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USING IRONPDF

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF

Chipego
Chipego Kalinda
Published:

Introduction

Converting HTML content into PDF documents in cloud environments can be surprisingly challenging. You've undoubtedly run into mysterious errors regarding GDI+ or sandbox limitations if you've ever attempted to deploy a PDF generator to Azure Functions, I know I have! The good news? Any HTML content can be converted into pixel-perfect PDF files with IronPDF and the appropriate setup.

This post will show you how to use IronPDF to deploy a production-ready HTML to PDF converter in Azure Functions. As you navigate Azure's particular environment constraints, you'll learn how to handle everything from simple HTML strings to web pages with a lot of JavaScript. Whether you're making straightforward invoices or intricate reports, it makes no difference. By the end of this article, you'll have mastered the art of HTML to PDF with IronPDF and Azure.

Get stated with IronPDF now.
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Why is HTML to PDF Conversion Challenging in Azure?

Before we begin converting HTML to PDF, let's take a moment to examine why this task may be challenging in Azure. Azure's serverless and app service run within a security sandbox that restricts certain operations traditional PDF libraries depend on. Some of these restrictions include:

  • Limited GDI+ Access: Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI+) calls are blocked in Azure's lower-tiered services.
  • Font Rendering Limitations: Custom fonts and SVG fonts may face restrictions.
  • Memory Constraints: HTML to PDF conversion requires substantial resources.
  • Process Isolation: Running browser engines for rendering requires special permissions.

These restrictions are most tightly enforced by Azure's Consumption plan and the Free/Shared tiers. That is why successful HTML-to-PDF conversion requires at least an Azure Basic B1 tier or a Premium subscription. These give the essential rights and resources for IronPDF's Chrome rendering engine to function correctly. Refer to IronPDF's Azure deployment guidefor more information on Azure hosting tiers and their performance in rendering PDFs.

Azure Deployment Options

For deployment, you have three options (Windows, Linux, or Container). While Azure Function App Container is the recommended approach, you can easily use any of these options to deploy your application.

Today, we'll focus on the container approach, which provides an isolated environment with minimal configuration hassles and improved compatibility with IronPDF's rendering engine. For specialized environments, such as Azure Government Cloud or Azure China, the same principles apply. However, you'll need to adjust your deployment endpoints accordingly.

Why Does IronPDF Excel at HTML to PDF in Azure?

IronPDF is a powerful .NET library that stands out for its HTML to PDF conversion capabilities in Azure, thanks to its use of the Chrome rendering engine. This isn't just a basic HTML parser; it's the same technology that powers Google Chrome. This ensures that your PDF documents appear exactly as they would in a modern browser.

Chrome Rendering Engine Advantages

The Chrome engine brings several critical benefits for HTML to PDF conversion, including:

  • Complete CSS3 Support: IronPDF's rendering engine provides strong support for modern CSS styles.
  • JavaScript Execution: Complete support for dynamic JavaScript rendering.
  • Web Font Rendering: Google fonts and custom typefaces display correctly (with proper tier selection).
  • Modern Web Standards: Supports HTML5 elements, SVG graphics, and Canvas elements

This means you can take any modern web page, complete with Bootstrap styling, JavaScript frameworks, or complex visualizations, and convert it to PDF format without worrying about compatibility issues. IronPDF easily handles the heavy lifting of running a headless Chrome instance in Azure's restricted environment. If you want to learn more about IronPDF's Chrome rendering capabilities and how it enables pixel-perfect PDF rendering.

How to Set Up Your Microsoft Azure Environment for HTML to PDF?

Let's walk through how to set up an Azure Function App optimized for HTML to PDF conversion using IronPDF.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

For complete setup instructions specific to PDF generation in Azure Functions, see IronPDF's Azure Functions tutorial.

