> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.apryse.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.apryse.com/xamarin/basic-operations/basics/viewer/pdfviewctrl.md).

# Display PDF using PDFViewCTRL in Xamarin

Learn how to display PDFs in Xamarin.iOS using PTPDFViewCtrl. Follow step-by-step instructions for adding and customizing PDFs in your app. Optimize your PDF viewing experience now! The Apryse Xamarin

{% hint style="info" %}
**This tutorial only applies to Xamarin.iOS. See Xamarin.Android equivalent here .**
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Displaying a PDF**

The easiest way to display a PDF is using a [`PTDocumentController`](/xamarin/guides/ios/basics/open.md). The [`PTPDFViewCtrl`](https://sdk.apryse.com/api/xamarinios/tools/api/pdftron.PDF.PDFViewCtrl.html) is a low-level control that may be used when a higher level of customization is required.
{% endhint %}

## About PTPDFViewCtrl

The [`PTPDFViewCtrl`](https://sdk.apryse.com/api/xamarinios/tools/api/pdftron.PDF.PDFViewCtrl.html) is a `UIView` that displays a PDF.

If your app is displaying a PDF, a `PTPDFViewCtrl` will be used in one of two ways:

* Directly, by adding it as a subview to another view in your app.
* As a component piece of a [`PTDocumentController`](/xamarin/guides/ios/basics/open.md) or `PTTabbedDocumentViewController`. (It is accessible via the `pdfViewCtrl` property.)

## Use PTPDFViewCtrl as a stand-alone component

1. These instructions assume that you've [initialized Apryse](/xamarin/get-started/faq/add-license.md).
2. Add a PDF to your project:

* Right click on `Resources`
* Click on `Add` > `Add Files`
* Choose a file (in this tutorial, let's say we added a `sample.pdf`) and confirm add
* Make sure the `Build Action` of the file is set to `BundleResource`

1. Instantiate a new [`PDFDoc`](https://sdk.apryse.com/api/xamarinios/pdfnet/api/pdftron.PDF.PDFDoc.html):

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="C#" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```csharp
var pdfPath = "sample.pdf";
var docToOpen = new pdftron.PDF.PDFDoc(pdfPath);
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

1. Create a new [`PDFViewCtrl`](https://sdk.apryse.com/api/xamarinios/tools/api/pdftron.PDF.PDFViewCtrl.html) and add it as a child to the current view:Running the app will now display the PDF `sample.pdf`. However, it will not support annotation creation, editing, text selection, or any other UI aspect that is handled by [Tools package ](/xamarin/annotation/namespaces.md#ios). To add support for annotations and text selection you need to [incorporate the tools package ](/xamarin/annotation/config-annot-tools.md#ios).

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="C#" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```csharp
// Create a new PDFViewCtrl
var pdfViewCtrl = new pdftron.PDF.PDFViewCtrl();

// Set the document to display
pdfViewCtrl.Doc = TypeConvertHelper.ConvPDFDocToNative(docToOpen);

// Add the PDFViewCtrl to the current view controller's root view.
View.AddSubview(pdfViewCtrl);

// Auto Layout
pdfViewCtrl.TranslatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false;
NSLayoutConstraint.ActivateConstraints(new NSLayoutConstraint[] {
    pdfViewCtrl.LeadingAnchor.ConstraintEqualTo(this.View.LeadingAnchor),
    pdfViewCtrl.WidthAnchor.ConstraintEqualTo(this.View.WidthAnchor),
    pdfViewCtrl.TopAnchor.ConstraintEqualTo(this.View.LayoutMarginsGuide.TopAnchor),
    pdfViewCtrl.BottomAnchor.ConstraintEqualTo(this.View.BottomAnchor)
});
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

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