Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

titaniumdecoy · Jul 13th, 2006, 3:21 PM

I have a MS Word document that I am using as a template. After a test is run, certain parts of the Word document need to be replaced with the test results. For example, there is a section in the Word document that looks similar to:

(Toggle Plain Text)

Test Name
Test Case #
Description of Test
Test Procedure #
...

I can modify the template if neccessary, eg, surround the text that needs to be replaced with angle brackets.

Does anyone know what the best way to modify a Word document in Python is? I have installed the Win32 Extensions for Python, but it is very difficult to figure out how to use. So far the best reference I have found is Automating Word Using the Word Object Model MSDN reference, which helps a little, but the code is in VB/C# and I don't know where some of the objects come from; eg:

(Toggle Plain Text)

object replaceAll = Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll;

Where does the "Word" object come from in the above code? As you can see, I'm having great difficulty figuring this out. Does anyone know where I can find better/more Python-specific documentation?

I read somewhere using Word Macros may be easier. Is this true? If so, how would I go about writing/running a Macro from Python?

Or is there another, easier way to do this?

Here's what I have so far:

(Toggle Plain Text)

import win32com.client

w = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application")

w.Documents.Open(r"C:\Documents and Settings\jboyle\Desktop\python_scripts\ms.doc")

doc = w.ActiveDocument

w.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting()
w.Selection.Find.Text = 'word'
w.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting()
w.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = 'potato'
#w.Selection.Find.Execute( what goes here??? )

w.Quit()

titaniumdecoy · Jul 14th, 2006, 1:33 PM

Thanks for all your help

I finally figured it out myself, thanks mostly to this example.

(Toggle Plain Text)

import os
import win32com.client

app = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application")
app.Visible = 0
app.DisplayAlerts = 0


def search_replace(file, find_str, replace_str):
    app.Documents.Open(file)
    app.Selection.Find.Text = find_str
    found = app.Selection.Find.Execute()
    doc = app.ActiveDocument
    if found:
        app.Selection.TypeText(replace_str)
        doc.Close(SaveChanges=True)
    else:
        doc.Close(SaveChanges=False)
    return found


f = 'C:\path\to\mswordfile.doc'
print search_replace(f, 'meringuay', 'charlie-horse')


app.Quit()

titaniumdecoy · Jul 14th, 2006, 2:44 PM

This function is similar to the last one but instead of replacing only the first instance of the word, it replaces all instances of the word. It uses the extended Find.Execute method (11 arguments in all!) instead.

(Toggle Plain Text)

wdFindContinue = 1
wdReplaceAll = 2

# expression.Execute(FindText, MatchCase, MatchWholeWord,
#   MatchWildcards, MatchSoundsLike, MatchAllWordForms, Forward, 
#   Wrap, Format, ReplaceWith, Replace)

def search_replace_all(file, find_str, replace_str):
    app.Documents.Open(f)
    app.Selection.Find.Execute(find_str, False, False, False, False, False, \
        True, wdFindContinue, False, replace_str, wdReplaceAll)
    app.ActiveDocument.Close(SaveChanges=True)

It can also help to look at recorded Word macros.