Creating Your Azure Function App

  1. Navigate to the Azure Portal in your web interface and click "Create a resource"
  2. Search for "Function App" and click "Create"

  3. Configure the basics:

    1. Select Hosting Option: Select the hosting option that best fits your needs.
    2. Subscription: Select your Azure subscription
    3. Resource Group: Create new or select existing
    4. Function App Name: Choose a unique name
    5. Publish: Select "Container"
    6. Region: Choose your preferred location

  4. Configure the hosting plan:

    1. Click "Create new" under Azure App Service Plan
    2. Pricing Tier: Select at least B1 (Basic) or higher
  5. Remember: Free, Shared, and Consumption plans won't work for PDF rendering
  6. Review and create your Function App

Installing IronPDF in Your Project

First, you will need to create a new Azure Functions project in Visual Studio (or load an existing one) and add the IronPDF package:

# For Docker Container deployment (recommended)
Install-Package IronPdf.Linux
# For Windows deployment
Install-Package IronPdf

For detailed installation instructions, including NuGet Packages configuration and platform-specific considerations (such as within your desktop applications), visit the IronPDF installation guide.

Essential Configuration Settings

Configure your Function App .cs file for optimal HTML to PDF conversion:

using IronPdf;
using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker;
using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Http;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
public class HtmlToPdfFunction
{
    private readonly ILogger _logger;
    public HtmlToPdfFunction(ILoggerFactory loggerFactory)
    {
        _logger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<HtmlToPdfFunction>();
        // Configure IronPDF for Azure
        ConfigureIronPdf();
    }
    private void ConfigureIronPdf()
    {
        // Set your license key (get a trial key from https://ironpdf.com/licensing/)
        IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";
        // Essential Azure configurations
        IronPdf.Installation.LinuxAndDockerDependenciesAutoConfig = true;
        IronPdf.Installation.ChromeGpuMode = IronPdf.Engines.Chrome.ChromeGpuModes.Disabled;
        IronPdf.Installation.CustomDeploymentDirectory = "/tmp";
        // Optional: Enable logging for troubleshooting
        IronPdf.Logging.Logger.LoggingMode = IronPdf.Logging.Logger.LoggingModes.All;
    }
}
using IronPdf;
using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker;
using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Http;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
public class HtmlToPdfFunction
{
    private readonly ILogger _logger;
    public HtmlToPdfFunction(ILoggerFactory loggerFactory)
    {
        _logger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<HtmlToPdfFunction>();
        // Configure IronPDF for Azure
        ConfigureIronPdf();
    }
    private void ConfigureIronPdf()
    {
        // Set your license key (get a trial key from https://ironpdf.com/licensing/)
        IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";
        // Essential Azure configurations
        IronPdf.Installation.LinuxAndDockerDependenciesAutoConfig = true;
        IronPdf.Installation.ChromeGpuMode = IronPdf.Engines.Chrome.ChromeGpuModes.Disabled;
        IronPdf.Installation.CustomDeploymentDirectory = "/tmp";
        // Optional: Enable logging for troubleshooting
        IronPdf.Logging.Logger.LoggingMode = IronPdf.Logging.Logger.LoggingModes.All;
    }
}
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

How to Convert HTML Strings to PDF?

Let's start with the most common scenario: converting HTML strings directly to PDF. This approach works well for dynamically generated content, such as invoices, reports, or confirmation emails.

