read .doc files

Question

Hi! I have a problem.. I don't know how to read MS Word file (*.doc) in Visual Studio C# Windows Application... StreamReader in such situation of course not working...((( Is anybody know how to solve this problem.... Now I'm using VS 2008 beta1, but in C# there everithing the same like in VS 2005... Thanks.

Ivan Vasilyev · Answer

Monica I encountered this as well, honestly I'm not sure what the author did to get this shorthand namespace of a word interop in C# code , but one thing that is commonly used is to define a namespace alias like the following: using Word = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word; Also to add another way that you can try to read your Word files with C# code is this simple approach: DocumentModel document = DocumentModel .Load( "Document.doc" , LoadOptions .DocDefault); The code uses this C# DLL for word files .

Monica Jeevan · Answer

Hi I am new to this site. I too am facing the same problem like you. I need to read a doc file. I followed the same steps as you did. but I get an error in "Using Word" and "Using Office" . I have included the reference - Microsoft Word 12.0 Object Library. it does not work. what do i have to do?

Jan Montano · Answer

MSDN is our friend. Whenever I am not sure what the class does, or what the class' method do, I always look it up there. You could get all your answers in a flash. Here's the link for the ApplicationClass , hope this helps. You could understand it more clearly from there.

Artem · Answer

Oh! And by the way, could you explain me things from that sample? Here it is: openFileDialog1.ShowDialog(); - no problem Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.ApplicationClass wordApp = new ApplicationClass(); - (1) what we do here? object file = Path.GetFullPath(openFileDialog1.FileName); - (2) what is Path? What we create here? object nullobj = System.Reflection.Missing.Value; - (3) what is nullobj? Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Document doc = wordApp.Documents.Open( ref file, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj); doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.WholeStory(); - (4) What is it? What is "ActiveWindow" and "WholeStory"? doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.Copy(); IDataObject data = Clipboard.GetDataObject(); - (5) what is the "IDataObject"? And what we Get here? txtFileContent.Text = data.GetData(DataFormats.Text).ToString(); doc.Close(ref nullobj, ref nullobj, ref nullobj); Ok! If it possible, answer me to the (1) - (5) answers... I need to understand this ...

Jan Montano · Answer

Good job artem! (^_^)

Artem · Answer

Ok. It works now) While I was waiting for your answer, I was trying to solve problem myself, and now it works. Really... There were some mistakes, and now everythings allright ;) ... As I understand, two problems was because of new ver. of Word object model.... Thank you! :)

Jan Montano · Answer

Hi, I'm just here in the dark. Have you already tried the first link I posted? That's basically what you need to read a .doc file. What problem are you encountering now? What error did you encounter with "using Word;?"

Artem · Answer

Hey! Where are you? Is it so hard for explain and understand?

Artem · Answer

No :) It's practicaly impossible :) There 71 pages of text :) It's very hard to read and TO UNDERSTAND(( Of course, I'll read it up to end, but it will take a lot of time (don't forget that I'm working and don't have so much time for studing this information...) . But as I understand this is the information about creating something, like macroses for Word... If it possibe, please describe me, how to use this Object only for this little thing. I need only to read *.doc files, I don't need to create new files, to change em... Thank you...

Artem · Answer

Yea, I'm using firefox! :) ... Now I'll try your idea... Well, I'll try to read your second link and then post again... But "using Word;" doesn't work now(((

Jan Montano · Answer

Try declaring using Word; above your namespace. I'm using "Microsoft Word 10.0 Object Library" and everything seems ok. User doesn't need to do anything. Based on the first example, the program technically copies the contents of the word document into the clipboard, then reads the data from it. Try playing around with the second link I posted. It will help you. Are you using Firefox? the editor is like an html editor, so you must include tags like for a new line.

Artem · Answer

Ok, thanks. I know how to add a references) I could find only a "Microsoft Word 11.0 Object Library", I think this is what I need... But... It doesn't like to work.. I couldn't find any usings I need, except maybe Microsoft.Office. But with this using program still doesn't work.... Program can't find a namespace "Word", "ApplicationClass" ... What can I do? And what about my question about "Is user need copy all text to the clipboard"? Thanks. P.S.:"Why this forum don't like to create "Enters" in my post? :) "

Jan Montano · Answer

Hi, You must add a reference first to the Microsoft Word Object Library. If you don't know how, Right click your project then select Add Reference. You'll find the Component under the COM tab. Additional info: Word Object Model You're english is ok. And if it's not, there's no need to be sorry about ^_^. It's expected here at the forum that we come from different places with different languages. :) Cheers Mate, Jan

Artem · Answer

Thanks for answer! It was very fast) .. Ok! A have read something like this, but haven’t seen exactly this idea. As well as I understand, user of my program must open right document and copy it to the clipboard. Am I right? I this way it won’t be so comfortable for user as it could be… But if we don’t have another options, let it be… My VS don’t understand the word “Word. …”, maybe I must add some using or references? Next question: what will I get? The best result for me will be Split whole document by lines … Thanks. P.S.: “I’m Russian, so sorry for my English… )” …

Jan Montano · Answer

Hi Artem, Here's to get you started: How to read a doc file

read .doc files

Answers (15)