A Comparison of Splitting PDF in C# Between iTextSharp and IronPDF

How to Split PDF in C# Using iTextSharp

1. First, install the iText7 library.
2. Create a PdfReader from the input PDF file.
3. Use a PdfDocument to work with the PDF content.
4. Calculate the number of pages for each split file.
5. Set initial page range values.
6. Use a loop to process each split file.
7. Create a new PdfDocument for the current split file.
8. Copy pages from the original document to the new one.
9. Update page range values for the next iteration.
10. Save the completed output PDF.
11. Repeat until all files are created.
12. Continue the process for the specified number of split files.

IronPDF

IronPDF is a powerful C# library designed for working with PDF files. It provides features for creating, modifying, and extracting content from PDF documents. Developers can generate PDFs from scratch, edit existing PDFs, and merge or split them. Additionally, IronPDF excels at converting HTML content to PDF format, making it useful for generating reports or documentation. With support for digital signatures, security features, and high-quality output, IronPDF simplifies PDF-related tasks in .NET applications.

iTextSharp

iTextSharp (iText 7) is a widely used library for working with PDF files in the .NET framework. It provides powerful features for creating, modifying, and extracting content from PDF documents programmatically. Developers can use iTextSharp to add text, images, tables, and other graphical elements to PDFs. Additionally, it supports document assembly, digital signatures, and compliance with archival and accessibility standards. Originally a Java library, iTextSharp was ported to .NET and has an active community of developers and users.

Installing the IronPDF Library

To install the IronPDF NuGet package using Package Manager Console in Visual Studio, follow these steps:

1. In Visual Studio, go to Tools -> NuGet Package Manager -> Package Manager Console.

2. Use the following command to install the IronPDF NuGet package:

   Install-Package IronPdf

This will download and install the IronPDF package along with its dependencies into your project. Once the installation is complete, you can start using IronPDF in your C# project for PDF-related tasks.

Alternatively, you can install IronPDF using the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio, or add the package directly to your project file. Another option is downloading the package from the official website and manually adding it to your project. Each method provides a straightforward way to integrate IronPDF into your C# project for PDF-related functionalities.

Installing the iTextSharp Library

To install iTextSharp using Package Manager Console in Visual Studio, you can follow these steps:

1. In Visual Studio, go to Tools -> NuGet Package Manager -> Package Manager Console.

2. Use the following command to install the iTextSharp NuGet package:

   Install-Package itext7

   Install-Package itext7

   SHELL

This will download and install the iTextSharp package along with its dependencies into your project. Once the installation is complete, you can start using iTextSharp in your C# project for working with PDFs.

Split PDF Documents in C# Using IronPDF

We can split a PDF file into multiple PDF files using IronPDF. It provides a simple way to achieve this. The following code will take the source PDF file as input and split it into multiple PDF files.

using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string file = "input.pdf";
        // The folder to save the split PDFs
        string outputFolder = "output_split";
        int numberOfSplitFiles = 3; // Specify how many parts you want to split the PDF into
        // Call the SplitPdf method to split the PDF
        SplitPdfUsingIronPDF(file, outputFolder, numberOfSplitFiles);
    }

    static void SplitPdfUsingIronPDF(string inputPdfPath, string outputFolder, int numberOfSplitFiles)
    {
        // Load the input PDF
        PdfDocument sourceFile = PdfDocument.FromFile(inputPdfPath);

        // Initialize page range values
        int firstPage = 1;
        int lastPage = 2;
        int totalPageInOneFile = sourceFile.PageCount / numberOfSplitFiles;

        for (int i = 1; i <= numberOfSplitFiles; i++)
        {
            // Copy multiple pages into a new document
            PdfDocument newSplitPDF = sourceFile.CopyPages(firstPage, lastPage);

            // Generate the output file path
            string name = $@"{outputFolder}\SplitPDF_IronPDF_{i}.pdf";

            // Save the new split PDF
            newSplitPDF.SaveAs(name);

            // Update page range values for the next iteration
            firstPage = lastPage + 1;
            lastPage += totalPageInOneFile;
        }
    }
}

using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string file = "input.pdf";
        // The folder to save the split PDFs
        string outputFolder = "output_split";
        int numberOfSplitFiles = 3; // Specify how many parts you want to split the PDF into
        // Call the SplitPdf method to split the PDF
        SplitPdfUsingIronPDF(file, outputFolder, numberOfSplitFiles);
    }

    static void SplitPdfUsingIronPDF(string inputPdfPath, string outputFolder, int numberOfSplitFiles)
    {
        // Load the input PDF
        PdfDocument sourceFile = PdfDocument.FromFile(inputPdfPath);

        // Initialize page range values
        int firstPage = 1;
        int lastPage = 2;
        int totalPageInOneFile = sourceFile.PageCount / numberOfSplitFiles;

        for (int i = 1; i <= numberOfSplitFiles; i++)
        {
            // Copy multiple pages into a new document
            PdfDocument newSplitPDF = sourceFile.CopyPages(firstPage, lastPage);

