How to: Export a Workbook to PDF

Dec 25, 2025
9 minutes to read

Important

The Workbook class is defined in the DevExpress.Docs.v25.2.dll assembly. Add this assembly to your project to use the Workbook API. You need a license for the DevExpress Office File API Subscription or DevExpress Universal Subscription to use this assembly in production code.

Export a Workbook

Use the Workbook.ExportToPdf method overloads to export a workbook to PDF. The following code sample saves a document to a stream in PDF format:

View Example: Spreadsheet Document API

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using System.IO;
// ...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    // ...
    // Edit document content.
    // ...

    // Export the workbook to PDF.
    using (FileStream pdfFileStream = new FileStream("Documents\\Document_PDF.pdf",
        FileMode.Create))
    {
        workbook.ExportToPdf(pdfFileStream);
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports System.IO
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    ' ...
    ' Edit document content.
    ' ...

    ' Export the workbook to PDF.
    Using pdfFileStream As New FileStream("Documents\Document_PDF.pdf", FileMode.Create)
        workbook.ExportToPdf(pdfFileStream)
    End Using
End Using

You can specify the PdfExportOptions.PdfACompatibility property to meet Level B conformance. The following standards of the exported document are available:

PDF/A-1b
PDF/A-2b
PDF/A-3b

Export a Workbook to Accessible PDF

You can save a workbook as a tagged (accessible) PDF document. Accessible PDF formats allow users with disabilities to use screen readers and other assistive technologies to read information from PDF documents.

You can generate PDF files that conform to the following standards:

PDF/UA
PDF/A-1a
PDF/A-2a
PDF/A-3a

Run Demo: Save Spreadsheet Documents as Accessible PDF Files

Generate PDF/UA Documents

The PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) standard contains requirements for PDF documents to ensure accessibility and support for assistive technology. Requirements for PDF/UA compliance are consistent with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

Below are some constraints the standard defines for PDF documents:

All meaningful content should be tagged and included in the structure tree of document tags. Objects that are not relevant for understanding document content are marked as artifacts (for example, background and decorative images, repeating information in headers and footers, page numbers). You can use the Shape.Decorative property to mark images as decorative.
The structure tree generated by document tags must reflect the document’s logical reading order.
Information should not be conveyed by visual means alone (for example, contrast, color, or position on the page).
All pictorial elements (image objects and other non-text objects such as vector objects or object groups) should have alternative text.
All fonts should be embedded.

To generate a document that conforms to the PDF/UA standard, create a PdfExportOptions class instance and set the PdfExportOptions.PdfUACompatibility property to PdfUA1. Pass the class instance to the Workbook.ExportToPdf method to save a workbook as a PDF/UA document.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using DevExpress.XtraPrinting;
// ...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    // ...
    // Specify PDF export options.
    PdfExportOptions options = new PdfExportOptions();

    // Specify document compatibility with the PDF/UA specification.
    options.PdfUACompatibility = PdfUACompatibility.PdfUA1;

    // Export the workbook to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf(@"Documents\Output_Workbook.pdf", options);
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports DevExpress.XtraPrinting
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    ' ...
    ' Specify PDF export options.
    Dim options As New PdfExportOptions()

    ' Specify document compatibility with the PDF/UA specification.
    options.PdfUACompatibility = PdfUACompatibility.PdfUA1

    ' Export the workbook to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf("Documents\Output_Workbook.pdf", options)
End Using

Generate Accessible PDF/A Documents

PDF/A is an archival PDF format used for long-term preservation of electronic documents. The PDF/A standard includes the following restrictions:

All PDF/A versions implicitly prohibit encryption.
All fonts that are used in PDF/A documents should be embedded.
The PDF/A-1 and PDF/A-2 standards do not support attachments.
The PDF/A-1 standard does not support transparency (the alpha channel in images is ignored).

To export a workbook to a PDF document that supports the PDF/A Conformance Level A (Accessible), create a PdfExportOptions class instance and set the PdfExportOptions.PdfACompatibility property to one of the following values: PdfA1a, PdfA2a, or PdfA3a. Pass the class instance to the Workbook.ExportToPdf method to generate a PDF file.

The following code sample saves a workbook as a PDF file that conforms to the PDF/A-3a standard:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using DevExpress.XtraPrinting;
// ...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    // ...
    // Specify PDF export options.
    PdfExportOptions options = new PdfExportOptions();

    // Specify document compatibility with the PDF/A-3a specification.
    options.PdfACompatibility = PdfACompatibility.PdfA3a;

    // Export the workbook to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf(@"Documents\Output_Workbook.pdf", options);
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports DevExpress.XtraPrinting
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    ' ...
    ' Specify PDF export options.
    Dim options As New PdfExportOptions()

    ' Specify document compatibility with the PDF/A-3a specification.
    options.PdfACompatibility = PdfACompatibility.PdfA3a

    ' Export the workbook to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf("Documents\Output_Workbook.pdf", options)
End Using

Export Individual Worksheets

The Workbook.ExportToPdf method overload allows you to save individual worksheets in PDF format.

