Programmatically convert Word (docx) to PDF
Ok before you think "Not another question like this" please read this first.
I have an application (web application in ASP.NET MVC 3) the generates Word files in DocX using the DocX library.
The application takes a template and fills it in with all the data from a database. Now I want to create a PDF version of that created docx-file.
I know apose.word is an option, but not for me since I have little budget. Other libs where I have to spend some money on are also out of the question.
I don't have a sharepoint server so Word Automation Services isn't an option either.
So I have 2 options (that I know) left and they both use iTextSharp. Don't know which is better.
- I could use the generated XML from the docx file and transform it to a version that is usable by iTextSharp.
- I could create the PDF like I create the docx with a template.
Anybody has any idea on how much work it is, which of those 2 has better performance and if it is even possible to do.
I know that the second option has the downside that when I change a template I have to change it for both versions.
If you have a better solution (free that is), you are welcome to share it.
Answer
Another option, even if it needs some work: install OpenOffice on server and, using UNO libraries (including them as assemblies in your app), you can open docx document and save it in PDF directly.
In a few minutes I post an example...
PARTIAL EXAMPLE:
This is a class I created a long time ago and used to convert files to pdf
using unoidl.com.sun.star.lang;
using unoidl.com.sun.star.uno;
using unoidl.com.sun.star.container;
using unoidl.com.sun.star.frame;
using unoidl.com.sun.star.beans;
using unoidl.com.sun.star.view;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
namespace QOpenOffice
{
public enum AppType
{
Writer,
Calc,
Impress,
Draw,
Math
}
public enum ExportFilter{
Word97,
WriterPDF,
CalcPDF,
DrawPDF,
ImpressPDF,
MathPDF
}
class OpenOffice
{
private XComponentContext context;
private XMultiServiceFactory service;
private XComponentLoader component;
private XComponent doc;
private List<string> filters = new List<string>();
#region Constructors
public OpenOffice()
{
/// This will start a new instance of OpenOffice.org if it is not running,
/// or it will obtain an existing instance if it is already open.
context = uno.util.Bootstrap.bootstrap();
/// The next step is to create a new OpenOffice.org service manager
service = (XMultiServiceFactory)context.getServiceManager();
/// Create a new Desktop instance using our service manager
component = (XComponentLoader)service.createInstance("com.sun.star.frame.Desktop");
// Getting filters
XNameContainer filters = (XNameContainer)service.createInstance("com.sun.star.document.FilterFactory");
foreach (string filter in filters.getElementNames())
this.filters.Add(filter);
}
~OpenOffice()
{
if (doc != null)
doc.dispose();
doc = null;
}
#endregion
#region Private methods
private string FilterToString(ExportFilter filter)
{
switch (filter)
{
case ExportFilter.Word97: return "MS Word 97";
case ExportFilter.WriterPDF: return "writer_pdf_Export";
case ExportFilter.CalcPDF: return "calc_pdf_Export";
case ExportFilter.DrawPDF: return "draw_pdf_Export";
case ExportFilter.ImpressPDF: return "impress_pdf_Export";
case ExportFilter.MathPDF: return "math_pdf_Export";
}
return "";
}
#endregion
#region Public methods
public bool Load(string filename, bool hidden)
{
return Load(filename, hidden, "", "");
}
public bool Load(string filename, bool hidden, int filter_index, string filter_options)
{
return Load(filename, hidden, filters[filter_index], filter_options);
}
public bool Load(string filename, bool hidden, string filter_name, string filter_options)
{
List<PropertyValue> pv = new List<PropertyValue>();
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("Hidden", 0, new uno.Any(hidden), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
if (filter_name != "")
{
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("FilterName", 0, new uno.Any(filter_name), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("FilterOptions", 0, new uno.Any(filter_options), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
}
try
{
doc = component.loadComponentFromURL(
"file:///" + filename.Replace('\\', '/'), "_blank",
0, pv.ToArray());
return true;
}
catch
{
doc = null;
return false;
}
}
public bool Print()
{
return Print(1, "");
}
public bool Print(int copies, string pages)
{
List<PropertyValue> pv = new List<PropertyValue>();
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("CopyCount", 0, new uno.Any(copies), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
if (pages != "")
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("Pages", 0, new uno.Any(pages), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
//if (doc is XPrintable)
try
{
((XPrintable)doc).print(pv.ToArray());
return true;
}
catch { return false; }
}
public bool Save(string filename, ExportFilter filter)
{
return Save(filename, FilterToString(filter));
}
public bool Save(string filename, string filter)
{
List<PropertyValue> pv = new List<PropertyValue>();
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("FilterName", 0, new uno.Any(filter), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
pv.Add(new PropertyValue("Overwrite", 0, new uno.Any(true), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE));
try
{
filename = filename.Replace("\\", "/");
((XStorable)doc).storeToURL("file:///" + filename, pv.ToArray());
return true;
}
catch { return false; }
}
public bool ExportToPdf(string filename)
{
filename = Path.ChangeExtension(filename, ".pdf");
bool ret = Save(filename, "writer_pdf_Export");
if (!ret) ret = Save(filename, "impress_pdf_Export");
if (!ret) ret = Save(filename, "calc_pdf_Export");
if (!ret) ret = Save(filename, "draw_pdf_Export");
if (!ret) ret = Save(filename, "impress_pdf_Export");
if (!ret) ret = Save(filename, "math_pdf_Export");
return ret;
}
public void Close()
{
doc.dispose();
doc = null;
}
public bool New(AppType app, bool hidden)
{
try
{
string sapp = "private:factory/";
switch (app)
{
case AppType.Writer:
sapp += "swriter";
break;
case AppType.Calc:
sapp += "scalc";
break;
case AppType.Impress:
sapp += "simpress";
break;
case AppType.Draw:
sapp += "sdraw";
break;
case AppType.Math:
sapp += "smath";
break;
}
PropertyValue pv = new PropertyValue("Hidden", 0, new uno.Any(hidden), PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE);
doc = component.loadComponentFromURL(sapp, "_blank", 0, new PropertyValue[1] { pv });
return true;
}
catch
{
doc = null;
return false;
}
}
#endregion
#region Properties
public List<string> Filters
{
get { return filters; }
}
#endregion
}
}