MIGRATION GUIDES

How to Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF in C#

Published:January 11, 2026

Why Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF?

DynamicPDF's product fragmentation represents the primary driver for migration. Understanding the licensing model is essential for evaluating the true cost of your current implementation.

The Product Fragmentation Problem

DynamicPDF is sold as separate products with separate licenses:

DynamicPDF Generator: Create PDFs from scratch
DynamicPDF Merger: Merge, split, and manipulate existing PDFs (separate purchase)
DynamicPDF Core Suite: Combined Generator and Merger
DynamicPDF ReportWriter: Report generation
DynamicPDF HTML Converter: HTML to PDF conversion (separate add-on)
DynamicPDF Print Manager: Print PDFs programmatically

A complete PDF solution requires 3-5 separate licenses with DynamicPDF. IronPDF includes everything in one package.

Architecture Comparison

Aspect	DynamicPDF	IronPDF
Product Model	Fragmented (5+ products)	All-in-one library
Licensing	Multiple licenses required	Single license
HTML to PDF	Separate add-on purchase	Built-in, Chromium-based
CSS Support	Limited (requires add-on)	Full CSS3 with Flexbox/Grid
API Style	Coordinate-based positioning	HTML/CSS + manipulation API
Learning Curve	Steep (multiple APIs)	Gentle (web technologies)
Modern .NET	.NET Standard 2.0	.NET 6/7/8/9+ native

Key Migration Benefits

Single Package: One NuGet package replaces 3-5 DynamicPDF packages
Modern Rendering: Chromium engine versus legacy rendering
Web Technologies: Use HTML/CSS instead of coordinate-based positioning
Simpler API: Less code, more readable, easier maintenance
No Add-On Purchases: HTML, merging, security all included

Pre-Migration Preparation

Prerequisites

Ensure your environment meets these requirements:

.NET Framework 4.6.2+ or .NET Core 3.1 / .NET 5-9
Visual Studio 2019+ or VS Code with C# extension
NuGet Package Manager access
IronPDF license key (free trial available at ironpdf.com)

Audit DynamicPDF Usage

Run these commands in your solution directory to identify all DynamicPDF references:

# Find all DynamicPDF references
grep -r "ceTe.DynamicPDF\|DynamicPDF" --include="*.cs" --include="*.csproj" .

# Check NuGet packages
dotnet list package | grep -i dynamic

# Find all DynamicPDF references
grep -r "ceTe.DynamicPDF\|DynamicPDF" --include="*.cs" --include="*.csproj" .

# Check NuGet packages
dotnet list package | grep -i dynamic

SHELL

Common packages to look for:

ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
ceTe.DynamicPDF.Generator.NET
ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger.NET
ceTe.DynamicPDF.HtmlConverter.NET

Understanding the Paradigm Shift

The most significant change when migrating from DynamicPDF to IronPDF is the fundamental approach to document creation. DynamicPDF uses coordinate-based positioning where you place elements at specific X,Y coordinates on a page. IronPDF uses HTML/CSS rendering where you design with web technologies.

This paradigm shift means converting Label, TextArea, and Table2 elements to their HTML equivalents—a change that typically results in more readable, maintainable code.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Update NuGet Packages

Remove all DynamicPDF packages and install IronPDF:

# Remove DynamicPDF packages
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.Generator.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.HtmlConverter.NET

# Install IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

# Remove DynamicPDF packages
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.Generator.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger.NET
dotnet remove package ceTe.DynamicPDF.HtmlConverter.NET

# Install IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

SHELL

Step 2: Update Namespace References

Replace DynamicPDF namespaces with IronPDF:

// Remove these
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Conversion;

// Add this
using IronPdf;

// Remove these
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Conversion;

// Add this
using IronPdf;

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Step 3: Configure License

// Add at application startup (Program.cs or Startup.cs)
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

// Add at application startup (Program.cs or Startup.cs)
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

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Complete API Migration Reference