Basic HTML String Conversion

[Function("ConvertHtmlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertHtmlToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    _logger.LogInformation("Starting HTML to PDF conversion");
    try
    {
        // Simple HTML invoice example
        string htmlContent = @"
            <!DOCTYPE html>
            <html>
            <head>
                <meta charset='UTF-8'>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 40px; }
                    .header { color: #333; border-bottom: 2px solid #0066cc; }
                    .invoice-details { margin: 20px 0; }
                    table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
                    th, td { padding: 10px; text-align: left; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; }
                    .total { font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.2em; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='header'>
                    <h1>Invoice #12345</h1>
                    <p>Date: " + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") + @"</p>
                </div>
                <div class='invoice-details'>
                    <table>
                        <tr>
                            <th>Item</th>
                            <th>Quantity</th>
                            <th>Price</th>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>Professional Services</td>
                            <td>10 hours</td>
                            <td>$1,000.00</td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan='2' class='total'>Total</td>
                            <td class='total'>$1,000.00</td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </div>
            </body>
            </html>";
        // Create Chrome renderer
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure rendering options
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 25;
        // Convert HTML to PDF
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        // Return PDF as response
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=invoice.pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        _logger.LogInformation("PDF generated successfully");
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error generating PDF");
        var errorResponse = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.InternalServerError);
        await errorResponse.WriteStringAsync($"Error: {ex.Message}");
        return errorResponse;
    }
}
[Function("ConvertHtmlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertHtmlToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    _logger.LogInformation("Starting HTML to PDF conversion");
    try
    {
        // Simple HTML invoice example
        string htmlContent = @"
            <!DOCTYPE html>
            <html>
            <head>
                <meta charset='UTF-8'>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 40px; }
                    .header { color: #333; border-bottom: 2px solid #0066cc; }
                    .invoice-details { margin: 20px 0; }
                    table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
                    th, td { padding: 10px; text-align: left; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; }
                    .total { font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.2em; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='header'>
                    <h1>Invoice #12345</h1>
                    <p>Date: " + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") + @"</p>
                </div>
                <div class='invoice-details'>
                    <table>
                        <tr>
                            <th>Item</th>
                            <th>Quantity</th>
                            <th>Price</th>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td>Professional Services</td>
                            <td>10 hours</td>
                            <td>$1,000.00</td>
                        </tr>
                        <tr>
                            <td colspan='2' class='total'>Total</td>
                            <td class='total'>$1,000.00</td>
                        </tr>
                    </table>
                </div>
            </body>
            </html>";
        // Create Chrome renderer
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure rendering options
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 25;
        // Convert HTML to PDF
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        // Return PDF as response
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=invoice.pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        _logger.LogInformation("PDF generated successfully");
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error generating PDF");
        var errorResponse = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.InternalServerError);
        await errorResponse.WriteStringAsync($"Error: {ex.Message}");
        return errorResponse;
    }
}
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

This will take the given HTML string and render it into a high-quality PDF document, complete with the custom rendering options we set using the RenderingOptions class.

PDF Output

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 3 - Basic HTML string output PDF

Converting URLs to PDF

For existing web pages or complex applications, you can convert URLs directly.

[Function("ConvertUrlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertUrlToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    var requestBody = await req.ReadAsStringAsync();
    var urlRequest = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<UrlRequest>(requestBody);
    try
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure for web page rendering
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;
        // Enable JavaScript execution (important for dynamic content)
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 1000; // Wait for JS to execute
        // Convert URL to PDF
        var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf(urlRequest.Url);
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error converting URL to PDF");
        throw;
    }
}
public class UrlRequest
{
    public string Url { get; set; }
}
[Function("ConvertUrlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertUrlToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    var requestBody = await req.ReadAsStringAsync();
    var urlRequest = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<UrlRequest>(requestBody);
    try
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure for web page rendering
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.A4;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;
        // Enable JavaScript execution (important for dynamic content)
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 1000; // Wait for JS to execute
        // Convert URL to PDF
        var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf(urlRequest.Url);
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error converting URL to PDF");
        throw;
    }
}
public class UrlRequest
{
    public string Url { get; set; }
}
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

URL Output

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 4 - URL PDF output

How to Handle Complex HTML Content with JavaScript

Modern web applications rely heavily on JavaScript for rendering content. Whether it's charts, dynamic forms, or single-page applications, IronPDF's rendering engine handles them all.

Working with JavaScript-Heavy Content

For this example, we will take this HTML file with JavaScript content and convert it to PDF.