The following code snippet defines PDF export options and generates a PDF file from the specified worksheets:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using DevExpress.XtraPrinting;
using System.IO;
// ...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    // ...
    // Specify export options.
    PdfExportOptions options = new PdfExportOptions();
    options.DocumentOptions.Author = "John Smith";
    options.ImageQuality = PdfJpegImageQuality.Medium;

    // Export specific worksheets in PDF format.
    using (FileStream pdfFileStream = new FileStream("Document_PDF.pdf", FileMode.Create))
    {
        workbook.ExportToPdf(pdfFileStream, options, "Sheet1", "Sheet2");
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports DevExpress.XtraPrinting
Imports System.IO
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    ' ...
    ' Specify export options.
    Dim options As New PdfExportOptions()
    options.DocumentOptions.Author = "John Smith"
    options.ImageQuality = PdfJpegImageQuality.Medium

    ' Export specified worksheets in PDF format.
    Using pdfFileStream As New FileStream("Document_PDF.pdf", FileMode.Create)
        workbook.ExportToPdf(pdfFileStream, options, "Sheet1", "Sheet2")
    End Using
End Using

Tip

Handle the Workbook.BeforePrintSheet event to cancel export for specific worksheets.

Export Cell Ranges

You can define a print area that designates one or more cell ranges as the only region to export to PDF. A worksheet can have multiple print areas. Each print area is exported on a separate page.

Use the Worksheet.SetPrintRange to define the print area. When you call the Workbook.ExportToPdf method and pass the required worksheet name as a parameter, only the specified print area will be exported.

The following code sample exports to PDF:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using DevExpress.XtraPrinting;
// ...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    workbook.LoadDocument(@"Data\InvestmentPortfolio.xltx");
    Worksheet worksheet = workbook.Worksheets[0];

    // Define a print area on a worksheet.
    CellRange printArea = worksheet["C1:F39"];
    worksheet.SetPrintRange(printArea);

    // Specify print options
    PdfExportOptions options = new PdfExportOptions();
    options.DocumentOptions.Author = "John Smith";
    options.ImageQuality = PdfJpegImageQuality.Medium;

    workbook.ExportToPdf("Test.pdf", options, worksheet.Name);
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports DevExpress.XtraPrinting
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    workbook.LoadDocument("Data\InvestmentPortfolio.xltx")
    Dim worksheet As Worksheet = workbook.Worksheets(0)

    ' Define a print area on a worksheet.
    Dim printArea As CellRange = worksheet("C1:F39")
    worksheet.SetPrintRange(printArea)

    ' Specify print options
    Dim options As New PdfExportOptions()
    options.DocumentOptions.Author = "John Smith"
    options.ImageQuality = PdfJpegImageQuality.Medium

    workbook.ExportToPdf("Test.pdf", options, worksheet.Name)
End Using

Asynchronous Export

Use the Workbook.ExportToPdfAsync methods to export a workbook or individual sheets to PDF asynchronously. The method overloads allow you to define export options, implement progress notifications, or cancel the operation if needed.

Important

Take into account the following when you call this method:

The events fired by this method call may occur in a different thread than the target operation.
The operation is not thread safe (the document should not be accessed simultaneously by different threads). Wait until the operation is completed before you continue to work with the document (for example, use the await operator).

The following code sample asynchronously converts an XLSX file to PDF and cancels the operation if it takes longer than 10 seconds:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
// ...

private async void ConvertXlsx2PdfWithCancellation()
{
    // Specify the cancellation token.
    using (CancellationTokenSource source = new CancellationTokenSource(10000))
    {
        // Create a new Workbook object.
        using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
        {
            try
            {
                // Asynchronously load the XLSX file.
                await workbook.LoadDocumentAsync("Document.xlsx", source.Token);
                // Asynchronously convert the XLSX file to PDF.
                await workbook.ExportToPdfAsync("Result.pdf", source.Token);
            }
            catch (OperationCanceledException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Cancelled by timeout.");
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Threading.Tasks
' ...

Private Async Sub ConvertXlsx2PdfWithCancellation()
    ' Specify the cancellation token.
    Using source As New CancellationTokenSource(10000)
        ' Create a new Workbook object.
        Using workbook As New Workbook()
            Try
                ' Asynchronously load the XLSX file.
                Await workbook.LoadDocumentAsync("Document.xlsx", source.Token)
                ' Asynchronously convert the XLSX file to PDF.
                Await workbook.ExportToPdfAsync("Result.pdf", source.Token)
            Catch e1 As OperationCanceledException
                Console.WriteLine("Cancelled by timeout.")
            End Try
        End Using
    End Using
End Sub

Calculate Formulas Before Export

The default calculation mode for a Workbook is Manual. This mode implies that the Spreadsheet component does not recalculate formulas before it generates a PDF document. Call the Workbook.Calculate or Workbook.CalculateFull method to calculate all formulas in the workbook before you export it to PDF.

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.Spreadsheet;
//...

// Create a new Workbook object.
using (Workbook workbook = new Workbook())
{
    // Load a document.
    // ...
    // Modify the document.
    // ...

    // Calculate formulas in the document.
    workbook.Calculate();

    // Export the document to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf("Document_PDF.pdf");
}

Imports DevExpress.Spreadsheet
' ...

' Create a new Workbook object.
Using workbook As New Workbook()
    ' Load a document.
    ' ...
    ' Modify the document.
    ' ...

    ' Calculate formulas in the document.
    workbook.Calculate()

    ' Export the document to PDF.
    workbook.ExportToPdf("Document_PDF.pdf")
End Using

Export Workbooks with 3-D Charts to PDF in .NET Core Apps on Linux

If you run your .NET Core app on a Linux server distribution or Docker Linux Container, use the following terminal command to install additional libraries to export spreadsheets with 3-D charts to PDF:

console input

batchfile

sudo apt install libosmesa6 libglu1-mesa

If you use Linux with a window system (for example, X Window System), install one of the following libraries:

EGL (Embedded-System Graphics Library)
GLX (OpenGL extension to the X Window System)