displaying word documents in asp.net

Scally84 · Apr 26, 2005

hi all,

I've got an upload.aspx file where users can upload their content, in this case the content will mostly be saved as word (".doc") documents. Now I'm developing a page, let's say display.aspx, where these word documents should be directly displayed, without any interaction from any users. So whithout anyone having to download the file or anything else. It's like these word documents should somehow be displayed (or possibly converted) as ".html" files through source code. But I've still got to be able to add some additional source code together with these documents. I hope I explained my problem well, but perhaps the following example will clear it:

Code:

<%@ Page Language="VB"%>
<script runat="server">
 Sub Page_Load()
  Dim strTest as string

  strTest = "Some text"
 End Sub
</script>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
 <!-- #include virtual="another_file.aspx" -->
 
 *here should come the content of the word document*

 <%=strTest%>
</body>
</html>

Does someone know of such a thing is somehow possible in asp.net? Or does anyone has another solution for my problem?

Thanks

Rhys666 · Apr 26, 2005

Word Interop is pretty much your only answer I reckon, which can be something of a pig and can put a great deal of weight on the web server with multiple instances of MS Word running in memory. You also have the inherant MS licensing issues to consider also.

It's definitely not impossible but can be something of a pain. Have a search around for Word Interop and have a good read of the issues and methodology first would probably be the best suggestion.

Sorry there's nothing more meraningful I can give you straight off...

Rhys

""Vampireware /n/, a project, capable of sucking the lifeblood out of anyone unfortunate enough to be assigned to it, which never actually sees the light of day, but nonetheless refuses to die."

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ca8msm · Apr 26, 2005

You can:

1) Change the content type of the page so that it is displayed in word format (although I would suggest using a user control/frames and not include files as the are pretty much obsolete in ASP.NET)

2) Read the contents of the file with a text reader and display the contents

3) Open the file, save it as HTML and show the results to the user

Any of these are viable solutions but personally I would prefer option 1.

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Scally84 · May 13, 2005

hi,

I think I found another solution, a Word .ocx file. I found a Visual Basic example on the internet and this is exactly the kind of functionality I'm searching for. Now can I use this in asp.net too? Or doesn't it has such a functionality?

Thanks again,

Scally

Scally84 · May 17, 2005

I've searched some information about the .ocx file but it seems too complicated/advanced. And because no one answers I recon that this would probably be a bad solution. So I took a look at the solutions suggested by ca8msm:

1) Change the content type of the page so that it is displayed in word format (although I would suggest using a user control/frames and not include files as the are pretty much obsolete in ASP.NET)

--> what do you mean with this? use a user control for the word document? if so, can you give an example?

2) Read the contents of the file with a text reader and display the contents

--> with this solution I would loose the layout and pictures of the word document...

3) Open the file, save it as HTML and show the results to the user

--> doesn't this require interaction from the users?

ca8msm · May 17, 2005

what do you mean with this? use a user control for the word document? if so, can you give an example?

Yes I did mean a User Control. Create a new user control, load the Word Document and set the ContentType e.g.

Code:

Response.ContentType = "application/msword"

You would then simply add the user control to your page. I haven't tried this though so you may want to test it to make sure that the page allows two contenttypes (one for the page and one for the usercontrol).

Read the contents of the file with a text reader and display the contents

If that is an issue then this wouldn't be a good solution

Open the file, save it as HTML and show the results to the user

This requires no interaction from the user as you would do this is in code by using the Word Object Model and redirecting the user to the saved HTML file.

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displaying word documents in asp.net

Scally84

IS-IT--Management

Rhys666

Programmer

ca8msm

Programmer

Scally84

IS-IT--Management

Scally84

IS-IT--Management

ca8msm

Programmer

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