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Convert XML to PDF in C# and VB.NET

Chaknith Bin
Chaknith Bin
Updated:

Converting XML directly to PDF in C# can be a complex challenge. We've found that when converting XML to PDF in C#, it is best to start with XSLT as a transformation template. XML can then be rendered to a PDF via HTML(5) using XSLT transformations. XSLT documents define how XML from a given schema can be converted to an accurate HTML representation and are a well-established standard. In short, XSLT acts as a custom translator from XML to HTML.

Navigate to 'Using the XslCompiledTransform Class' article by Microsoft to learn more about XSLT transformation.

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  2. Copy the code

    new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().RenderHtmlAsPdf(XslCompiledTransform.Load("template.xslt").Transform(XmlReader.Create("data.xml"), new StringWriter()).ToString()).SaveAs("output.pdf");

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How to Convert XML to PDF in C#

  1. Install XML to PDF Converter C# library
  2. Use the Load method to import the XSLT transformer template
  3. Convert XML to HTML in C# utilizing the Transform method
  4. Render the HTML to PDF with custom rendering options
  5. Export the PDF document to the desired location

The resultant HTML string or file can then be rendered as a PDF using the .NET PDF Generator. You can download a sample project showcasing IronPDF's capabilities for converting XML to PDF from this XML to PDF Conversion Example.

// XSLT template that defines the transformation from XML to HTML
string xslt = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th colspan='3'>
          <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
        </th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
        <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
        <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
        <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
      </tr>
      <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
      <tr>
        <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
        <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
        <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
      </tr>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
";

// XML data to transform
string xml = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
";

// Create an instance of XslCompiledTransform
XslCompiledTransform transform = new XslCompiledTransform();

// Load the XSLT from a string
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xslt)))
{
    transform.Load(reader);
}

// Transform the XML to HTML
StringWriter results = new StringWriter();
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xml)))
{
    transform.Transform(reader, null, results);
}

// Create a renderer for converting HTML to PDF
IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// Options, headers, and footers may be set here if needed
// Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT transformation
renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf");
// XSLT template that defines the transformation from XML to HTML
string xslt = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th colspan='3'>
          <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
        </th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
        <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
        <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
        <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
      </tr>
      <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
      <tr>
        <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
        <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
        <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
      </tr>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
";

// XML data to transform
string xml = @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
";

// Create an instance of XslCompiledTransform
XslCompiledTransform transform = new XslCompiledTransform();

// Load the XSLT from a string
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xslt)))
{
    transform.Load(reader);
}

// Transform the XML to HTML
StringWriter results = new StringWriter();
using (XmlReader reader = XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(xml)))
{
    transform.Transform(reader, null, results);
}

// Create a renderer for converting HTML to PDF
IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
// Options, headers, and footers may be set here if needed
// Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT transformation
renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf");
' XSLT template that defines the transformation from XML to HTML
Dim xslt As String = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl='http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform'>
<xsl:template match='/'>
<html>
<style>
td{
  text-align: center;
  padding: 20px;
  border: 1px solid #CDE7F0;
}
th{
  color: white;
  padding: 20px;
}
</style>
<body style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;'>
  <table style='border-collapse: collapse;'>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th colspan='3'>
          <img style='margin: auto;' src='https://ironsoftware.com/img/svgs/ironsoftware-logo-black.svg'/>
        </th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr bgcolor='#9acd32'>
        <th bgcolor='#32ab90'>Title</th>
        <th bgcolor='#f49400'>Feature</th>
        <th bgcolor='#2a95d5'>Compatible</th>
      </tr>
      <xsl:for-each select='catalog/cd'>
      <tr>
        <td style='font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='title'/></td>
        <td style='background-color: #eff8fb; color: #2a95d5; font-weight: bold;'><xsl:value-of select='feature'/></td>
        <td><xsl:value-of select='compatible'/></td>
      </tr>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</body>
</html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
"

' XML data to transform
Dim xml As String = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<catalog>
  <cd>
    <title>IronPDF</title>
    <feature>Generate, format and manipulate PDFs</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronOCR</title>
    <feature>OCR engine, input, result</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
  <cd>
    <title>IronBarcode</title>
    <feature>Format, read and write Barcode</feature>
    <compatible>Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS, Docker, Azure, AWS</compatible>
  </cd>
</catalog>
"

' Create an instance of XslCompiledTransform
Dim transform As New XslCompiledTransform()

' Load the XSLT from a string
Using reader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(New StringReader(xslt))
	transform.Load(reader)
End Using

' Transform the XML to HTML
Dim results As New StringWriter()
Using reader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(New StringReader(xml))
	transform.Transform(reader, Nothing, results)
End Using

' Create a renderer for converting HTML to PDF
Dim renderer As New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
' Options, headers, and footers may be set here if needed
' Render our XML as a PDF via XSLT transformation
renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(results.ToString()).SaveAs("Final.pdf")
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Infographic

XML to PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert XML to PDF in C#?

You can convert XML to PDF in C# by using XSLT as a transformation template to first convert the XML data into HTML. Then, use a .NET PDF generator like IronPDF to render the HTML into a PDF document.

What is the purpose of using XSLT in XML to PDF conversion?

XSLT is used to transform XML data into an accurate HTML representation. It acts as a custom translator, ensuring that the data structure and styling are preserved during the conversion to PDF.

What are the steps to transform XML to HTML using XSLT?

To transform XML to HTML using XSLT, you need to: 1) Load the XSLT template using the Load method, 2) Use the Transform method to convert the XML data into HTML, and 3) Render this HTML to PDF using a library like IronPDF.

How do I perform XML to PDF conversion using IronPDF?

First, convert your XML to HTML using XSLT. Then, use IronPDF's RenderHtmlAsPdf method to create a PDF from the HTML. Finally, save the PDF using methods like SaveAs.

Can I customize the PDF output when converting XML to PDF?

Yes, you can customize the PDF output by applying custom options such as headers, footers, and styling during the HTML to PDF rendering process using IronPDF.

Is there a sample project available for XML to PDF conversion?

Yes, a sample project demonstrating XML to PDF conversion is available for download. It includes sample XML data, XSLT templates, and instructions for using IronPDF.

What platforms support the use of IronPDF for XML to PDF conversion?

IronPDF can be used on multiple platforms, including Microsoft Windows, Linux (Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu), MacOS, Docker (Windows, Linux, Azure), Azure (VPS, Webapps, Websites, Functions), and AWS.

How can I install a .NET PDF generator library for XML to PDF conversion?

You can install a .NET PDF generator library by visiting the IronPdf package page on NuGet and following the installation instructions provided there.

Chaknith Bin
Chaknith Bin
  Chat with engineering team now
Software Engineer
Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.
Reviewed by
Jeff Fritz
Jeffrey T. Fritz
Principal Program Manager - .NET Community Team
Jeff is also a Principal Program Manager for the .NET and Visual Studio teams. He is the executive producer of the .NET Conf virtual conference series and hosts 'Fritz and Friends' a live stream for developers that airs twice weekly where he talks tech and writes code together with viewers. Jeff writes workshops, presentations, and plans content for the largest Microsoft developer events including Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, .NET Conf, and the Microsoft MVP Summit
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