Document Viewer Extension for Visual Studio Code

The Syncfusion® Document Viewer lets you open and view Word, Excel, PDF, CSV, and TSV files directly in the VS Code editor.

You can view Microsoft Word documents directly in VS Code using the Syncfusion Document Viewer extension. Simply install the extension from the VS Code marketplace, then open any .docx file in your workspace. The extension provides a built-in viewer that renders Word documents with formatting preserved, allowing you to read and perform basic editing operations without leaving your development environment.

Yes, the Syncfusion Document Viewer extension supports minimal editing of Microsoft Word documents. While it's primarily designed for viewing, you can perform basic text modifications and content updates. However, for advanced formatting and complex editing tasks, you may still need to use Microsoft Word for full functionality.

The Syncfusion Document Viewer extension allows you to view and edit Excel files directly in VS Code. After installing the extension, you can:

• Open .xlsx files with preserved formatting and cell structure.
• Edit cell contents and values.
• View multiple worksheets within the same file.
• Perform basic spreadsheet operations like filtering and sorting.
• Configure read-only mode if you only need viewing capabilities.

The extension provides enhanced viewing for CSV and TSV files with proper column alignment and formatting. Features include:

• Column-aligned display: Automatically formats CSV/TSV data into readable columns.
• Sorting capabilities: Sort data by any column in ascending or descending order.
• Filtering options: Filter rows based on specific criteria.
• Large file handling: Efficiently handles large CSV and TSV files without performance issues.
• Customizable display: Configure column widths and viewing preferences.

Yes, you can view PDF files directly in Visual Studio using the Syncfusion Document Viewer extension. To view the files:

• Install the Document Viewer extension from the VS Code marketplace.
• Open a .pdf file in your workspace.
• The extension will render the PDF within VS Code, allowing you to view the document with preserved formatting. You can navigate pages, zoom in and out, and search text within the PDF.

Current Status: As of the latest version, Markdown support is not yet available but is planned for future updates. The extension currently focuses on Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel), PDFs, and CSV and TSV files. For Markdown viewing in VS Code, you'll need to use alternative extensions until Syncfusion adds this capability.

To install the Syncfusion Document Viewer extension:

1. Open VS Code.
2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X).
3. Search "Syncfusion Document Viewer."
4. Click "Install" on the official Syncfusion extension.
5. Restart VS Code if prompted.
6. The extension will automatically handle supported file types (.docx, .xlsx, .pdf, .csv, .tsv).

Currently supported formats include:

• Microsoft Word: .docx files.
• Microsoft Excel: .xlsx files.
• PDF: .pdf files..
• Spreadsheet formats: .csv (Comma Separated Values) and. tsv (Tab Separated Values).
• Upcoming support: Markdown files (planned for future releases)

Yes, the extension offers configuration options including:

• Read-only mode: Prevent accidental editing of documents.
• Display preferences: Customize how documents are rendered.
• Sorting and filtering settings: Configure default behaviors for spreadsheet files.
• Performance options: Adjust settings for handling large files.

The Syncfusion Document Viewer stands out by offering:

• Multi-format support: Handles Office documents, PDFs, and spreadsheet files in one extension.
• Editing capabilities: Allows basic editing, unlike other viewers.
• Professional rendering: High-quality document display with formatting preservation.
• Active development: Regular updates and planned feature additions.
• Enterprise-grade quality: Built by Syncfusion, known for professional development tools.

Current limitations include:

• Markdown support: Not yet available (coming in future updates).
• Advanced editing: Limited to basic modifications compared to native Office applications.
• File size: Very large documents may have performance considerations.
• Complex formatting: Some advanced Word and Excel features may not render perfectly.
• Collaboration: Real-time collaboration features are not available.

Common solutions include:

• Restart VS Code: Resolves most loading issues.
• Update extension: Ensure you have the latest version installed.
• Check file permissions: Verify you have read/write access to the document.
• Clear cache: Reload the window (Ctrl+Shift+P > Reload Window).
• Compatibility: Ensure your VS Code version is compatible with the extension.

We would love to hear from you! Please contact us through our feedback portal.

No. The extension uses  pure JavaScript Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and PDF Viewer components to parse and render your files entirely on the client side. Your document data never leaves your machine, and no internet connection or server-side processing is required.