# DocumentViewer Collaboration Features: Annotations

> We just released a prerelease version of the MVC DocumentViewer with a new set of collaboration features including annotations and comments. This preview version shows how to integrate collaboration workflows.

- **Author:** Bjoern Meyer
- **Published:** 2020-09-28
- **Modified:** 2026-07-17
- **Description:** We just released a prerelease version of the MVC DocumentViewer with a new set of collaboration features including annotations and comments. This preview version shows how to integrate collaboration workflows.
- **2 min read** (371 words)
- **Tags:**
  - Annotation
  - Collaboration
  - DocumentViewer
  - Prerelease
- **Web URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/09/28/document-viewer-collaboration-features-annotations/
- **LLMs URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/09/28/document-viewer-collaboration-features-annotations/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/09/28/document-viewer-collaboration-features-annotations/llms-full.txt

---

We just released a prerelease version of the TX Text Control DocumentViewer for ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core with document collaboration features such as annotations and comments. This version allows you to add and share annotations from different users to any type of document supported by TX Text Control including PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF and the internal TX Text Control format (TX). This feature allows the easy integration of document collaboration workflow features into your TX Text Control based applications.

![DocumentViewer Annotations](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2020/09/28/a/assets/viewer_1.webp "DocumentViewer Annotations")

### User Specific Annotations

The DocumentViewer can be initialized with a user name that defines the current user using the *UserNames* property:

```
@Html.TXTextControl().DocumentViewer(settings =>
{
    settings.DocumentPath = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetData("DataDirectory").ToString() +
        "\\test.pdf";
    settings.UserNames = new string[] { "Klaas Klaasen" };
    settings.Dock = DocumentViewerSettings.DockStyle.Window;
    settings.ToolbarDocked = true;
    settings.ShowThumbnailPane = true;
}).Render()
```

Using the new annotation button in the toolbar, the second annotation toolbar can be opened. Used annotation pens can be modified including colors, stroke width and opacity.

![Annotations](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2020/09/28/a/assets/annotation_1.webp "Annotations")### User Comments

For each annotation object, comments can be added that are stored with the given user name and a time stamp. Additionally, a status for each annotation can be set including *Accepted*, *Rejected*, *Cancelled*, *None* and *Closed*.

![Annotations](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2020/09/28/a/assets/annotation_2.webp "Annotations")### Smoothing Algorithm

Annotation lines are simplified with an efficient line smoothing algorithm. Lines are captured as vectors, stored in arrays and finally de-noised and simplified in a post-process:

![Annotations](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2020/09/28/a/assets/annotation_3.webp "Annotations")The annotations can be exported separately and stored within a Text Control document to be shared with other users. This concept gives the flexibility to add annotations and comments to all supported document types including MS Word DOC, DOCX, RTF, PDF and the internal TX Text Control format.

You can test this prerelease version on your own by installing the beta version from NuGet:

<https://www.nuget.org/packages/TXTextControl.Web.DocumentViewer/28.0.213.300-beta>

Or you can test these features live using our online demos:

[Text Control Technical Demos](https://demos.textcontrol.com/chapter/topic/DocumentViewer/ViewerConcept)

---

## About Bjoern Meyer

As CEO, Bjoern is the visionary behind our strategic direction and business development, bridging the gap between our customers and engineering teams. His deep passion for coding and web technologies drives the creation of innovative products. If you're at a tech conference, be sure to stop by our booth - you'll most likely meet Bjoern in person. With an advanced graduate degree (Dipl. Inf.) in Computer Science, specializing in AI, from the University of Bremen, Bjoern brings significant expertise to his role. In his spare time, Bjoern enjoys running, paragliding, mountain biking, and playing the piano.

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjoernmeyer/)
- [X](https://x.com/txbjoern)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/bjoerntx)

---

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