How to convert HTML to PDF in Xamarin platform

The Syncfusion HTML to PDF converter for .NET is used to convert webpages, SVG, MHTML and HTML to PDF. HTML to PDF conversion is supported in Xamarin platform by using web service. Using this library, you can convert HTML to PDF in Xamarin platform.

Refer to the following steps to convert a HTML to PDF in web service:

1. Create a WCF service for the conversion part and host it as local service.
2. Then, the local service can be added as a web reference to your Xamarin application.

The following steps are used to create a WCF service for conversion:

1. Open Visual Studio and create a new WCF service project.
2. Install the Syncfusion.HtmlToPdfConverter.QtWebKit.WinForms NuGet package as a reference to your web service application from the NuGet.org.
3. Copy the QtBinaries folder from the installed HtmltoPdfConverter package and paste it in the folder that contains the WebRoleWebKit.csproj file. 

4. Include the HTML to PDF conversion part in the service.

4.1)   Include QtBinaries folder to the project.

4.2)   Then, set Copy to output directory to copy if newer to all the QtBinaries (All files including inner folders and files).

4.3)   Include new OperationContract in the IService1 interface.

[OperationContract]
MemoryStream GetData(string value);

4.4)    Include the following namespaces and code snippet in Service1.svc for converting HTML to PDF in web service. Refer to the following link for more information.

UG: https://help.syncfusion.com/file-formats/pdf/convert-html-to-pdf/webkit#url-to-pdf

// [C# Code]
using Syncfusion.HtmlConverter;
using Syncfusion.Pdf;
using System.IO;
using System.Web.Hosting;

public MemoryStream GetData(string value)
{
return CreateDocument(value);
}
public MemoryStream CreateDocument(string pathURL)
{
//Create new HTML to PDF converter
HtmlToPdfConverter htmlConverter = new HtmlToPdfConverter(HtmlRenderingEngine.WebKit);
 
//Initialize the WebKit settings
WebKitConverterSettings webKitSettings = new WebKitConverterSettings();
 
//Set the WebKit path
webKitSettings.WebKitPath = Path.Combine( HostingEnvironment.ApplicationPhysicalPath, "QtBinaries");
 
//Set the WebKit conversion settings
htmlConverter.ConverterSettings = webKitSettings;
 
//Convert URL to pdf
PdfDocument document = htmlConverter.Convert(pathURL);
 
//Save the document
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
          
document.Save(stream);
 
//Sets the stream position
stream.Position = 0;
 
//Close the PDF document
document.Close();
 
//Return the PDF stream.
return stream;
}

5. Run the service in the local machine and test the conversion using simple console sample in local machine.
6. After successful conversion, deploy the web service and refer the local service to the main project. This server can be hosted in IIS server. Then, you can use it in the main project.

Refer to the following steps for converting HTML to PDF using the above local service.

7. Create a new Xamarin Android project.
8. Add a web reference with the above local service in this project.  

9. Invoke the GetData method from the service. Refer to the following code snippet.

   //Create new service
   localhost.Service1 service = new localhost.Service1();
    
   //Get the HTML as PDF stream
   localhost.MemoryStream stream = service.GetData("http://www.google.com");
    
   MemoryStream fileStream = new MemoryStream(stream._buffer);
    
   fileStream.Position = 0;
    
   //Save the stream to PDF file
   Save("Sample.pdf", "application/pdf", fileStream);
   

10. By converting HTML to PDF, you will get the PDF document as follows.

The samples of Web service and Xamarin are attached in this article for your reference. Find the samples from the following zip files.

Web service: WebRoleWebKit.zip.

Xamarin sample: HtmlToPDFConversion.zip.

Take a moment to peruse the documentation for Converting HTML to PDF, where you will find various options for URL to PDF, HTML string to PDF, and Hyperlinks.

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

See also:

How to convert HTML to PDF in UWP.