# Using the MVC DocumentViewer with a Separate Backend
> The MVC DocumentViewer can be used with a separate backend running on another server. This tutorial shows how to setup such an environment.
- **Author:** Bjoern Meyer
- **Published:** 2022-10-31
- **Modified:** 2025-11-16
- **Description:** The MVC DocumentViewer can be used with a separate backend running on another server. This tutorial shows how to setup such an environment.
- **4 min read** (731 words)
- **Tags:**
- ASP.NET
- Backend
- **Web URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2022/10/31/using-the-mvc-documentviewer-with-a-separate-backend/
- **LLMs URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2022/10/31/using-the-mvc-documentviewer-with-a-separate-backend/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2022/10/31/using-the-mvc-documentviewer-with-a-separate-backend/llms-full.txt
---
The following tutorial shows how to setup a solution with two .NET 6 ASP.NET Core projects to simulate a separate backend running the required DocumentViewer components.
### Creating the Backend
Make sure that you downloaded the latest version of Visual Studio 2022 that comes with the [.NET 6 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/6.0).
1. In Visual Studio 2022, create a new project by choosing *Create a new project*.
2. Select *ASP.NET Core Web App (Model-View-Controller)* as the project template and confirm with *Next*.
3. Choose a name (e.g. **tx-documentviewer-backend**) for your project and confirm with *Next*.
4. In the next dialog, choose *.NET 6 (Long-term support)* as the *Framework* and confirm with *Create*.
#### Adding the NuGet Packages
5. In the *Solution Explorer*, select your created project and choose *Manage NuGet Packages...* from the *Project* main menu.
Select *Text Control Offline Packages* from the *Package source* drop-down.
*Install* the latest versions of the following packages:
- *TXTextControl.Web.DocumentViewer*
- *TXTextControl.TextControl.ASP.SDK*
#### Adding CORS
In order to access the backend, CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) must be added to *Program.cs*
1. Find the *Program.cs* in the *Solution Explorer*, open it and replace the content with the following content:
```
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
// Add services to the container.
builder.Services.AddControllersWithViews();
builder.Services.AddCors(p => p.AddPolicy("corsapp", builder =>
{
builder.WithOrigins("*").AllowAnyMethod().AllowAnyHeader();
}));
var app = builder.Build();
// Configure the HTTP request pipeline.
if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment()) {
app.UseExceptionHandler("/Home/Error");
app.UseHsts();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();
app.UseCors("corsapp");
app.UseRouting();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapControllerRoute(
name: "default",
pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
app.Run();
```
### Creating the Client Application
1. Select the solution in the *Solution Explorer* and *File -> Add -> New Project...*.
2. Select *ASP.NET Core Web App (Model-View-Controller)* as the project template and confirm with *Next*.
3. Choose a name (e.g. **tx-documentviewer-client**) for your project and confirm with *Next*.
4. In the next dialog, choose *.NET 6 (Long-term support)* as the *Framework* and confirm with *Create*.
#### Adding the NuGet Package
In the client project, both NuGet packages need to be added for compiling reasons. The actual work is done by the backend in this scenario.
5. In the *Solution Explorer*, select your created project and choose *Manage NuGet Packages...* from the *Project* main menu.
Select *Text Control Offline Packages* from the *Package source* drop-down.
*Install* the latest versions of the following packages:
- *TXTextControl.Web.DocumentViewer*
- *TXTextControl.TextControl.ASP.SDK*
#### Adding the Control to the View
6. In the *Solution Explorer*, open the *Properties -> launchSettings.json* file of the backend project and find the *applicationUrl* value.
Copy that value into the clipboard.
7. Find the *Index.cshtml* file in the *Views -> Home* folder. Replace the complete content with the following code:
```
@using TXTextControl.Web.MVC.DocumentViewer
@using System.Text
@Html.TXTextControl().DocumentViewer(settings => {
settings.BasePath = "https://localhost:7198";
settings.DocumentData = Convert.ToBase64String(
Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("Sample Content"));
settings.Dock = DocumentViewerSettings.DockStyle.Fill;
}).Render()
```
In line 7, replace the value of the *BasePath* property with the copied *applicationUrl* value from step 6.
#### Starting the Solution
1. Select the solution in the *Solution Explorer* and choose *Project -> Properties* from the main menu.
In the opened dialog, select *Multiple startup projects* and set both *Actions* to *Start*.
Confirm with *OK*.
2. Compile and start the application.
When checking the network traffic on the client application, you can see that all required calls to the backend (*/TextControl*) are routed to our backend project.
---
## 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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