MSWordDocument component: FAQ

MSWordDocument component: FAQ
Q1	How can I extract a text from doc-file?
Q2	I want to display a Summary Information. How can I do it?
Q3	What is a ConvertSysCharacters property?
Q4	How can I apply the updated version?
Q5	I downloaded a trial package but only first 30Kb of text is extracted from doc-file. I need a full text. What can I do?
Q6	Can I create a doc-file using your component?

Question:
How can I extract a text from doc-file?

Answer:
TMSWordDocument component have an Execute method. Call this method when you specified a correct document to FileName property.

After that you may read parsed text using PlainText property.

For example, to extract a text from C:\My Documents\Data_2002.doc file and load it in Memo1 component:

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  MSWordDocument.FileName := 'C:\My Documents\Data_2002.doc';
  MSWordDocument.Execute;
  Memo1.Lines.Assign(MSWordDocument.PlainText);
end;

go top

Question:
I want to display a Summary Information. How can I do it?

Answer:
When document is processed (using Execute method), you may read parsed SummaryInformation and process it as you like. For example, to display in ListView1 the Title, Subject and LastSaved properties:

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  MSWordDocument.FileName := 'C:\My Documents\Data_2002.doc';
  MSWordDocument.Execute;

  with ListView1.Items.Add do
  begin
    Caption := 'Title';
    SubItems.Add(MSWordDocument.SummaryInformation.Title)
  end;
  with ListView1.Items.Add do
  begin
    Caption := 'Subject';
    SubItems.Add(MSWordDocument.SummaryInformation.Subject)
  end;
  with ListView1.Items.Add do
  begin
    Caption := 'Last saved';
    SubItems.Add(DateToStr(MSWordDocument.SummaryInformation.LastSaved))
  end;
end;

go top

Question:
What is a ConvertSysCharacters property?

Answer:
Extracted plain text can contain some system characters. For example, Chr(13) is a new line, Chr(15) is a new page etc

If you'll set ConvertSysCharacters property in True, all such characters will be removed and replaced with correct correspondent character (for example, Chr(13) will be replaced by Chr(13)+Chr(10))

If you don't want such intellectual behaviour for TMSWordDocument, just set ConvertSysCharacters property in False and you'll receive an original text contents

go top

Question:
How can I apply the updated version?

Answer:
You must apply it in two steps:

1. uninstall a previous version

run a Delphi IDE
select Close All from File menu
select Install Packages item from Component menu
select a package in listbox which you want to uninstall
press Remove button

2. install a new version from sources

select Open item from File menu
change the FileType to package source (*.dpk/*.bpk)
select the package file from folder where you unzipped files
in the package window press the Install button
after compile in the palette on SMComponents page you can find the components

IMPORTANT:
you must check that folder name with previous version is removed from search path of Delphi/C++Builder IDE and your project. To check it you can in:

Tools\Environment Options\Library\Library path
Project\Options\Directories and Conditionals\Search path

There you must have a folder with new version but not with previous.

go top

Question:
I downloaded a trial package but only first 30Kb of text is extracted from doc-file. I need a full text. What can I do?

Answer:
This is a limitation of trial package. When you'll order a registered version, you'll recieve another package where any limitations are removed.

Only registered version allow to extract a full text from document

go top

Question:
Can I create a doc-file using your component?

Answer:
Current version of TMSWordDocument component allow to read document only. Now you can't create (or modify) doc-file.

Such feature is in our TO-DO list so in future we'll add such possibility

go top

January 10, 2005