How to create a PDF file in Xamarin?

Syncfusion Essential PDF is a Xamarin PDF library used to create, read, and edit PDF documents. Using this library, you can create a PDF document in Xamarin.

Steps to create PDF programmatically:

1. Create a new C# Xamarin.Forms application project.
2. Select a project template and required platforms to deploy the application. In this application, the portable assemblies to be shared across multiple platforms, the .NET Standard code sharing strategy has been selected. For more details about code sharing, refer here.
   Note:

   If .NET Standard is not available in the code sharing strategy, the Portable Class Library (PCL) can be selected.

3. Install the Syncfusion.Xamarin.PDF NuGet package as a reference to your  .NET Framework applications from NuGet.org.
4. Add new Forms XAML page in portable project if there is no XAML page is defined in the App class. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.

1. To add the new XAML page, right-click the project and select Add > New Item and add a Forms XAML Page from the list. Name it as MainXamlPage.
2. In App class of portable project (App.cs), replace the existing constructor of App class with the following code snippet, which invokes the MainXamlPage.

   public App()
   {
       // The root page of your application
       MainPage = new MainXamlPage();
    
   }
   

5. In the MainXamlPage.xaml, add new button as follows.

   <ContentPage xmlns="http://xamarin.com/schemas/2014/forms"
                xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
                x:Class="GettingStarted. MainXamlPage">
   <StackLayout VerticalOptions="Center">
    
   <Button Text="Generate Document" Clicked="OnButtonClicked" HorizontalOptions="Center"/>
    
   </StackLayout>
   </ContentPage>
   

6. Include the following namespace in the MainXamlPage.xaml.cs file.

   using Syncfusion.Pdf;
   using Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics;
   using Syncfusion.Drawing;
   

7. Include the following code snippet in the click event of the button in MainXamlPage.xaml.cs, to create a PDF file and save it in a stream.

   // 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);
    
   //Draw the text
   graphics.DrawString("Hello World!!!", font, PdfBrushes.Black, new PointF(0, 0));
    
   //Save the document to the stream
   MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
   document.Save(stream);
    
   //Close the document
   document.Close(true);
    
   //Save the stream as a file in the device and invoke it for viewing
   Xamarin.Forms.DependencyService.Get<ISave>().SaveAndView("Output.pdf", "application / pdf", stream);
   

8. Download the helper files from this link and add them into the mentioned project. These helper files allow you to save the stream as a physical file and open the file for viewing.

• Create a new XML file with the name of provider_paths.xml under the Android project Resources folder and add the following code in it.

          Eg: Resources/xml/provider_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
  <external-path name="external_files" path="."/>
</paths>

• Add the following code to the AndroidManifest.xml file located under Properties/AndroidManifest.xml.

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:versionCode="1" android:versionName="1.0" package="com.companyname. GettingStarted ">
   <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="19" android:targetSdkVersion="27" />
   <application android:label=" GettingStarted.Android">
      <provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                   android:resource="@xml/provider_paths" />
      </provider>
    </application>
  </manifest>
  

9. Compile and execute the application. This creates a simple PDF document.

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

Download the complete work sample from Create_PDF_file.zip.

Take a moment to peruse the documentation, where you can find other options like drawing right-to-left text and multi-column text,  consuming TrueType fonts, Standards fonts, and CJK fonts. Also, the features like PDF form filling, extract text or images from PDF, and protect PDF documents with code examples.

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

See Also:

Create a PDF file in ASP.NET Core

Create a PDF file in ASP.NET MVC

Create a PDF file in Windows Forms

Create a PDF file in WPF