The C# PDF Library
using IronPdf;
// Disable local disk access or cross-origin requests
Installation.EnableWebSecurity = true;
// Instantiate Renderer
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
// Create a PDF from a HTML string using C#
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");
// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
// Advanced Example with HTML Assets
// Load external html assets: Images, CSS and JavaScript.
// An optional BasePath 'C:\site\assets\' is set as the file location to load assets from
var myAdvancedPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<img src='icons/iron.png'>", @"C:\site\assets\");
myAdvancedPdf.SaveAs("html-with-assets.pdf");
Install-Package IronPdf
IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf - Compare to Other Components are both tools that can be used to convert HTML pages or complete websites, including images, to PDF format. However, there are several differences between the two tools in terms of their features, performance, and ease of use.
wkhtmltopdf is an open-source command-line tool that allows you to convert HTML pages or websites to PDF format. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS X operating systems and can be used with several programming languages, including C# and Java.
Here are the steps to install wkhtmltopdf on a Windows server in both C# and Java:
Once installed, modify the path by adding the wkhtmltopdf executable to your system's PATH environment variable. This can be done via the command prompt using the following command:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\wkhtmltopdf\bin In both C# and Java, the installation and usage of wkhtmltopdf involve executing the wkhtmltopdf command via the command prompt or using the ProcessBuilder class to execute the command programmatically. It is important to ensure that the wkhtmltopdf executable is added to the system's PATH environment variable and that the necessary switches and options are provided to generate the desired output PDF file.
Explore IronPDF Features and Installation is a library that allows developers to create, manipulate, and convert PDFs using C# and Java. It provides a wide range of features, including HTML to PDF conversion, PDF generation from scratch, and PDF manipulation.
In your code, add the following using statement to import the IronPDF namespace:
using IronPdf; using IronPdf; Imports IronPdfTo generate a PDF from HTML content, use the following code:
var Renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("IronFile.html").SaveAs("IronPDF file.pdf"); var Renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("IronFile.html").SaveAs("IronPDF file.pdf"); Dim Renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("IronFile.html").SaveAs("IronPDF file.pdf")To create a PDF from scratch, use the following code:
using IronPdf; var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
using var pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.amazon.com/?tag=hp2-brobookmark-us-20");
// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf"); using IronPdf; var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
using var pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.amazon.com/?tag=hp2-brobookmark-us-20");
// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf"); Imports IronPdf
Private Renderer = New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
' Create a PDF from a URL or local file path
Private pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.amazon.com/?tag=hp2-brobookmark-us-20")
' Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("url.pdf")
In your code, import the IronPDF package:
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*; Once installed, generate a PDF from HTML content using the following code:
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
// Apply your license key
License.setLicenseKey("YOUR-LICENSE-KEY");
// Set a log path
Settings.setLogPath(Paths.get("C:/tmp/IronPdfEngine.log"));
// Render the HTML as a PDF. Stored in myPdf as type PdfDocument;
PdfDocument myPdf = PdfDocument.renderHtmlAsPdf(" ~Hello World~ Made with IronPDF!");
// Save the PdfDocument to a file
myPdf.saveAs(Paths.get("html_saved.pdf")); Note that IronPDF uses a proprietary HTML-to-PDF conversion engine and does not rely on external tools like wkhtmltopdf.
IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf are two libraries that can be used to manipulate PDF files in C#. In this section, we will explore how to use both libraries to manipulate PDF files.
