ConvertToPDF(document))
        {
            //Save a PDF document to the stream.
            using MemoryStream outputStream = new();
            pdfDocument.Save(outputStream);

            //Save the stream as a Word document file in the local machine.
            SaveHelper.SaveAndLaunch("Sample.pdf", outputStream);
        }
    }                                              
}

Save PDF document in WinUI

public static async void SaveAndLaunch(string filename, MemoryStream stream)
{
    StorageFile storageFile;
    string extension = Path.GetExtension(filename);
    //Gets process windows handle to open the dialog in application process.
    IntPtr windowHandle = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle;
    if (!Windows.Foundation.Metadata.ApiInformation.IsTypePresent("Windows.Phone.UI.Input.HardwareButtons"))
    {
        FileSavePicker savePicker = new();
        
        if (extension == ".pdf")
        {
            savePicker.DefaultFileExtension = ".pdf";
            savePicker.SuggestedFileName = filename;
            //Saves the file as Pdf file.
            savePicker.FileTypeChoices.Add("PDF", new List<string>() { ".pdf" });
        }

        WinRT.Interop.InitializeWithWindow.Initialize(savePicker, windowHandle);
        storageFile = await savePicker.PickSaveFileAsync();
    }
    else
    {
        StorageFolder local = ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;
        storageFile = await local.CreateFileAsync(filename, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);
    }
    if (storageFile != null)
    {
        using (IRandomAccessStream zipStream await storageFile.OpenAsync(FileAccessMode.ReadWrite))
        {
            //Writes compressed data from memory to file.
            using Stream outstream = zipStream.AsStreamForWrite();
            outstream.SetLength(0);
            byte[] buffer = stream.ToArray();
            outstream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
            outstream.Flush();
        }

        //Creates message dialog box. 
        MessageDialog msgDialog = new("Do you want to view the Document?", "File has been converted successfully");
        UICommand yesCmd = new("Yes");
        msgDialog.Commands.Add(yesCmd);
        UICommand noCmd = new("No");
        msgDialog.Commands.Add(noCmd);

        WinRT.Interop.InitializeWithWindow.Initialize(msgDialog, windowHandle);

        //Showing a dialog box. 
        IUICommand cmd = await msgDialog.ShowAsync();
        if (cmd.Label == yesCmd.Label)
        {
            //Launch the saved file. 
            await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchFileAsync(storageFile);
        }
    }
}

You can download a complete working sample from GitHub.

By executing the program, you will get the PDF document as follows.

Word to PDF in WinUI Desktop

Click here to explore the rich set of Syncfusion Word library (DocIO) features.

An online sample link to convert Word document to PDF in ASP.NET Core.