Enhanced the "Mistakes History" table in `COPILOT_CONTEXT_EN.md`: - Added a "Session" column to track when mistakes occurred. - Updated table with session numbers for existing mistakes. - Added new entries documenting recurring issues like over-engineering, ignoring revert instructions, and user feedback. - Highlighted the importance of configurability and simplicity in design. - Documented specific mistakes related to DevExpress and PDF.js. These changes improve traceability, accountability, and alignment with user preferences.
18 KiB
EnvelopeGenerator — Copilot Context Notes (English)
Purpose
A digital document signing system. Senders upload PDFs and place signature annotation fields via PSPDFKit (EnvelopeGenerator.Web). Receivers open the document in a Blazor WASM viewer, confirm each signature field via a checkbox overlay, draw/type/upload their signature, and export the stamped PDF.
Solution Structure
| Project | Target | Description |
|---|---|---|
EnvelopeGenerator.API |
net8.0 | ASP.NET Core Web API. Receiver auth (cookie), annotation reading, PDF serving. |
EnvelopeGenerator.ReceiverUI |
net8.0 WASM | Blazor WebAssembly. Receiver UI. YARP proxies API calls. |
EnvelopeGenerator.Web |
net7/8/9 | Razor Pages. Sender UI + PSPDFKit annotation placement. |
EnvelopeGenerator.Application |
multi | MediatR CQRS handlers. |
EnvelopeGenerator.Domain |
multi | Domain models, constants, interfaces. |
EnvelopeGenerator.Infrastructure |
multi | EF Core repos, DB context. |
EnvelopeGenerator.PdfEditor |
multi | iText7 utilities. NOT used in ReceiverUI flow. |
EnvelopeGenerator.DependencyInjection |
multi | DI registration helpers. |
| VB.NET projects (Service/Form/BBTests) | net462 | Legacy. Do NOT touch. |
Key Files
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
ReceiverUI/Pages/EnvelopeViewer.razor |
NEW PDF.js-based viewer (/envelope/{key}). Replaces ReportViewer.razor. Simple read-only PDF viewing with zoom/navigation. |
ReceiverUI/Pages/ReportViewer.razor |
LEGACY DevExpress-based signing page (/receiver/{key}). Still used for signature workflow. Will be deprecated. |
ReceiverUI/wwwroot/js/pdf-viewer.js |
NEW PDF.js wrapper: rendering, zoom, pagination, mouse wheel control. |
ReceiverUI/wwwroot/js/receiver-signature.js |
JS: checkbox overlay, signature pad (draw/type/image). |
ReceiverUI/wwwroot/css/envelope-viewer.css |
NEW Styles for EnvelopeViewer.razor (external CSS, not inline). |
ReceiverUI/wwwroot/fake-data/annotations.json |
Dev-mode fake annotations (YARP proxy target). |
ReceiverUI/Models/AnnotationDto.cs |
Annotation position model. All properties non-nullable. |
ReceiverUI/Services/AnnotationService.cs |
Fetches List<AnnotationDto> from API or fake-data. |
ReceiverUI/Services/DocumentService.cs |
Fetches PDF bytes from API. |
ReceiverUI/Services/AuthService.cs |
Manages receiver session cookie. |
API/Controllers/AnnotationController.cs |
GET api/Annotation/{key} ? annotation list. |
API/Controllers/DocumentController.cs |
GET api/Document/{key} ? PDF bytes. |
AnnotationDto — Coordinate System
Unit : 1/100 inch (DX units) — DevExpress XtraReports native
Origin : Top-left corner of page
X : increases rightward
Y : increases downward
A4 in DX units: Width = 827, Height = 1169
Conversions:
PSPDFKit (pt, top-left): xDX = xPsPdf * (100/72)
GDPicture (pt, bottom-left): yDX = (pageHeightPt - yGD - elemHeightPt) * (100/72)
DX ? PDF points: pt = dx * (72/100)
EnvelopeViewer (NEW) — PDF.js Read-Only Viewer
Route: /envelope/{EnvelopeKey}
Purpose: Modern, high-performance PDF viewing without signing functionality.