IronPDF is a C# library that can be used to create, manipulate, and render PDF documents. It provides an easy-to-use API that allows developers to perform various operations on PDF files, such as adding text, images, and tables, as well as merging, splitting, and converting PDF files. Here is an example of how to use IronPDF to add text to a PDF file:
var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");
Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
using var PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");
Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html");Dim Renderer = New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim PDF = Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html")
Renderer.RenderHTMLFileAsPdf("Project/MyHtmlDocument.html")
wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that can be used to convert HTML pages to PDF files. It uses the Qt WebKit rendering engine to render the HTML pages to PDF format. Here is an example of how to use wkhtmltopdf to convert an HTML page to a PDF file:
using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
//function calling
ConvertChromePdfRenderer("URL", "Sample.pdf");
Console.WriteLine("successfully created!");
Console.ReadKey();
}
//function declaration
public static void ConvertChromePdfRenderer(string url, string filename)
{
//function definition
StringBuilder paramsBuilder = new StringBuilder();
//make CLI command
paramsBuilder.AppendFormat("\"{0}\" \"{1}\"", url, filename);
//create new process
using (Process process = new Process())
{
//specify wkhtmltopdf.exe file path to execute above CLI
process.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\wkhtmltopdf\\bin\\wkhtmltopdf.exe";
//assign CLI as process argument
process.StartInfo.Arguments = paramsBuilder.ToString();
//setting the credentials
process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
//start execution
process.Start();
if (!process.WaitForExit(60000))
{
process.Kill();
}
}
}using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics;
static void Main(string [] args)
{
//function calling
ConvertChromePdfRenderer("URL", "Sample.pdf");
Console.WriteLine("successfully created!");
Console.ReadKey();
}
//function declaration
public static void ConvertChromePdfRenderer(string url, string filename)
{
//function definition
StringBuilder paramsBuilder = new StringBuilder();
//make CLI command
paramsBuilder.AppendFormat("\"{0}\" \"{1}\"", url, filename);
//create new process
using (Process process = new Process())
{
//specify wkhtmltopdf.exe file path to execute above CLI
process.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\wkhtmltopdf\\bin\\wkhtmltopdf.exe";
//assign CLI as process argument
process.StartInfo.Arguments = paramsBuilder.ToString();
//setting the credentials
process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
//start execution
process.Start();
if (!process.WaitForExit(60000))
{
process.Kill();
}
}
}Imports System.Text
Imports System.Diagnostics
Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
'function calling
ConvertChromePdfRenderer("URL", "Sample.pdf")
Console.WriteLine("successfully created!")
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
'function declaration
Public Shared Sub ConvertChromePdfRenderer(ByVal url As String, ByVal filename As String)
'function definition
Dim paramsBuilder As New StringBuilder()
'make CLI command
paramsBuilder.AppendFormat("""{0}"" ""{1}""", url, filename)
'create new process
Using process As New Process()
'specify wkhtmltopdf.exe file path to execute above CLI
process.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\Program Files (x86)\wkhtmltopdf\bin\wkhtmltopdf.exe"
'assign CLI as process argument
process.StartInfo.Arguments = paramsBuilder.ToString()
'setting the credentials
process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = True
process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = True
'start execution
process.Start()
If Not process.WaitForExit(60000) Then
process.Kill()
End If
End Using
End SubIn summary, IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf are two powerful tools that can be used to manipulate PDF files in C#. IronPDF provides an easy-to-use API for creating, manipulating, and rendering PDF files, while wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that can be used to convert HTML pages to PDF files. Both tools have their own strengths and weaknesses, and developers should choose the one that best suits their needs.
Manipulating PDF files is an essential part of document management, and developers need reliable tools to help them achieve this. Java developers have access to various libraries and tools for PDF manipulation, with IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf being popular options. In this comparison, we will explore how Java developers can manipulate PDF files using these tools.
IronPDF is a C# PDF library that offers easy and fast PDF manipulation capabilities. It also has a Java version, allowing Java developers to enjoy the same features. IronPDF provides an API for working with PDFs, including creating, editing, and rendering PDF documents. It also offers support for PDF forms, annotations, and security features.
To start working with IronPDF in Java, developers need to download the IronPDF Java library from the official website and import it into their Java project.
