How to Convert Razor Views to PDFs Headlessly in C#

Why Do I Need Razor.Templating.Core Instead of IronPdf.Extensions.Razor?

Razor.Templating.Core provides true headless rendering—converting Razor Views to HTML without a web context or browser window. This suits background services, console applications, or UI-less environments. IronPdf.Extensions.Razor requires a web context to function.

What Project Type Works Best for Headless PDF Generation?

ASP.NET Core Web App (Model-View-Controller) projects provide the necessary Razor View infrastructure with flexible deployment options. Use this approach in background services, Azure Functions, or console applications. See deploying IronPDF to Azure for cloud-based generation.

How Do I Install the Required NuGet Packages?

Install packages using NuGet Package Manager. You need IronPDF and Razor.Templating.Core:

// Install via Package Manager Console
Install-Package IronPdf
Install-Package Razor.Templating.Core

// Or add to your .csproj file
// <PackageReference Include="IronPdf" Version="2024.x.x" />
// <PackageReference Include="Razor.Templating.Core" Version="1.x.x" />

// Install via Package Manager Console
Install-Package IronPdf
Install-Package Razor.Templating.Core

// Or add to your .csproj file
// <PackageReference Include="IronPdf" Version="2024.x.x" />
// <PackageReference Include="Razor.Templating.Core" Version="1.x.x" />

What HTML Content Should I Add to My Razor View?

Add the HTML you want to render as PDF:

<table class="table">
    <tr>
        <th>Name</th>
        <th>Title</th>
        <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>John Doe</td>
        <td>Software Engineer</td>
        <td>Experienced software engineer specializing in web development.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Alice Smith</td>
        <td>Project Manager</td>
        <td>Seasoned project manager with expertise in agile methodologies.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Michael Johnson</td>
        <td>Data Analyst</td>
        <td>Skilled data analyst proficient in statistical analysis and data visualization.</td>
    </tr>
</table>

<table class="table">
    <tr>
        <th>Name</th>
        <th>Title</th>
        <th>Description</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>John Doe</td>
        <td>Software Engineer</td>
        <td>Experienced software engineer specializing in web development.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Alice Smith</td>
        <td>Project Manager</td>
        <td>Seasoned project manager with expertise in agile methodologies.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Michael Johnson</td>
        <td>Data Analyst</td>
        <td>Skilled data analyst proficient in statistical analysis and data visualization.</td>
    </tr>
</table>

For complex layouts, use CSS and print styles to ensure perfect PDF rendering. IronPDF supports modern CSS3 features for sophisticated document layouts.

Why Use Tables for PDF Data Display?

Tables provide structured, organized information that translates well to printed documents. They maintain consistent formatting across platforms and are readable in PDF format. IronPDF's rendering engine handles table layouts well, preserving borders, spacing, and alignment. For advanced formatting, explore custom margins to optimize layout.

What Are Common Styling Considerations for PDF Output?

For PDF output, use print-specific CSS media queries, fixed pixel values instead of relative units, and embedded fonts for consistent rendering. IronPDF supports web fonts and icon fonts for brand consistency. Consider page breaks for multi-page documents and appropriate margins for professional appearance.

What Rendering Options Can I Apply to My PDFs?

IronPDF provides extensive rendering options. Add headers and footers, set custom paper sizes, control page orientation, and add watermarks. ChromePdfRenderer offers over 50 properties to customize PDF generation.

How Do I Handle Errors During PDF Generation?

Implement error handling for robust PDF generation:

try
{
    var html = await RazorTemplateEngine.RenderAsync("Views/Home/Data.cshtml");
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
    var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html, "./wwwroot");
    return Results.File(pdf.BinaryData, "application/pdf", "razorViewToPdf.pdf");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Log the error details
    IronPdf.Logging.Logger.Log($"PDF generation failed: {ex.Message}");
    return Results.Problem("Failed to generate PDF", statusCode: 500);
}

try
{
    var html = await RazorTemplateEngine.RenderAsync("Views/Home/Data.cshtml");
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
    var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html, "./wwwroot");
    return Results.File(pdf.BinaryData, "application/pdf", "razorViewToPdf.pdf");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Log the error details
    IronPdf.Logging.Logger.Log($"PDF generation failed: {ex.Message}");
    return Results.Problem("Failed to generate PDF", statusCode: 500);
}

When Should I Enable Detailed Logging?

Enable detailed logging during development and troubleshooting. IronPDF's logging provides insights into rendering, helping identify HTML parsing, asset loading, or configuration problems. For production, use custom logging to integrate with your application's logging infrastructure.

What Other Path-Related Issues Should I Watch For?

Beyond the tilde (~) path issue, ensure image sources use absolute paths or proper relative references. For external resources, use base URLs to ensure assets load correctly. For Azure Blob Storage images, see embedding images from Azure Blob Storage.

How Do Static Assets Affect PDF Generation?

Static assets (CSS, JavaScript, images) impact PDF generation performance and quality. Ensure assets are accessible during rendering, use optimized images, and consider embedding critical CSS inline for faster rendering. Learn about rendering delays and timeouts for JavaScript-heavy content.

Run the project to generate a PDF document.

Output PDF

What Should My Final PDF Look Like?

Your PDF should maintain all Razor View formatting—table structures, fonts, colors, and layout. It should be properly sized with clean margins and professional appearance. To verify output quality, use IronPDF's rasterization features to preview pages as images.

How Can I Troubleshoot Common PDF Rendering Issues?

Common issues include missing styles, broken layouts, or incomplete content. Enable detailed logging, verify asset paths, and ensure HTML validates properly. For complex layouts, use Chrome debugging tools to preview HTML before conversion. For specific rendering problems, use WaitFor delays to ensure content loads before rendering.

What Are the Prerequisites for Running the Sample Project?

You need Visual Studio 2019 or later with .NET 6.0 SDK or higher. The project requires internet connection for NuGet package restoration. Update your IronPDF license key in Program.cs before running. For deployment, review the Windows installation guide for additional requirements.

How Do I Customize the Sample for My Use Case?

The sample provides a foundation for your specific needs. Add dynamic data models, implement caching for frequently generated PDFs, or integrate with existing authentication. For advanced scenarios, explore async PDF generation for improved performance, or implement PDF compression to reduce file sizes. Add digital signatures for document authenticity or password protection for sensitive documents.