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 5 - Complex HTML file

[Function("ConvertComplexHtmlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertComplexHtmlToPdf(
[HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    try
    {
        // Load complex HTML from file
        // [USER TO PROVIDE: complex-dashboard.html with charts and JavaScript]
        string complexHtml = File.ReadAllText("Templates/complex-dashboard.html");
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // JavaScript-specific configurations
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(3000); // Wait 3 seconds for JS
        // Optional: Set the CSS media type for print or screen styles
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        // Set viewport for responsive designs
        renderer.RenderingOptions.ViewPortWidth = 1920;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.ViewPortHeight = 1080;
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(complexHtml);
        // Add metadata
        pdf.MetaData.Author = "Azure Function";
        pdf.MetaData.CreationDate = DateTime.Now;
        pdf.MetaData.Title = "Complex Dashboard Report";
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error with complex HTML conversion");
        throw;
    }
}
[Function("ConvertComplexHtmlToPdf")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertComplexHtmlToPdf(
[HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    try
    {
        // Load complex HTML from file
        // [USER TO PROVIDE: complex-dashboard.html with charts and JavaScript]
        string complexHtml = File.ReadAllText("Templates/complex-dashboard.html");
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // JavaScript-specific configurations
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(3000); // Wait 3 seconds for JS
        // Optional: Set the CSS media type for print or screen styles
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        // Set viewport for responsive designs
        renderer.RenderingOptions.ViewPortWidth = 1920;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.ViewPortHeight = 1080;
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(complexHtml);
        // Add metadata
        pdf.MetaData.Author = "Azure Function";
        pdf.MetaData.CreationDate = DateTime.Now;
        pdf.MetaData.Title = "Complex Dashboard Report";
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Error with complex HTML conversion");
        throw;
    }
}
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

JavaScript PDF File Output

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 6 - PDF Output from complex JavaScript HTML content

Handling Charts and Data Visualizations

Now, let's take this HTML file containing a chart to use in the conversion process.

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 7 - Input HTML chart file

[Function("ConvertChartToPdf")]
    public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertChartToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
    {
        try
        {
            // Load chart template
            string chartHtml = File.ReadAllText("Templates/chart-template.html");
            // Replace placeholders with actual data
            var chartData = await GetChartDataAsync();
            chartHtml = chartHtml.Replace("{{CHART_DATA}}", JsonSerializer.Serialize(chartData));
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
            // Ensure charts render completely
            renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
            renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay(2000);
            // Set paper orientation for charts
            renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperOrientation.Landscape;
            var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(chartHtml);
            var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
            response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
            await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
            return response;
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            _logger.LogError(ex, "Chart conversion error");
            throw;
        }
    }
[Function("ConvertChartToPdf")]
    public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertChartToPdf(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
    {
        try
        {
            // Load chart template
            string chartHtml = File.ReadAllText("Templates/chart-template.html");
            // Replace placeholders with actual data
            var chartData = await GetChartDataAsync();
            chartHtml = chartHtml.Replace("{{CHART_DATA}}", JsonSerializer.Serialize(chartData));
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
            // Ensure charts render completely
            renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
            renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay(2000);
            // Set paper orientation for charts
            renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperOrientation.Landscape;
            var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(chartHtml);
            var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
            response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
            await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
            return response;
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            _logger.LogError(ex, "Chart conversion error");
            throw;
        }
    }
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

PDF Output

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 8 - PDF chart output

IronPDF is capable of maintaining original JavaScript interactivity in the final PDF output.

How to Add HTML Headers and Footers?

Professional PDFs often require consistent headers and footers across all pages. IronPDF makes this straightforward with HTML-based templates for more advanced header and footer options.