Technology: PDF.js 3.11.174 + custom JavaScript + configurable quality settings
Architecture
Blazor Component (EnvelopeViewer.razor):
- Fetches PDF via
DocumentService.GetDocumentAsync(EnvelopeKey) - Converts to base64 data URL:
data:application/pdf;base64,{base64} - Initializes PDF.js viewer via JSInterop with
DotNetObjectReferencefor callbacks - Quality settings loaded from
appsettings.jsonviaIOptions<PdfViewerOptions> - Thumbnail sidebar with resizable splitter (150px-400px, localStorage persistence)
- CSS externalized to
envelope-viewer.css
JavaScript (pdf-viewer.js):
window.pdfViewer = {
qualityOptions, // Configurable from appsettings.json
setQualityOptions(options), // Dynamic quality update
initialize(canvasId, pdfDataUrl, dotNetRef),
renderPage(num),
renderThumbnail(pageNum, canvasId),
attachWheelEvent(), // Ctrl+Wheel zoom (configurable step)
zoomIn(), zoomOut(), // Configurable step percentage
dispose()
}
Options (PdfViewerOptions.cs):
public class PdfViewerOptions {
public double ThumbnailBaseScale { get; set; } = 0.75; // 0.2-1.5
public bool ThumbnailEnableHiDPI { get; set; } = true;
public double ThumbnailMaxDPR { get; set; } = 2.0; // 1.0-3.0
public bool MainCanvasEnableHiDPI { get; set; } = true;
public double MainCanvasMaxDPR { get; set; } = 2.0;
public bool EnableSmoothZoom { get; set; } = true;
public int ZoomTransitionDuration { get; set; } = 150; // ms
public double RenderingOpacity { get; set; } = 0.85; // 0.0-1.0
public int ThumbnailRenderDelay { get; set; } = 50; // ms
public int ZoomStepPercentage { get; set; } = 5; // 1-50%
}
Configuration (appsettings.json)
Location: EnvelopeGenerator.ReceiverUI/wwwroot/appsettings.json
{
"PdfViewer": {
"ThumbnailBaseScale": 0.75,
"ThumbnailEnableHiDPI": true,
"ThumbnailMaxDPR": 2.0,
"MainCanvasEnableHiDPI": true,
"MainCanvasMaxDPR": 2.0,
"EnableSmoothZoom": true,
"ZoomTransitionDuration": 150,
"RenderingOpacity": 0.85,
"ThumbnailRenderDelay": 50,
"ZoomStepPercentage": 5
}
}
Usage: Edit file ? F5 (browser refresh) ? new settings applied
Presets:
- High Quality:
ThumbnailBaseScale: 1.0, MaxDPR: 3.0(powerful devices) - Balanced: Default values (recommended)
- Performance:
ThumbnailBaseScale: 0.5, EnableHiDPI: false(mobile/low-end)
Features
- HiDPI/Retina Support ? 4x quality on Retina displays
- Configurable Quality ? All parameters in appsettings.json
- Unlimited Zoom ? 50%-300%, configurable step (default 5%)
- Global Ctrl+Wheel Zoom ? Works anywhere on page
- Thumbnail Sidebar ? Resizable (150-400px), high-quality rendering
- Smooth Transitions ? Configurable fade effect
- Responsive Design ? Desktop/mobile adaptive layout
Features
-
Unlimited Zoom:
- Canvas size not restricted by
max-width - Frame stays fixed, scroll bars appear automatically
text-align: centerfor small sizes, full scroll for zoomed views
- Canvas size not restricted by
-
Global Mouse Wheel Zoom:
- Event listener on
document.body(works anywhere on page) Ctrl + Mouse WheeltriggerszoomIn()/zoomOut()- Calls
dotNetReference.invokeMethodAsync('OnZoomChanged', scale)to update Blazor UI { passive: false }to enablepreventDefault()
- Event listener on
-
Render Task Cancellation:
- Stores
currentRenderTaskto cancel previous render if new one starts - Catches
RenderingCancelledExceptionto avoid console errors - Queue system (