On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that converts the entire HTML content to Portable Document Format using the Qt WebKit rendering engine. It is an open-source tool available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. wkhtmltopdf offers various options and switches for customizing the PDF output file, such as setting margins, page size, and orientation.
To use wkhtmltopdf in Java, developers can execute the wkhtmltopdf tool using the Process class in Java.
Both IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf offer reliable PDF manipulation capabilities in Java. IronPDF is more suitable for developers who prefer to work with an API, while wkhtmltopdf is ideal for developers who prefer to work with command-line tools. IronPDF is also more feature-rich and offers more options for PDF customization, while wkhtmltopdf is faster and has a smaller footprint.
In summary, IronPDF is a more fully-featured and user-friendly HTML to PDF converter that is optimized for performance and can be used directly within a C# or Java application. However, it is a commercial product that requires a paid license for use in production environments. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is an open-source command-line tool that can be used with several programming languages, including C# and Java, but lacks some of the advanced features and ease of use of IronPDF.
IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf are two popular tools used for generating PDF documents from HTML content. While both of these tools offer similar functionality, there are differences in their licensing and pricing.
IronPDF is a commercial software library that requires a license for commercial use. It offers a range of licensing options, including per developer, per server, and per deployment licenses. IronPDF provides technical support and software updates for its licensed users. The pricing for IronPDF varies depending on the licensing option chosen.
On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is an open-source tool that is available for free. It is licensed under the LGPLv3 license, which allows for the use, modification, and distribution of the software. However, it does not offer any technical support or software updates. The user community provides support and updates through various channels such as GitHub issues and Stack Overflow.
In terms of pricing, IronPDF is more expensive than wkhtmltopdf. The pricing for IronPDF starts at $399 per developer license, whereas wkhtmltopdf is free to use.
It's worth noting that both IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf use the Qt WebKit rendering engine for converting HTML content to PDF documents. They both offer command-line tools for generating PDF documents and support a range of input formats, including HTML, URLs, and local files.
In summary, IronPDF and wkhtmltopdf offer similar functionality for generating PDF documents from HTML content. The main differences lie in their licensing and pricing models. IronPDF is a commercial software library that requires a license for commercial use, while wkhtmltopdf is an open-source tool that is available for free. Both are very useful when creating a PDF app.
In conclusion, IronPDF is a powerful PDF manipulation library built for .NET languages. It is designed to provide developers with an easy-to-use and robust tool to create, edit, and manipulate PDF files. With a dedicated focus on ease of use and performance, IronPDF is an excellent choice for developers looking to create and manipulate PDFs in C# or Java.
On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that uses the Qt WebKit rendering engine to convert HTML into PDF files. It is open-source software that can be used on Windows, Linux, and macOS. While it is a powerful tool, its functionality is limited to converting HTML to PDF, and it requires some technical expertise to set up and use effectively.
One area where IronPDF shines compared to wkhtmltopdf is its licensing. While both software are licensed under the MIT License, IronPDF offers a commercial license that includes premium support and allows for use in commercial applications. This makes it a more attractive option for developers looking for a reliable and stable PDF manipulation library.
In terms of technical capabilities, IronPDF is superior to wkhtmltopdf. With features like page resizing, image compression, and document encryption, IronPDF offers developers greater flexibility in creating and manipulating PDF files. Additionally, IronPDF supports a wider range of image formats and has a simpler and more intuitive API, making it easier for developers to get started.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that IronPDF is part of the Iron Software suite of products, which includes other useful libraries for .NET development. Developers can buy all five Iron Software products at the price of two licenses, making it an attractive package for those looking to get the most value for their money.
Install-Package IronPdf
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Your trial key should be in the email.
If it is not, please contact
support@ironsoftware.com
Get started for FREE
No credit card required
Test in production without watermarks.
Works wherever you need it to.
Get 30 days of fully functional product.
Have it up and running in minutes.
Full access to our support engineering team during your product trial
Licenses from $749. Have a question? Get in touch.
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