Creating Dynamic Headers and Footers

[Function("ConvertWithHeaderFooter")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertWithHeaderFooter(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    try
    {
        string mainContent = @"
            <html>
            <body>
                <h1>Annual Report 2024</h1>
                <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit...</p>
                <!-- Your main content here -->
            </body>
            </html>";
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure margins to accommodate headers/footers
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 45;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 45;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 25;
        // HTML Header with merge fields
        renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter
        {
            Height = 35,
            HtmlFragment = @"
                <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px;'>
                    <div style='float: left;'>Annual Report 2024</div>
                    <div style='float: right;'>Page {page} of {total-pages}</div>
                    <div style='clear: both;'></div>
                </div>",
            DrawDividerLine = true
        };
        // HTML Footer
        renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = new HtmlHeaderFooter
        {
            Height = 30,
            HtmlFragment = @"
                <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px;'>
                    <div>Generated on {date} at {time}</div>
                    <div>© 2024 Your Company. All rights reserved.</div>
                </div>",
            DrawDividerLine = true
        };
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(mainContent);
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Header/Footer conversion error");
        throw;
    }
}
[Function("ConvertWithHeaderFooter")]
public async Task<HttpResponseData> ConvertWithHeaderFooter(
    [HttpTrigger(AuthorizationLevel.Function, "post")] HttpRequestData req,
    FunctionContext executionContext)
{
    try
    {
        string mainContent = @"
            <html>
            <body>
                <h1>Annual Report 2024</h1>
                <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit...</p>
                <!-- Your main content here -->
            </body>
            </html>";
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure margins to accommodate headers/footers
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 45;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 45;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 25;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 25;
        // HTML Header with merge fields
        renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter
        {
            Height = 35,
            HtmlFragment = @"
                <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 12px; padding: 10px;'>
                    <div style='float: left;'>Annual Report 2024</div>
                    <div style='float: right;'>Page {page} of {total-pages}</div>
                    <div style='clear: both;'></div>
                </div>",
            DrawDividerLine = true
        };
        // HTML Footer
        renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = new HtmlHeaderFooter
        {
            Height = 30,
            HtmlFragment = @"
                <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px;'>
                    <div>Generated on {date} at {time}</div>
                    <div>© 2024 Your Company. All rights reserved.</div>
                </div>",
            DrawDividerLine = true
        };
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(mainContent);
        var response = req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        response.Headers.Add("Content-Type", "application/pdf");
        await response.Body.WriteAsync(pdf.BinaryData);
        return response;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError(ex, "Header/Footer conversion error");
        throw;
    }
}
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

PDF Output: Headers vs. No Headers

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 9 - PDF with Headers vs without headers comparsion

Custom Headers for Different Page Ranges

public async Task<PdfDocument> CreatePdfWithCustomHeaders(string htmlContent)
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
    // First page header (cover page)
    renderer.RenderingOptions.FirstPageNumber = 0; // Cover page is page 0
    renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter
    {
        Height = 50,
        HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align: center; font-size: 24px;'>Company Logo</div>",
        DrawDividerLine = false
    };
    // Different header for content pages
    var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
    // Apply different headers to specific pages after rendering
    for (int i = 1; i < pdf.PageCount; i++)
    {
        // Add page-specific content if needed
        pdf.StampHtml(i, @"
            <div style='position: absolute; top: 10px; right: 10px; font-size: 10px;'>
                Section " + GetSectionName(i) + @"
            </div>");
    }
    return pdf;
}
private string GetSectionName(int pageNumber)
{
    // Logic to determine section based on page number
    return pageNumber <= 5 ? "Introduction" : "Main Content";
}
public async Task<PdfDocument> CreatePdfWithCustomHeaders(string htmlContent)
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
    // First page header (cover page)
    renderer.RenderingOptions.FirstPageNumber = 0; // Cover page is page 0
    renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter
    {
        Height = 50,
        HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align: center; font-size: 24px;'>Company Logo</div>",
        DrawDividerLine = false
    };
    // Different header for content pages
    var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
    // Apply different headers to specific pages after rendering
    for (int i = 1; i < pdf.PageCount; i++)
    {
        // Add page-specific content if needed
        pdf.StampHtml(i, @"
            <div style='position: absolute; top: 10px; right: 10px; font-size: 10px;'>
                Section " + GetSectionName(i) + @"
            </div>");
    }
    return pdf;
}
private string GetSectionName(int pageNumber)
{
    // Logic to determine section based on page number
    return pageNumber <= 5 ? "Introduction" : "Main Content";
}
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This will apply your headers to a specified range of PDF pages.