pageNumPending) for rapid page changes
- Stores
-
Thumbnail Sidebar:
- Left panel with page previews (sequential rendering, 50ms delay)
- Click to navigate to specific page
- Active page highlighted with gradient border
- No header/title (maximizes thumbnail space)
- Toggle button in toolbar to show/hide
-
Resizable Splitter:
- 4px draggable divider between thumbnails and canvas
- Min width: 150px, Max width: 400px
- Visual feedback: gradient on hover/active
- User preference saved to localStorage (
envelopeViewer_thumbnailWidth) - Global mouse events (works anywhere during drag)
col-resizecursor (?) for intuitive UX
-
Flex Layout:
- Thumbnails and canvas in same container (
.pdf-frame) display: flex, flex-direction: row, align-items: stretch- Perfect vertical alignment (same top/bottom position)
- Responsive: column layout on mobile (<768px)
- Thumbnails and canvas in same container (
-
Responsive Design:
- Desktop: 90% width, 1200px max
- Mobile: 95% width, adjusted heights, thumbnails collapse to top
- Adaptive padding and font sizes
Initialization Flow
OnInitializedAsync():
1. Fetch PDF bytes from DocumentService
2. Convert to base64 data URL
3. Set _isLoading = false
OnAfterRenderAsync(firstRender):
1. Load saved thumbnail width from localStorage
2. Create DotNetObjectReference
3. Send PdfViewerOptions to JavaScript
4. Initialize PDF.js viewer
5. Attach splitter resize listeners
6. Render thumbnails sequentially (configurable delay)
User Interactions:
- Zoom: Buttons/Ctrl+Wheel/Slider ? configurable step percentage
- Pages: Buttons/Input/Thumbnails ? navigate
- Sidebar: Toggle button ? show/hide thumbnails
- Splitter: Drag ? resize sidebar (150-400px)
Cleanup:
DisposeAsync():
- Dispose PDF.js viewer
- Detach event listeners
- Dispose DotNetObjectReference
Key Differences from ReportViewer
| Feature | EnvelopeViewer (NEW) | ReportViewer (LEGACY) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | PDF.js + Canvas | DevExpress XtraReports |
| Route | /envelope/{key} |
/receiver/{key} |
| Purpose | Read-only viewing | Signature workflow |
| Dependencies | PDF.js CDN | DevExpress NuGet packages |
| Zoom | Unlimited, smooth | Report viewer default |
| Mouse Wheel | Custom Ctrl+Wheel | Browser default |
| File Size | Minimal (JS + CSS) | Heavy (DX libs) |
| Maintenance | Simple, standard web | Complex, vendor-specific |
ReceiverUI Signing Flow (ReportViewer.razor — LEGACY)
On Load (OnInitializedAsync)
AuthService.CheckEnvelopeAccessAsync? redirect to login if unauthorizedAnnotationService.GetAnnotationsAsync? fills_annotationsDocumentService.GetDocumentAsync? fills_basePdfBytes(real mode)BuildFreshBaseReport()?XtraReportforDxReportViewer
Signature Popup
- Tabs: Draw / Text / Image
- Fields: full name (required), position (optional), place (required)
- Saved to
_capturedSignaturerecord - If annotations exist ? popup closes ? JS checkbox overlays installed
JS Checkbox Overlay (receiver-signature.js)
receiverSignature.installAnnotationCheckboxes(annotations, checkedIds, dotNetRef)- One
.annot-sig-cb-wrapperdiv per annotation, absolutely positioned over viewer scroll container - Position:
left = pageRect.left + ann.x * scaleX,top = pageRect.top + ann.y * scaleYscaleX = pagePixelWidth / 827,scaleY = pagePixelHeight / 1169
- Click ?