            // Generate the output file path
            string name = $@"{outputFolder}\SplitPDF_IronPDF_{i}.pdf";

            // Save the new split PDF
            newSplitPDF.SaveAs(name);

            // Update page range values for the next iteration
            firstPage = lastPage + 1;
            lastPage += totalPageInOneFile;
        }
    }
}

Split PDFs in C# Using iTextSharp

Now, we will use iTextSharp to split our PDF document into multiple PDF files. The following code will take the source file as input and split that PDF document into multiple smaller files.

using System;
using iText.Kernel.Pdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string inputPath = "input.pdf";
        // Output PDF files path (prefix for the generated files)
        string outputPath = "output_split";
        int numberOfSplitFiles = 3; // Specify how many parts you want to split the PDF into
        // Call the SplitPdf method to split the PDF
        SplitPdfUsingiTextSharp(inputPath, outputPath, numberOfSplitFiles);
    }

    static void SplitPdfUsingiTextSharp(string inputPdfPath, string outputFolder, int numberOfSplitFiles)
    {
        using (PdfReader reader = new PdfReader(inputPdfPath))
        {
            using (PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument(reader))
            {
                // Calculate the number of pages for each split file
                int totalPageInOneFile = doc.GetNumberOfPages() / numberOfSplitFiles;
                int firstPage = 1;
                int lastPage = totalPageInOneFile;

                for (int i = 1; i <= numberOfSplitFiles; i++)
                {
                    // Generate the output file path
                    string filename = $@"{outputFolder}\SplitPDF_iTextSharp_{i}.pdf";

                    // Create a new document and attach a writer for the specified output file
                    using (PdfDocument pdfDocument = new PdfDocument(new PdfWriter(filename)))
                    {
                        // Copy pages from the original document to the new document
                        doc.CopyPagesTo(firstPage, lastPage, pdfDocument);
                    }

                    // Update page range values for the next iteration
                    firstPage = lastPage + 1;
                    lastPage += totalPageInOneFile;
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

using System;
using iText.Kernel.Pdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string inputPath = "input.pdf";
        // Output PDF files path (prefix for the generated files)
        string outputPath = "output_split";
        int numberOfSplitFiles = 3; // Specify how many parts you want to split the PDF into
        // Call the SplitPdf method to split the PDF
        SplitPdfUsingiTextSharp(inputPath, outputPath, numberOfSplitFiles);
    }

    static void SplitPdfUsingiTextSharp(string inputPdfPath, string outputFolder, int numberOfSplitFiles)
    {
        using (PdfReader reader = new PdfReader(inputPdfPath))
        {
            using (PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument(reader))
            {
                // Calculate the number of pages for each split file
                int totalPageInOneFile = doc.GetNumberOfPages() / numberOfSplitFiles;
                int firstPage = 1;
                int lastPage = totalPageInOneFile;

                for (int i = 1; i <= numberOfSplitFiles; i++)
                {
                    // Generate the output file path
                    string filename = $@"{outputFolder}\SplitPDF_iTextSharp_{i}.pdf";

                    // Create a new document and attach a writer for the specified output file
                    using (PdfDocument pdfDocument = new PdfDocument(new PdfWriter(filename)))
                    {
                        // Copy pages from the original document to the new document
                        doc.CopyPagesTo(firstPage, lastPage, pdfDocument);
                    }

                    // Update page range values for the next iteration
                    firstPage = lastPage + 1;
                    lastPage += totalPageInOneFile;
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Code Explanation

This code demonstrates how to split a large PDF file into smaller chunks using iTextSharp. Each smaller PDF document will contain a portion of the original document.

Comparison

To compare the two split methods using iTextSharp and IronPDF, let's evaluate them based on several factors:

1. Ease of Use:
   • iTextSharp: The iTextSharp method involves creating a PdfReader, PdfDocument, and PdfWriter. It calculates page ranges and copies pages to a new document. This approach requires understanding the iTextSharp API.
   • IronPDF: The IronPDF method involves creating a PdfDocument from the source file, copying pages, and saving them to a new file. It has a more straightforward API.
2. Code Readability:
   • iTextSharp: The code involves more steps, making it slightly longer and potentially more complex to read.
   • IronPDF: The code is concise and more readable due to fewer steps and method calls.
3. Performance:
   • iTextSharp: Performance may be affected by the repeated creation and disposal of PdfDocument instances.
   • IronPDF: The method involves fewer steps and offers better performance due to efficient page copying.
4. Memory Usage:
   • iTextSharp: Creating multiple PdfDocument instances will consume more memory.
   • IronPDF: The method is more memory-efficient due to its simplified approach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both iTextSharp and IronPDF offer robust solutions for splitting PDF files in C#, each with its own set of advantages. IronPDF stands out for its simplicity, readability, and potentially better performance due to a more straightforward approach.

Developers seeking a balance between versatility and ease of use may find IronPDF to be a compelling choice. Additionally, IronPDF offers a free trial. Ultimately, the selection between iTextSharp and IronPDF depends on individual project requirements and the preferred development style.