Jul 13th, 2006, 3:21 PM	#1
titaniumdecoy Expert Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 855 Rep Power: 3	Reading/Writing Word Documents in Python (with win32com.client?) I have a MS Word document that I am using as a template. After a test is run, certain parts of the Word document need to be replaced with the test results. For example, there is a section in the Word document that looks similar to: (Toggle Plain Text) Test Name Test Case # Description of Test Test Procedure # ... Test Name Test Case # Description of Test Test Procedure # ... I can modify the template if neccessary, eg, surround the text that needs to be replaced with angle brackets. Does anyone know what the best way to modify a Word document in Python is? I have installed the Win32 Extensions for Python, but it is very difficult to figure out how to use. So far the best reference I have found is Automating Word Using the Word Object Model MSDN reference, which helps a little, but the code is in VB/C# and I don't know where some of the objects come from; eg: (Toggle Plain Text) object replaceAll = Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll; object replaceAll = Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll; Where does the "Word" object come from in the above code? As you can see, I'm having great difficulty figuring this out. Does anyone know where I can find better/more Python-specific documentation? I read somewhere using Word Macros may be easier. Is this true? If so, how would I go about writing/running a Macro from Python? Or is there another, easier way to do this? Here's what I have so far: (Toggle Plain Text) import win32com.client w = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application") w.Documents.Open(r"C:\Documents and Settings\jboyle\Desktop\python_scripts\ms.doc") doc = w.ActiveDocument w.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting() w.Selection.Find.Text = 'word' w.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting() w.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = 'potato' #w.Selection.Find.Execute( what goes here??? ) w.Quit() import win32com.client w = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application") w.Documents.Open(r"C:\Documents and Settings\jboyle\Desktop\python_scripts\ms.doc") doc = w.ActiveDocument w.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting() w.Selection.Find.Text = 'word' w.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting() w.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = 'potato' #w.Selection.Find.Execute( what goes here??? ) w.Quit()

Jul 14th, 2006, 1:33 PM	#2
titaniumdecoy Expert Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 855 Rep Power: 3	Thanks for all your help I finally figured it out myself, thanks mostly to this example. (Toggle Plain Text) import os import win32com.client app = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application") app.Visible = 0 app.DisplayAlerts = 0 def search_replace(file, find_str, replace_str): app.Documents.Open(file) app.Selection.Find.Text = find_str found = app.Selection.Find.Execute() doc = app.ActiveDocument if found: app.Selection.TypeText(replace_str) doc.Close(SaveChanges=True) else: doc.Close(SaveChanges=False) return found f = 'C:\path\to\mswordfile.doc' print search_replace(f, 'meringuay', 'charlie-horse') app.Quit() import os import win32com.client app = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.Application") app.Visible = 0 app.DisplayAlerts = 0 def search_replace(file, find_str, replace_str): app.Documents.Open(file) app.Selection.Find.Text = find_str found = app.Selection.Find.Execute() doc = app.ActiveDocument if found: app.Selection.TypeText(replace_str) doc.Close(SaveChanges=True) else: doc.Close(SaveChanges=False) return found f = 'C:\path\to\mswordfile.doc' print search_replace(f, 'meringuay', 'charlie-horse') app.Quit()

Jul 14th, 2006, 2:44 PM	#3
titaniumdecoy Expert Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 855 Rep Power: 3	This function is similar to the last one but instead of replacing only the first instance of the word, it replaces all instances of the word. It uses the extended Find.Execute method (11 arguments in all!) instead. (Toggle Plain Text) wdFindContinue = 1 wdReplaceAll = 2 # expression.Execute(FindText, MatchCase, MatchWholeWord, # MatchWildcards, MatchSoundsLike, MatchAllWordForms, Forward, # Wrap, Format, ReplaceWith, Replace) def search_replace_all(file, find_str, replace_str): app.Documents.Open(f) app.Selection.Find.Execute(find_str, False, False, False, False, False, \ True, wdFindContinue, False, replace_str, wdReplaceAll) app.ActiveDocument.Close(SaveChanges=True) wdFindContinue = 1 wdReplaceAll = 2 # expression.Execute(FindText, MatchCase, MatchWholeWord, # MatchWildcards, MatchSoundsLike, MatchAllWordForms, Forward, # Wrap, Format, ReplaceWith, Replace) def search_replace_all(file, find_str, replace_str): app.Documents.Open(f) app.Selection.Find.Execute(find_str, False, False, False, False, False, \ True, wdFindContinue, False, replace_str, wdReplaceAll) app.ActiveDocument.Close(SaveChanges=True) It can also help to look at recorded Word macros.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

Reading/Writing Word Documents in Python (with win32com.client?)