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Choosing Between RadFlowDocumentEditor, RadFixedDocumentEditor, and FixedContentEditor

Updated on Jul 21, 2026

Environment

Version	Product	Author
2026.2.707	PdfProcessing and WordsProcessing	Yoan Karamanov

You need to decide between RadFlowDocumentEditor, RadFixedDocumentEditor, and FixedContentEditor for document generation with the Document Processing Libraries. The three editors serve different layout models, come from different libraries, and offer different levels of control and convenience.

Solution

Use this rule first:

Choose RadFlowDocumentEditor when your source model is Word-like flow content (RadFlowDocument) and you need high-level editing.
Choose RadFixedDocumentEditor when your output is PDF and you need flow-like authoring with automatic pagination.
Choose FixedContentEditor when your output is PDF and you need precise, coordinate-based placement.

Library and Model Differences

Library	Main document model	What it is best at	Format notes
RadWordsProcessing	`RadFlowDocument`	Word-processing scenarios: rich text, sections, paragraphs, fields, tables	Supports multiple import and export formats. PDF support is export only.
RadPdfProcessing	`RadFixedDocument`	Native PDF creation/import/edit/export	Designed for fixed-layout PDF content and page-level control.

Editor Comparison

Editor	Library	Layout behavior	Pros	Cons	Best use cases
RadFlowDocumentEditor	RadWordsProcessing	Flow-based in Word document model	High productivity API; inserts content in logical order; good for structured document generation	Not a PDF-native editor; final PDF output depends on WordsProcessing PDF export capabilities	DOCX-first generation, templates, mail-merge-like content assembly
RadFixedDocumentEditor	RadPdfProcessing	Flow-like authoring for PDF with automatic sizing and page flow	Less manual layout work; convenient for text-heavy PDF reports; handles page flow automatically	Less absolute control than coordinate-based drawing	PDF reports, invoices, catalogs, long flowing documents
FixedContentEditor	RadPdfProcessing	Fixed positioning on a specific PDF page/content root	Maximum control over exact placement, size, transforms, and drawing	You must manage coordinates, available space, and overlap/cropping risks manually	Pixel-precise layout, overlays, stamps, custom graphics, form-like positioned content

Practical Guidance

If you create content similar to a Word document, start with RadFlowDocumentEditor. If you create a PDF directly and need easier layout flow, use RadFixedDocumentEditor. If exact XY placement is mandatory, use FixedContentEditor.

For Word-to-PDF conversion scenarios, RadWordsProcessing exports PDF based on its supported feature matrix. If a source document uses unsupported or partially supported features, visual differences can appear in exported PDF. Review Formats and Conversion for details.