Core Class Mapping

DynamicPDF Class	IronPDF Equivalent	Notes
`Document`	`ChromePdfRenderer`	For generating new PDFs
`Document`	`PdfDocument`	For manipulating existing PDFs
`Page`	HTML `<div>` with page-break	Or multiple renders
`MergeDocument`	`PdfDocument.Merge()`	Static merge method
`HtmlConverter`	`ChromePdfRenderer`	Built-in, no add-on

Page Elements to HTML Mapping

DynamicPDF PageElement	IronPDF/HTML Equivalent
`Label`	`<p>`, `<span>`, `<div>`
`TextArea`	`<div>`, `<p>` with CSS
`Image`	`<img>` tag
`Table2`	HTML `<table>`
`PageNumberingLabel`	`{page}` / `{total-pages}` placeholders

Key API Mappings

DynamicPDF	IronPDF	Notes
`Document` + `Page`	`ChromePdfRenderer`	HTML-based generation
`Label`, `TextArea`	HTML `<p>`, `<div>`	Style with CSS
`Table2`	HTML `<table>`	Full CSS styling
`MergeDocument`	`PdfDocument.Merge()`	Static method
`HtmlConverter`	`ChromePdfRenderer`	Built-in, no add-on
`document.Draw()`	`pdf.SaveAs()` / `pdf.BinaryData`
`PageNumberingLabel` `%%CP%%`	`{page}` placeholder	Different syntax

Code Migration Examples

HTML to PDF Conversion

The HTML to PDF conversion demonstrates DynamicPDF's requirement for a separate HtmlConverter add-on versus IronPDF's built-in Chromium rendering.

DynamicPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Conversion;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string html = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>";
        HtmlConverter converter = new HtmlConverter(html);
        converter.Convert("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Conversion;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string html = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>";
        HtmlConverter converter = new HtmlConverter(html);
        converter.Convert("output.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string html = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>";
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string html = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>";
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF's ChromePdfRenderer provides Chromium-based rendering with full CSS3 support—no separate add-on purchase required. For more options, see the HTML to PDF documentation.

Merging Multiple PDFs

PDF merging demonstrates the difference between DynamicPDF's MergeDocument class (requiring the Merger product license) and IronPDF's built-in static Merge method.

DynamicPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        MergeDocument document = new MergeDocument("document1.pdf");
        document.Append("document2.pdf");
        document.Draw("merged.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        MergeDocument document = new MergeDocument("document1.pdf");
        document.Append("document2.pdf");
        document.Draw("merged.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf1 = PdfDocument.FromFile("document1.pdf");
        var pdf2 = PdfDocument.FromFile("document2.pdf");
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(pdf1, pdf2);
        merged.SaveAs("merged.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf1 = PdfDocument.FromFile("document1.pdf");
        var pdf2 = PdfDocument.FromFile("document2.pdf");
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(pdf1, pdf2);
        merged.SaveAs("merged.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF's static Merge method accepts multiple PdfDocument objects directly. For more options, see the PDF merging documentation.

Adding Text to PDFs

Text placement demonstrates the paradigm shift from DynamicPDF's coordinate-based Label elements to IronPDF's HTML-based TextStamper.

DynamicPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Document document = new Document();
        Page page = new Page(PageSize.Letter);
        Label label = new Label("Hello from DynamicPDF!", 0, 0, 504, 100);
        page.Elements.Add(label);
        document.Pages.Add(page);
        document.Draw("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET
using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Document document = new Document();
        Page page = new Page(PageSize.Letter);
        Label label = new Label("Hello from DynamicPDF!", 0, 0, 504, 100);
        page.Elements.Add(label);
        document.Pages.Add(page);
        document.Draw("output.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF Implementation:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using IronPdf.Editing;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body></body></html>");
        var textStamper = new TextStamper()
        {
            Text = "Hello from IronPDF!",
            FontSize = 20,
            VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Top
        };
        pdf.ApplyStamp(textStamper);
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using IronPdf.Editing;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body></body></html>");
        var textStamper = new TextStamper()
        {
            Text = "Hello from IronPDF!",
            FontSize = 20,
            VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Top
        };
        pdf.ApplyStamp(textStamper);
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

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IronPDF's TextStamper provides alignment-based positioning rather than coordinate-based placement, making layouts more adaptable across different page sizes. For more options, see the watermarks and stamping documentation.

