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Convert Excel to PDF with Azure functions

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Syncfusion Excel (XlsIO) library is a .NET Excel library used to create, read, and edit Excel documents. Using this library, you can convert Excel documents into PDF in Azure functions.

Steps to convert Excel to PDF with Azure functions programmatically:

Step 1: Create a new Azure function project.

Create a Azure function project.

Create a new Azure function project

Step 2: Select framework Azure Functions v1 (.NET Framework) and select HTTP trigger as follows.

Select Framework for Azure function

Select framework and HTTP trigger

Step 3: Install the Syncfusion.ExcelToPdfConverter.WinForms NuGet package as a reference to your .NET Framework applications from NuGet.org.

Add Nuget package

Install NuGet package

Step 4: Include the following namespaces in Function1.cs file.

C#

using System.IO;
using Syncfusion.XlsIO;
using Syncfusion.ExcelToPdfConverter;
using Syncfusion.Pdf;
using System.Net.Http.Headers;

 

Step 5: Add the following code snippet in Run method of Function1 class to open and modify Excel document in Azure functions and return the output document to client end.

C#

Stream stream = req.Content.ReadAsStreamAsync().Result;
//Instantiate the spreadsheet creation engine
using (ExcelEngine excelEngine = new ExcelEngine())
{
    //Instantiate the Excel application object
    IApplication application = excelEngine.Excel;
 
    //Assigns default application version
    application.DefaultVersion = ExcelVersion.Excel2013;
 
    IWorkbook workbook = application.Workbooks.Open(stream);
 
    //Access a worksheet from workbook
    IWorksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];
 
    //Open the Excel document to Convert
    ExcelToPdfConverter converter = new ExcelToPdfConverter(workbook);
 
    //Initialize PDF document
    PdfDocument pdfDocument = new PdfDocument();
 
    //Convert Excel document into PDF document
    pdfDocument = converter.Convert();
             
    MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream();
 
    //Save the PDF file
    pdfDocument.Save(memoryStream);
 
    //Create the response to return
    HttpResponseMessage response = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
                
    //Set the PDF document content response
    response.Content = new ByteArrayContent(memoryStream.ToArray());
                
    //Set the contentDisposition as attachment
    response.Content.Headers.ContentDisposition = new ContentDispositionHeaderValue("attachment")
    {
        FileName = "Output.pdf"
    };
    //Set the content type as PDF format mime type
    response.Content.Headers.ContentType = new System.Net.Http.Headers.MediaTypeHeaderValue("application/pdf");
               
    //Return the response with output PDF stream
    return response;
}

 

Step 6: Right-click the project and select Publish. Then, create a new profile in the Publish Window.

Publish window screenshot

Publish window

Step 7: Create App service using Azure subscription and select a hosting plan.

App Service screenshot

Create App Service

Note:

Syncfusion Excel (XlsIO) library will work from basic hosting plan (B1). So, select the hosing plan as needed. Syncfusion Excel (XlsIO) library will not work if the hosting plan is Consumption.

 

Configure hosting plan

Configure Hosting Plan

Step 8: After creating the profile, click the Publish button.

Click Publish button

Publish

Step 9: Now, go to Azure portal and select the App Services. After running the service, click Get function URL by copying it. Then, paste it to the below client sample (Which will request the Azure Function, to convert Excel to PDF with Azure functions). You will get the PDF document as shown below.

Output pdf document

Output PDF document

A complete Azure function sample can be downloaded from Convert ExcelToPDF from Azure Function.zip.

Steps to post the request to Azure function with template Excel document:

  1. Create simple console application to request the Azure function API.
  2. Add the following code snippet into Main method to request the Azure function with template Excel document and get the converted PDF document.

C#

//Open the required template Excel file
Stream fileStream = File.Open(@"../../Data/Input.xlsx", FileMode.Open);
 
//Create memory stream to save the template
MemoryStream inputStream = new MemoryStream();
 
//Copy the file stream into memory stream
fileStream.CopyTo(inputStream);
 
//Dispose the file stream
fileStream.Dispose();
try
{
    //Create HttpWebRequest with hosted azure function URL
    HttpWebRequest req = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create("Your Azure function url");
 
    //Set request method as POST
    req.Method = "POST";
 
    //Get the request stream to strore the Excel document stream
    Stream stream = req.GetRequestStream();
 
    //Write the Excel document stream into request stream
    stream.Write(inputStream.ToArray(), 0, inputStream.ToArray().Length);
 
    //Gets the responce from the Azure Function request
    HttpWebResponse res = (HttpWebResponse)req.GetResponse();
 
    //Create file stream to save the output PDF file
    FileStream outStream = File.Create("Sample.pdf");
 
    //Copy the responce stream into file stream
    res.GetResponseStream().CopyTo(outStream);
 
    //Dispose the input stream
    inputStream.Dispose();
 
    //Dispose the file stream
    outStream.Dispose();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    throw;
}
 
//Launch the output document
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Sample.pdf");

 

Console application can be downloaded from DownloadConvertedPDF.zip.

Know more about Syncfusion Excel (XlsIO) library through the documentation, where you can find features like charts , drawing objects , chart to image conversion and worksheet to image conversion etc. with respective code examples.

Refer here to explore the rich set of Syncfusion Excel (XlsIO) library features.

Note:

Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion assemblies from trial setup or from the NuGet feed, include a license key in your projects. Refer the link to learn about generating and registering Syncfusion license key in your application to use the components without trail message.

 

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