Standard HTML to PDF Use Cases in Azure

IronPDF's versatility makes it suitable for many different uses:

  • Invoice Generation: Convert HTML templates with dynamic data into professional invoices.
  • Report Generation: Transform data visualizations and analytics into shareable PDF reports.
  • Certificate Creation: Generate personalized certificates and diplomas from HTML templates.
  • Documentation Export: Convert online documentation or knowledge bases to offline PDFs.
  • Email Archiving: Save HTML emails with formatting intact for compliance purposes.
  • Contract Generation: Create legally binding documents from HTML templates.
  • Marketing Materials: Convert web-based designs into print-ready PDF documents.

How to Handle Common Azure-Specific Issues?

Even with proper configuration, you might encounter some Azure-specific challenges. Here are the most common issues and their solutions:

Font Rendering Issues

Problem: Custom fonts are not displaying correctly or falling back to system fonts.

Solutions: Azure's shared hosting tiers restrict GDI+ access, which is needed for custom fonts. Ensure you're using at least the B1 tier and embed fonts using Base64 encoding.

string htmlWithEmbeddedFont = @"
    <style>
        @font-face {
            font-family: 'CustomFont';
            src: url(data:font/woff2;base64,YOUR_BASE64_FONT_HERE) format('woff2');
        }
        body { font-family: 'CustomFont', Arial, sans-serif; }
    </style>";
string htmlWithEmbeddedFont = @"
    <style>
        @font-face {
            font-family: 'CustomFont';
            src: url(data:font/woff2;base64,YOUR_BASE64_FONT_HERE) format('woff2');
        }
        body { font-family: 'CustomFont', Arial, sans-serif; }
    </style>";
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For persistent font issues, refer to IronPDF's font troubleshooting guide.

"Run from Package file" Configuration Error'

Problem: IronPDF fails to load dependencies when "Run from package file" is enabled.

Solution: This option creates a read-only environment that prevents IronPDF from extracting necessary files. Either disable this option in your publish settings, or use the IronPdf.Slim package, which handles this scenario better.

Memory and Timeout Issues

Problem: Large HTML documents are causing timeouts or memory exceptions.

Solution: Configure appropriate timeout and memory settings:

// In your Function App configuration
renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 120000; // 2 minutes
renderer.RenderingOptions.RequestContext = new RequestContext
{
    MaxResponseContentBufferSize = 100  1024  1024 // 100MB
};
// In your Function App configuration
renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 120000; // 2 minutes
renderer.RenderingOptions.RequestContext = new RequestContext
{
    MaxResponseContentBufferSize = 100  1024  1024 // 100MB
};
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For additional Azure Functions timeout configurations, see Microsoft's timeout documentation. Many developers have also shared solutions on Stack Overflow's Azure Functions tag for handling large document processing.

For more troubleshooting scenarios specific to HTML-to-PDF conversion in Azure, visit IronPDF's Azure troubleshooting documentation.

Performance and Optimization

HTML to PDF conversion can be an intensive task for your system, depending on the complexity of the HTML content and your computer's system capabilities. Here are some key optimization strategies for HTML to PDF tasks in Azure Functions:

Render Delays for Dynamic Content

When working with JavaScript-heavy pages for HTML to PDF conversion in Azure, configure appropriate render delays:

renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay = 500; // Simple pages
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay = 2000; // Complex JavaScript
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay = 500; // Simple pages
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.RenderDelay = 2000; // Complex JavaScript
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Memory Management

For high-volume scenarios, properly dispose of resources:

using (var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer())
{
    using (var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html))
    {
        // Process PDF
        return pdf.BinaryData;
    }
}
using (var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer())
{
    using (var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html))
    {
        // Process PDF
        return pdf.BinaryData;
    }
}
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Caching Strategies