dotNetRef.invokeMethodAsync('OnAnnotationToggled', id, checked)
Apply Signatures ("Unterschriften anwenden" — SubmitSignaturesAsync)
Real PDF mode (_basePdfBytes is set):
- Calls
StampSignaturesOnPdfusing iText7 directly on PDF bytes - Coordinate conversion:
xPt = ann.X * (72/100),yPt = pageHeight - ann.Y * (72/100) - sigHeight(Y flip: DX top-down ? PDF bottom-up) - Returns stamped bytes ? loaded into new
XtraReportwithXRPdfContent - Viewer refreshed with
ViewerKey++
Dev/fake mode (_basePdfBytes is null):
- Falls back to
AddSignatureAtAnnotation(XtraReports DetailBand + BeforePrint counter) - This is intentionally left as a dev fallback only
Export
reportViewer.ExportToAsync(ExportFormat.Pdf)
StampSignaturesOnPdf — iText7 Implementation
// Located in ReportViewer.razor @code section
// Called by SubmitSignaturesAsync when _basePdfBytes is available
static byte[] StampSignaturesOnPdf(
byte[] sourcePdfBytes, byte[] signatureImageBytes,
string signerFullName, string signerPosition, string signaturePlace,
IReadOnlyList<AnnotationDto> annotations)
{
// Opens PDF with PdfReader/PdfWriter
// For each annotation:
// pageNum = ann.Page (clamped to totalPages)
// xPt = ann.X * (72f/100f)
// imgBottomY = pageHeight - ann.Y * (72f/100f) - sigHeightPt ? Y-axis flip
// PdfCanvas.AddImageFittedIntoRectangle(imageData, rect, false)
// Separator line at bottom of image
// Canvas text block below separator (font: Helvetica 7pt, color: RGB(73,80,87))
// Returns stamped byte[]
}
BuildFreshBaseReport()
// Real PDF mode:
var report = new XtraReport();
var detail = new DetailBand();
report.Bands.Add(detail);
detail.Controls.Add(new XRPdfContent { Source = _basePdfBytes, GenerateOwnPages = true });
return report;
// Dev/fake mode: returns pre-built report from ReportStorage
NuGet Packages in ReceiverUI
| Package | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
DevExpress.Blazor.Reporting.Viewer |
25.2.3 | DxReportViewer (LEGACY, used in ReportViewer.razor) |
DevExpress.Blazor.PdfViewer |
25.2.3 | PDF viewer (not used in EnvelopeViewer) |
DevExpress.Drawing.Skia |
25.2.3 | Drawing backend |
itext |
8.0.5 | PDF stamping (iText7) |
SkiaSharp.* |
3.119.1 | WASM native rendering |
External CDN (EnvelopeViewer):
- PDF.js 3.11.174 (via
https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pdf.js/3.11.174/pdf.min.js) - PDF.js Worker (
pdf.worker.min.js)
Mistakes History — Do NOT Repeat
| Mistake | Why Wrong | Session |
|---|---|---|
BottomMarginBand for per-page signatures |
Repeats on every page; Y offset wrong | 4 |
imageY = (page-1) * 1169 + ann.Y |
Inflates DetailBand; 35 pages ? 140 pages | 8 |
e.Graph?.PrintingSystem in BeforePrint |
Graph not on CancelEventArgs |
5 |
ctrl.Report?.PrintingSystem |
PrintingSystem not on XtraReportBase in WASM |
— |
Adding stamp endpoint to DocumentController |
Not needed; stamping is done client-side in ReceiverUI | — |
| iText7 via API (server-side) | Unnecessary; iText7 runs fine in WASM directly | 10 |
| PDF.js: Hardcoded quality values | Use appsettings.json for configurability | 11 |
| PDF.js: Hardcoded zoom step (1%) | Too granular; use configurable percentage | 11 |
| Toolbar: Complex left/center/right layout | User wants simple horizontal layout; failed multiple times to implement | 11 |
| Zoom label: Badge style (gradient/border/padding) | Over-designed; user prefers simple text label | 11 |
| Attempting to "improve" simple designs | User requests simplicity; AI keeps over-engineering | 11 |
| Ignoring explicit "revert" instructions | User said revert toolbar, AI tried to fix CSS instead of reverting HTML structure | 11 |
DevExpress Article (2023-08-28) — Why It Does NOT Apply
The article describes X.509 cryptographic digital signatures via PdfDocumentSigner + Pkcs7Signer.
