# Getting Started

This topic lists the system requirements for DsPdf and steps to create an application by adding the package reference from Nuget.org.

## Content

## System Requirements

The DsPdf packages are fully supported on Visual Studio 2017 or later for Windows, Visual Studio for MAC, and Visual Studio Code for Linux and are compatible with the following:

* .NET 5, [.NET 6](https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/main/release-notes/6.0/supported-os.md), and [.NET 7](https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/main/release-notes/7.0/supported-os.md) or higher
* .NET Core 2.x and 3.x
* .NET Standard 2.x
* .NET Framework 4.6.2 or higher

## Setting up an Application

DsPdf references are available through NuGet, a Visual Studio extension that adds the required libraries and references to your project automatically. To work with DsPdf, you need to have following references in your application:

| **Reference** | **Purpose** |
| --------- | ------- |
| [DS.Documents.Pdf](https://www.nuget.org/packages/DS.Documents.Pdf) | To use DsPdf in an application, you need to reference (install) just the DS.Documents.Pdf package. It will pull in the required infrastructure packages. |
| [DS.Documents.BarCode](https://www.nuget.org/packages/DS.Documents.Barcode) | To render barcodes, install the DS.Documents.Barcode (aka DsBarcode) package. It provides extension methods allowing to render barcodes when using DsPdf. |
| [DS.Documents.Imaging](https://www.nuget.org/packages/DS.Documents.Imaging) | DS.Documents.Imaging provides image handling. You do not need to reference it directly. |
| [DS.Documents.DX.Windows](https://www.nuget.org/packages/DS.Documents.DX.Windows) | DS.Documents.DX.Windows is an infrastructure package. You do not need to reference it directly. |

#### Add reference to DsPdf in your application from NuGet.org

In order to use DsPdf in a .NET Core, ASP.NET Core, .NET Framework application (any target that supports .NET Standard 2.0), install the NuGet packages in your application using the following steps:

#### Visual Studio for Windows

1. Open Visual Studio for Windows.
2. Create a .NET Core Console/.NET Framework Windows Forms Application.
3. Right-click the project in Solution Explorer and choose **Manage NuGet Packages**.
4. In the **Package source** on top right, select **nuget.org**.
5. Click **Browse** tab on top left and search for "DS.Documents".
6. On the left panel, select **DS.Documents.Pdf**
7. On the right panel, click **Install**.
    ![](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/884d2bfb-301b-49bc-8d90-656c5b910507/images/dspdf-nuget-source.png)
8. In the **Preview Changes** dialog, click **OK** and choose **I Accept** in the next screen.
9. (Optional)If you want to add barcodes in your PDF file, you need to install the package **DS.Documents.Barcode** using the steps 5 to 8 above.

This adds all the required references of the package to your application. After this step, follow the steps in the [Quick Start](/document-solutions/dot-net-pdf-api/docs/online/GettingStarted/quickstart) section.

#### Visual Studio for Mac

1. Open Visual Studio for MAC.
2. Create a .NET Core Console/.NET Framework Windows Forms Application.
3. In tree view on the left, right-click **Dependencies** and choose **Add Packages**.
4. In the Search panel, type "DS.Documents".
5. From the list of packages displayed in the left panel, select **DS.Documents.Pdf** (and **DS.Documents.Barcode** if you want to render barcodes in your Pdfs) and click **Add Packages**.
6. Click **Accept**.

This automatically adds references of the package and its dependencies to your application. After this step, follow the steps in the [Quick Start](/document-solutions/dot-net-pdf-api/docs/online/GettingStarted/quickstart) section.

#### Visual Studio Code for Linux

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Install **Nuget Package Manager** from **Extensions**.
3. Create a folder "MyApp" in your **Home** folder.
4. In the Terminal in Visual Studio Code, type "`cd MyApp`"
5. Type command "`dotnet new console`"
    *Observe*: This creates a .NETCore application with MyApp.csproj file and Program.cs.
6. Press **Ctrl+Shift+P**. A command line opens at the top.
7. Type command: "`>`"
    *Observe*: "**Nuget Package Manager: Add Package**" option appears.
8. Click the above option.
9. Type "**DS**" and press Enter.
    *Observe*: DS packages get displayed in the dropdown.
10. Choose **DS.Documents.Pdf**.
11. (Optional) Repeat above steps to add **DS.Documents.Barcode** if you want to add barcodes to your PDF.
    *Observe*: The packages would be added to your .csproj file.
12. Type following command in the Terminal window: "`dotnet restore`"

This adds references of the package to your application. After this step, follow the steps in the [Quick Start](/document-solutions/dot-net-pdf-api/docs/online/GettingStarted/quickstart) section.