Complete Document Generation Example

This comprehensive example shows converting a DynamicPDF document with multiple elements to IronPDF's HTML approach.

DynamicPDF Implementation:

using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;

// Generation (requires Generator license)
Document document = new Document();
Page page = new Page(PageSize.A4);
Label title = new Label("Invoice Report", 0, 0, 595, 30, Font.HelveticaBold, 18);
title.Align = TextAlign.Center;
page.Elements.Add(title);

Table2 table = new Table2(40, 60, 515, 500);
// ... complex table setup with columns, rows, cells...
page.Elements.Add(table);
document.Pages.Add(page);
document.Draw("invoice.pdf");

// Merging (requires Merger license)
MergeDocument mergeDoc = new MergeDocument("cover.pdf");
mergeDoc.Append("invoice.pdf");
mergeDoc.Draw("final.pdf");

using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.Merger;

// Generation (requires Generator license)
Document document = new Document();
Page page = new Page(PageSize.A4);
Label title = new Label("Invoice Report", 0, 0, 595, 30, Font.HelveticaBold, 18);
title.Align = TextAlign.Center;
page.Elements.Add(title);

Table2 table = new Table2(40, 60, 515, 500);
// ... complex table setup with columns, rows, cells...
page.Elements.Add(table);
document.Pages.Add(page);
document.Draw("invoice.pdf");

// Merging (requires Merger license)
MergeDocument mergeDoc = new MergeDocument("cover.pdf");
mergeDoc.Append("invoice.pdf");
mergeDoc.Draw("final.pdf");

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IronPDF Implementation:

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// All features in one library
var html = @"
<html>
<head>
    <style>
        body { font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 40px; }
        h1 { text-align: center; font-size: 18pt; }
        table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 20px; }
        th, td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 8px; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Invoice Report</h1>
    <table>
        <tr><th>Product</th><th>Qty</th><th>Price</th></tr>
        <tr><td>Widget</td><td>10</td><td>$99.99</td></tr>
    </table>
</body>
</html>";

var invoice = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

// Merging included - no separate license
var cover = PdfDocument.FromFile("cover.pdf");
var final = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, invoice);
final.SaveAs("final.pdf");

using IronPdf;

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// All features in one library
var html = @"
<html>
<head>
    <style>
        body { font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 40px; }
        h1 { text-align: center; font-size: 18pt; }
        table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 20px; }
        th, td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 8px; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Invoice Report</h1>
    <table>
        <tr><th>Product</th><th>Qty</th><th>Price</th></tr>
        <tr><td>Widget</td><td>10</td><td>$99.99</td></tr>
    </table>
</body>
</html>";

var invoice = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

// Merging included - no separate license
var cover = PdfDocument.FromFile("cover.pdf");
var final = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, invoice);
final.SaveAs("final.pdf");

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Critical Migration Notes

Coordinate-Based to HTML/CSS Positioning

The fundamental paradigm shift requires converting X,Y coordinate positioning to CSS-based layouts:

// DynamicPDF - coordinate-based
var label = new Label("Hello World", 100, 200, 300, 50);

// IronPDF - CSS positioning (if absolute positioning needed)
var html = "<div style='position:absolute; left:100px; top:200px; width:300px;'>Hello World</div>";

// IronPDF - preferred approach (flow-based)
var html = "<div style='margin-left:100px; margin-top:200px;'>Hello World</div>";

// DynamicPDF - coordinate-based
var label = new Label("Hello World", 100, 200, 300, 50);