Cache generated PDFs when content doesn't change frequently:

private static readonly MemoryCache _pdfCache = new MemoryCache(new MemoryCacheOptions
{
    SizeLimit = 100 // Limit cache size
});
public async Task<byte[]> GetCachedPdf(string cacheKey, string html)
{
    if (!_pdfCache.TryGetValue(cacheKey, out byte[] cachedPdf))
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        cachedPdf = pdf.BinaryData;
        _pdfCache.Set(cacheKey, cachedPdf, new MemoryCacheEntryOptions
        {
            Size = 1,
            SlidingExpiration = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10)
        });
    }
    return cachedPdf;
}
private static readonly MemoryCache _pdfCache = new MemoryCache(new MemoryCacheOptions
{
    SizeLimit = 100 // Limit cache size
});
public async Task<byte[]> GetCachedPdf(string cacheKey, string html)
{
    if (!_pdfCache.TryGetValue(cacheKey, out byte[] cachedPdf))
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        cachedPdf = pdf.BinaryData;
        _pdfCache.Set(cacheKey, cachedPdf, new MemoryCacheEntryOptions
        {
            Size = 1,
            SlidingExpiration = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(10)
        });
    }
    return cachedPdf;
}
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How Much Does HTML to PDF in Azure Cost?

Running HTML to PDF conversion in Azure involves two cost components:

Azure Hosting Costs

  • Basic (B1) Tier: Starting tier for PDF rendering, suitable for light workloads
  • Standard (S1) Tier: Better performance for regular PDF generation
  • Premium (P1V2) Tier: Recommended for high-volume or complex PDF operations

Pricing varies by region and is subject to change over time. Refer to this IronPDF guide on selecting the best tier that suits you.

IronPDF Licensing

How to Convert HTML to PDF Using Azure and IronPDF: Figure 10 - IronPDF licensing

IronPDF Licensing

IronPDF offers several licensing options:

  • Trial License: Free 30-day trial for testing
  • Lite License: Single developer, single project
  • Plus License: Small teams with multiple projects
  • Professional License: Larger teams with redistribution rights
  • Unlimited License: Enterprise-wide deployment

Visit IronPDF's licensing page for detailed pricing and feature comparisons.

Cost Optimization Tips

  1. Implement caching: Reduce redundant PDF generation
  2. Batch processing: Process multiple PDFs in a single function execution
  3. Use queue-based processing: Spread load over time to avoid scaling needs

Security Considerations

In this guide, we have focused on HTML to PDF conversion, but another important aspect to consider is security. When working with sensitive or confidential PDF files, it's important to consider how you will keep the contents within the PDF secure or safe from unwanted tampering. If you want to learn more about securing your Azure Functions, refer to:

Conclusion

Converting HTML to PDF in Azure doesn't have to be complicated. With IronPDF's Chrome rendering engine and proper Azure configuration, you can transform any HTML content to professional PDFs.

Key takeaways for successful HTML to PDF conversion in Azure:

  • Use Azure B1 tier or higher for reliable PDF rendering.
  • Deploy as a Container for optimal compatibility.
  • Configure IronPDF settings specifically for Azure's environment.
  • Leverage HTML headers and footers for professional documents.
  • Handle JavaScript content with appropriate render delays.
  • Implement caching and optimization for production workloads.

IronPDF is more than just a simple HTML-to-PDF converter library. This article demonstrated its many other capabilities, such as advanced PDF manipulation and support for PDF images. Want to make use of it for reasons other than your Azure apps? IronPDF is simple to integrate into any application that you're developing, including Console Apps and .NET Core applications.

Ready to Start Converting HTML to PDF in Your Azure applications?

Start using IronPDF in your project today with a free trial.

First Step:
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Try the IronPDF free trial to get access to its powerful features and start converting HTML to PDF in your Azure applications today!

For production deployments, explore IronPDF's licensing options to find the plan that fits your needs. With comprehensive documentation, responsive support, and continuous updates, IronPDF provides everything you need for reliable HTML to PDF conversion in Azure Functions and beyond.

Chipego
Chipego Kalinda
  Chat with engineering team now
Software Engineer
Chipego has a natural skill for listening that helps him to comprehend customer issues, and offer intelligent solutions. He joined the Iron Software team in 2023, after studying a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. IronPDF and IronOCR are the two products Chipego has been focusing on, but his knowledge of ...Read More

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