# Getting Started: Document Viewer with ASP.NET Core and Linux WSL Support

> In this article, we will create a simple document viewer application using the Document Viewer component from the TX Text Control .NET Server product. We will use ASP.NET Core and run the application on Linux using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

- **Author:** Bjoern Meyer
- **Published:** 2025-03-12
- **Modified:** 2025-11-16
- **Description:** In this article, we will create a simple document viewer application using the Document Viewer component from the TX Text Control .NET Server product. We will use ASP.NET Core and run the application on Linux using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
- **3 min read** (453 words)
- **Tags:**
  - ASP.NET Core
  - Document Viewer
  - Linux
  - WSL
- **Web URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2025/03/12/getting-started-document-viewer-with-asp-net-core-and-linux-wsl-support/
- **LLMs URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2025/03/12/getting-started-document-viewer-with-asp-net-core-and-linux-wsl-support/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2025/03/12/getting-started-document-viewer-with-asp-net-core-and-linux-wsl-support/llms-full.txt

---

> ### Prerequisites
> 
> You need to download and install the trial version of TX Text Control .NET Server to host the required backend:
> 
> - [Download Trial Version](https://www.textcontrol.com/product/tx-text-control-dotnet-server/download/)  
>     Setup download and installation required.

### Creating the Application

Make sure that you downloaded the latest version of Visual Studio 2022 that comes with the [.NET 8 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/8.0).

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 for your project and confirm with *Next*.
4. In the next dialog, choose *.NET 8 (Long Term Support)* as the *Framework* and confirm with *Create*.
    
    ![Creating the .NET 8 project](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2025/03/12/d/assets/visualstudio1.webp "Creating the .NET 8 project")

#### 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** as the *Package source*.
    
    Install the following packages:
    
    
    - **TXTextControl.Web.DocumentViewer**
    - **TXTextControl.TextControl.Core.SDK**
    
    ![ASP.NET Core Web Application](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2025/03/12/d/assets/visualstudio2.webp "ASP.NET Core Web Application")

#### Adding the Control to the View

6. Find the *Index.cshtml* file in the *Views -> Home* folder. Replace the complete content with the following code to add the document viewer to the view:
    
    ```
    @using TXTextControl.Web.MVC.DocumentViewer
    @using System.Text
    
    <div style="width: 800px; height: 600px;">
    
    @Html.TXTextControl().DocumentViewer(settings => {
        settings.DocumentData = Convert.ToBase64String(
    	Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("<strong>Sample Content</strong>"));
        settings.Dock = DocumentViewerSettings.DockStyle.Fill;
    }).Render()
    
    </div>
    
    <script>
    
        var jsonAnnotations = '[[{"pen":{"type":"comment","objectWidth":32,"objectHeight":32},"user":"Unknown User","location":{"x":127,"y":50},"time":1658908087097,"comments":[{"comment":"Welcome to Text Control","user":"Unknown User","date":1658908100339,"id":"c8d818ce-ff1e-4c0c-b78c-6ba95a98dede","status":"none"}],"id":"feed80ff-1c94-4abf-9838-3e833faa4092","status":"Accepted"}]]';
    
        window.addEventListener("documentViewerLoaded", function () {
    	TXDocumentViewer.annotations.showToolbar(true);
    	TXDocumentViewer.annotations.load(jsonAnnotations);
        });
    
    </script>
    ```

#### Starting the Application

7. Select *WSL* as the startup profile and start the application.
    
    ![Starting the application](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2025/03/12/d/assets/wsl.webp "Starting the application")

#### Enable WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

In case you haven't enabled WSL yet, follow these steps:

> **Enable WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)**
> 
> 1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
> 2. Run the following command:
>     
>     ```
>     wsl --install
>     ```
>     
>     This installs the default Linux distribution (usually Ubuntu) and enables necessary features.
> 3. After the installation, restart your computer.
> 
> **Set WSL 2 as the Default Version**
> 
> To set WSL 2 as the default version, follow these steps:
> 
> 1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
> 2. Run the following command:
>     
>     ```
>     wsl --set-default-version 2
>     ```
> 3. If you haven’t installed a Linux distribution yet, you can do so via:
>     
>     ```
>     wsl --install -d Ubuntu
>     ```

---

## 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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