How to open a generated PDF in browser without saving them locally ?

Syncfusion Essential PDF is a .NET PDF library used to create, read, and edit PDF documents. Using this library, you can open a generated PDF in a new browser tab without saving locally in the disk.

Steps to open the generated PDF in a new browser tab without saving locally:

1. Create a new C# ASP.NET MVC application project.

2. Install the Syncfusion.Pdf.AspNet.MVC5 NuGet packages as a reference to your .NET Framework application from the NuGet.org.

3. A default controller with name HomeController.cs gets added to the creation of the ASP.NET MVC project. Include the following namespaces in the HomeController.cs file.

   // [C# Code]
   using Syncfusion.Pdf;
   using Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics;
   

'[VB Code]
Imports Syncfusion.Pdf
Imports Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics

4. A default action method named Index will be present in the HomeController.cs. Right-click the Index action method and select Go To View, where you will be redirected to its associated view page Index.cshtml.

5. Add a new button in the Index.cshtml as follows.

// [C# Code]
<input type="submit" value="Generate PDF" class="Button" id="btn1" />
<script src="~/Scripts/jquery-1.10.2.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
    $('#btn1').click(function () {
       
        $.ajax({
            url: '/Home/GeneratePDF',
            type: "POST",
            data: {
                name: $("#txtName").val()
            },
            datatype: "json",
            success: function (data) {
                let pdfWindow = window.open("")
                pdfWindow.document.write("<iframe width='100%' height='100%' src='" + data + "'></iframe>")          
            }
        }); 
    });
</script>

6. Add a new action method named GeneratePDF in the HomeController.cs and include the following code snippet to create a PDF file and open it in a new tab of the browser.

   // [C# Code]
   //Create a new PDF document
   PdfDocument document = new PdfDocument();
    
   //Add a page to the document
   PdfPage page = document.Pages.Add();
    
   //Create PDF graphics for the page
   PdfGraphics graphics = page.Graphics;
    
   //Set the standard font
   PdfFont font = new PdfStandardFont(PdfFontFamily.Helvetica, 20,PdfFontStyle.Bold);
    
   //Draw the text
   graphics.DrawString("Hello World " + name, font, PdfBrushes.Black, new PointF(0, 0));
    
   MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
    
   document.Save(ms);
   ms.Position = 0;
    
   //Close the document
   document.Close(true);
    
   byte[] bytes = ms.ToArray();
   return "data:application/pdf;base64," + Convert.ToBase64String(bytes);
    
   

'[VB Code]
'Create a new PDF document.
Dim document As New PdfDocument()
 
'Add a page to the document.
Dim page As PdfPage = document.Pages.Add()
 
'Create PDF graphics for the page.
Dim graphics As PdfGraphics = page.Graphics
 
'Set the standard font.
Dim font As PdfFont = New PdfStandardFont(PdfFontFamily.Helvetica, 20, PdfFontStyle.Bold)
 
'Draw the text.
graphics.DrawString("Hello World " + name, font, PdfBrushes.Black, New PointF(0, 0))
 
Dim ms As New MemoryStream()
 
document.Save(ms)
ms.Position = 0
 
'Close the document.
document.Close(True)
 
Dim bytes As Byte() = ms.ToArray()
Return "data:application/pdf;base64," + Convert.ToBase64String(bytes)

7.  You can download the working sample from the AjaxSample.zip.

8. By executing the program, the generated PDF opened in a new tab of the browser. The output screenshot as follows.

Take a moment to peruse the documentation, where you can find other options like working with text, image, forms, and tables with the essential PDF.

Refer here to explore the rich set of Syncfusion Essential PDF features.

An online sample link that explains the Essential PDF features.