// IronPDF - CSS positioning (if absolute positioning needed)
var html = "<div style='position:absolute; left:100px; top:200px; width:300px;'>Hello World</div>";

// IronPDF - preferred approach (flow-based)
var html = "<div style='margin-left:100px; margin-top:200px;'>Hello World</div>";

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Page Numbering Syntax

DynamicPDF and IronPDF use different placeholder syntax for page numbers:

// DynamicPDF placeholders
"Page %%CP%% of %%TP%%"

// IronPDF placeholders
"Page {page} of {total-pages}"

// DynamicPDF placeholders
"Page %%CP%% of %%TP%%"

// IronPDF placeholders
"Page {page} of {total-pages}"

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Headers and Footers

Convert DynamicPDF Template elements to IronPDF HtmlHeaderFooter:

// IronPDF header/footer
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;'>Page {page} of {total-pages}</div>",
    MaxHeight = 25
};

// IronPDF header/footer
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
{
    HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align:center;'>Page {page} of {total-pages}</div>",
    MaxHeight = 25
};

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For more header/footer options, see the headers and footers documentation.

Security Settings

// IronPDF security
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "ownerPassword";
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "userPassword";

// IronPDF security
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "ownerPassword";
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "userPassword";

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For comprehensive security options, see the encryption documentation.

Post-Migration Checklist

After completing the code migration, verify the following:

Visual comparison of generated PDFs
Verify text positioning and layout
Test table rendering and overflow
Verify headers/footers on all pages
Test form filling functionality
Verify security/encryption
Performance benchmarking
Remove unused DynamicPDF license files
Update documentation

Future-Proofing Your PDF Infrastructure

With .NET 10 on the horizon and C# 14 introducing new language features, choosing a PDF library that embraces modern .NET patterns ensures long-term compatibility. IronPDF's native support for .NET 6/7/8/9+ provides a clear path forward as projects extend into 2025 and 2026—without the complexity of managing multiple product licenses or navigating fragmented APIs.

Additional Resources

Migrating from DynamicPDF to IronPDF eliminates the complexity of managing multiple product licenses while providing modern Chromium-based rendering and full CSS3 support. The transition from coordinate-based positioning to HTML/CSS design typically results in more maintainable code that leverages familiar web technologies.

Curtis Chau

Chat with engineering team now

Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

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How to Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF in C#

Why Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF?

The Product Fragmentation Problem

Architecture Comparison

Key Migration Benefits

Pre-Migration Preparation

Prerequisites

Audit DynamicPDF Usage

Understanding the Paradigm Shift

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Update NuGet Packages

Step 2: Update Namespace References

Step 3: Configure License

Complete API Migration Reference

Core Class Mapping

Page Elements to HTML Mapping

Key API Mappings

Code Migration Examples

HTML to PDF Conversion

Merging Multiple PDFs

Adding Text to PDFs

Complete Document Generation Example

Critical Migration Notes

Coordinate-Based to HTML/CSS Positioning

Page Numbering Syntax

Headers and Footers

Security Settings

Post-Migration Checklist

Future-Proofing Your PDF Infrastructure

Additional Resources

How to Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF in C#

Why Migrate from DynamicPDF to IronPDF?

The Product Fragmentation Problem

Architecture Comparison

Key Migration Benefits

Pre-Migration Preparation

Prerequisites

Audit DynamicPDF Usage

Understanding the Paradigm Shift

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Update NuGet Packages

Step 2: Update Namespace References

Step 3: Configure License

Complete API Migration Reference

Core Class Mapping

Page Elements to HTML Mapping

Key API Mappings

Code Migration Examples

HTML to PDF Conversion

Merging Multiple PDFs

Adding Text to PDFs

Complete Document Generation Example

Critical Migration Notes

Coordinate-Based to HTML/CSS Positioning

Page Numbering Syntax

Headers and Footers

Security Settings

Post-Migration Checklist

Future-Proofing Your PDF Infrastructure

Additional Resources

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