Our use case is visual/image stamping at specific page coordinates — different problem, different API.
XRPdfSignature in the article requires pre-placed fields in the report designer, not runtime coordinates.
Change Log
| Session | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | — | Core infrastructure: services, YARP proxy, JS overlay, signature pad |
| 4 | — | AddSignatureAtAnnotation with BottomMarginBand — ? repeated on all pages |
| 5 | — | BeforePrint + e.Graph?.PrintingSystem — ? compile error |
| 6 | — | BeforePrint counter — ? correct pattern, wrong band |
| 7 | — | Switched to DetailBand — ? correct band |
| 8 | — | (page-1)*1169+Y offset — ? 35?140 page inflation |
| 9 | — | Fixed: BoundsF.Y = ann.Y + counter; created COPILOT_CONTEXT.md |
| 10 | — | Investigated DevExpress article — not applicable to our case |
| 10 | — | Added iText7 to ReceiverUI; implemented StampSignaturesOnPdf — ? deterministic coordinates, no page count side effects |
| 10 | — | Split COPILOT_CONTEXT.md into COPILOT_CONTEXT_EN.md and COPILOT_CONTEXT_TR.md |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Created EnvelopeViewer.razor with PDF.js 3.11.174 + modern UI |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Implemented configurable quality system (PdfViewerOptions + appsettings.json) |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Added HiDPI/Retina support (4x quality on Retina displays) |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Implemented thumbnail sidebar with resizable splitter (150-400px, localStorage) |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Added smooth zoom transitions with configurable opacity and duration |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Made zoom step configurable (buttons, Ctrl+Wheel, slider use same step) |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Fixed thumbnail canvas alignment (object-fit: contain) |
| 11 | 2025-01-XX | Fixed thumbnail re-rendering on sidebar toggle |
Layout Architecture (EnvelopeViewer)
HTML Structure
<div class="pdf-viewer-container">
<div class="pdf-toolbar">
<!-- Zoom, page navigation, thumbnail toggle -->
</div>
<div class="pdf-frame">
@if (_showThumbnails) {
<div class="pdf-thumbnails" style="width: @(_thumbnailWidth)px">
<!-- Page previews -->
</div>
<div class="pdf-splitter" @onmousedown="OnSplitterMouseDown">
<!-- Resizable divider -->
</div>
}
<div class="pdf-canvas-wrapper">
<canvas id="pdf-canvas" class="pdf-canvas"></canvas>
</div>
</div>
</div>
CSS Flexbox Layout
.pdf-frame {
display: flex;
flex-direction: row; /* Side-by-side */
align-items: stretch; /* Same height */
overflow: hidden;
}
.pdf-thumbnails {
flex-shrink: 0; /* Fixed width */
width: 260px; /* Dynamic via inline style */
border-right: none; /* Seamless join with splitter */
}
.pdf-splitter {
width: 4px;
cursor: col-resize;
flex-shrink: 0;
}
.pdf-canvas-wrapper {
flex: 1; /* Fill remaining space */
overflow: auto; /* Scrollable for zoom */
padding: 2rem;
text-align: center;
}
Resizable Splitter Workflow
1. User hovers splitter ? cursor: col-resize (?)
2. Mouse down ? OnSplitterMouseDown(e)
- _isResizing = true
- Store start position (clientX) and width
- Add 'resizing' class to body (prevent text selection)
- Call pdfViewer.startResize()
3. Mouse move (global) ? OnSplitterMouseMove(clientX)
- Calculate delta = clientX - startX
- newWidth = startWidth + delta
- Clamp to 150-400px range
- Update _thumbnailWidth
- StateHasChanged() for reactive UI
4. Mouse up (global) ? OnSplitterMouseUp()
- _isResizing = false
- Remove 'resizing' class
- Save to localStorage("envelopeViewer_thumbnailWidth")
Responsive Behavior
- Desktop (>768px): Flex row, side-by-side
- Mobile (?768px): Flex column, thumbnails on top
- Thumbnail toggle: Controlled by
@if (_showThumbnails)in Razor markup