Render and Save PDF file from HTML in MVC 5 Application

In my application I had rendered JSON data with AngularJS and I had to send it to a controller in my MVC application to render PDF file and to allow a user to save it. So, the task was dynamically to submit the request, render a file and allow user to save it.

As soon as I generated the data to send in AngularJS, I wanted to use POST request. But in AngularJS I didn't find how to do it without Ajax, that's why I found a workaround. I don't even know, may be it's not a workaround but the solution. I still use it in my projects. I send Ajax POST request to a method which renders my content, and it returns me a JSON with my parameters.

For submitting data, add this code to JS:

	$.ajax({
		type: 'POST',
		url: '/ImportExport/ExportPDF',
		data: { 'data': qsend },
		success: function (res) {
			window.location = '/ImportExport/DownloadPDF?fileGuid=' + res.FileGuid 
							  + '&filename=' + res.FileName;
			$('.result').html(res);
		}
		,
		failure: function(errMsg) {
			alert(errMsg);
		}	
	});

$.ajax({

type: 'POST',

url: '/ImportExport/ExportPDF',

data: { 'data': qsend },

success: function (res) {

window.location = '/ImportExport/DownloadPDF?fileGuid=' + res.FileGuid

+ '&filename=' + res.FileName;

$('.result').html(res);

}

failure: function(errMsg) {

alert(errMsg);

}

});

To render PDF files I prefer OpenHtmlToPdf package. You can add it to your project from Nuget, in Package Manager Console enter this command:
Install-Package OpenHtmlToPdf -Version 1.12.0

Add "using OpenHtmlToPdf;" to controller code.

In your controller you have to create two methods. One of the methods renders the file and saves it to a temporary data storage, the second one gets rendered data from temp storage and returns it in the appropriate MIME type or format.

        [HttpGet]
        public virtual ActionResult DownloadPDF(string fileGuid, string fileName)
        {
            if (TempData[fileGuid] != null)
            {
                byte[] data = TempData[fileGuid] as byte[];
                return File(data, "application/pdf", fileName);
            }
            else
            {
                // Problem - Log the error, generate a blank file,
                //           redirect to another controller action - whatever fits with your application
                return new EmptyResult();
            }
        }

[HttpGet]

public virtual ActionResult DownloadPDF(string fileGuid, string fileName)

{

if (TempData[fileGuid] != null)

{

byte[] data = TempData[fileGuid] as byte[];

return File(data, "application/pdf", fileName);

}

else

{

// Problem - Log the error, generate a blank file,

// redirect to another controller action - whatever fits with your application

return new EmptyResult();

}

The second method in controller must render PDF file content and to store it in TempData.

        public ActionResult ExportPDF(string data)
        {
		//This handle (guid) will be used to connect with the  TempData[] 
            string handle = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
            List<BossEmployee> be = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<BossEmployee>>(data);
            string htmlText = String.Format(@"
<h1>Export to pdf</h1><p>Here is the text to be exported to PDF</p>");
            }
            string html = htmlText;
            using (MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream())
            {                
                var pdf = Pdf
                .From(html)
                .WithGlobalSetting("orientation", "Landscape")
                .WithObjectSetting("web.defaultEncoding", "utf-8")
                .Content();
                TempData[handle] = pdf;
            }

            // Return both as a filename so and the handle
            return new JsonResult()
            {
                Data = new { FileGuid = handle, FileName = "TestReportOutput.pdf" }
            };
        }

public ActionResult ExportPDF(string data)

{

//This handle (guid) will be used to connect with the TempData[]

string handle = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();

List<BossEmployee> be = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<BossEmployee>>(data);

string htmlText = String.Format(@"

<h1>Export to pdf</h1><p>Here is the text to be exported to PDF</p>");

}

string html = htmlText;

using (MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream())

{

var pdf = Pdf

.From(html)

.WithGlobalSetting("orientation", "Landscape")

.WithObjectSetting("web.defaultEncoding", "utf-8")

.Content();

TempData[handle] = pdf;

}

// Return both as a filename so and the handle

return new JsonResult()

{

Data = new { FileGuid = handle, FileName = "TestReportOutput.pdf" }

};

}

If a user clicks on a button "Make PDF" or something like this, PDF file will be downloaded to his or her computer.

30 March 2019, admin
C#
Tags: c#, MVC, PDF
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Render and Save PDF file from HTML in MVC 5 Application

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