Programmatically Open Word Document Located in the Computer in C#

Question

I'm using WinForms. I have a form that has a button.

Goal: On button click: Open up a word document. Where the file path is hard coded into the program. I don't want the users to have to locate the word document.

Problem: I receive this error message. When I wrote my code, I get a red error line under 'Application'.

    private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    { 
        this.Application.Documents.Open(@"C:\Test\NewDocument.docx", ReadOnly:true)

    }

Just a wild guess, but are you are missing a field or property called `Application`? — , Sep 28 '15 at 05:47
By the way, if you find that Word does not exit when your program shuts down, it may because of your codes use of _double dot_. _[Never use 2 dots with com objects.](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/158706/how-to-properly-clean-up-excel-interop-objects)_. It deals with Excel but the concept applies with Word. e.g. `Application.Documents.Open()` — , Sep 28 '15 at 05:52

score 27 · Answer 1 · answered May 30 '18 at 22:33

27

Instead of adding interop in your reference, you may also consider to use this:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"C:\Test\NewDocument.docx");

answered May 30 '18 at 22:33

Heisenberg

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I prefer this method. That way, it will open up in any text editor; not necessarily MS Word. – adamjhilton Jan 21 '19 at 16:44
1

I think this should be made as Answer. – OptimusPrime Jan 24 '19 at 19:10
Even better? `using var _ = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"C:\Test\NewDocument.docx");`. – Mike Lowery Mar 25 '22 at 21:25

score 15 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 17 '19 at 19:04

15

first add the dll of Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word to your references then add this:

using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;

and use the following code:

Application ap = new Application(); 
Document document = ap.Documents.Open(@"C:\Test\NewDocument.docx");

edited Nov 17 '19 at 19:04

anhoppe

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answered Sep 28 '15 at 05:49

amit dayama

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I don't know why, but I had to do make word visible using `ap.Visible = true;`. Unless, it opened the document but with a invisible window. – Daniel Bonetti Mar 07 '17 at 05:17
@DanielBonetti Yes, that makes sense. Opening the application only starts the process, but not the interface. It's useful if you're processing Word documents in a way that does not require user interaction (switching format, encoding, etc). If you want to open the Word UI you need to specify it. – Scopperloit May 03 '18 at 12:38
`The type or namespace name 'Application' does not exist in the namespace` – user2924019 May 11 '21 at 14:14

Zhr Saghaie · Answer 3 · 2015-09-28T06:06:46.397

6

This Application is not this.Application it's Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Application.
So you can use this code:

using System;
using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
    // Open a doc file.
    Application application = new Application();
    Document document = application.Documents.Open("C:\\word.doc");

    //Do whatever you want

    // Close word.
    application.Quit();
    }
}

edited Sep 28 '15 at 06:06

answered Sep 28 '15 at 05:54

Zhr Saghaie

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when i use "using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;" I get an error line under Office. Do i have to add something else? @aisa – taji01 Sep 28 '15 at 05:56
It may help you: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16054184/cant-locate-microsoft-office-interop-word-in-reference-list – Zhr Saghaie Sep 28 '15 at 06:08
I was getting an error under (Application) application = new (Application()) and I was also getting an error under (Document) – taji01 Sep 28 '15 at 07:27
Do you add Microsoft Office to your References? – Zhr Saghaie Sep 28 '15 at 07:44
I did. I was still getting an error on those 2 things. @aisa – taji01 Sep 28 '15 at 08:09

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 24 '22 at 09:02

There is a good answer above which is:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"C:\Test\NewDocument.docx");

This should be modified for .Net Core 2 and above to be:

    var p = new Process();
    p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(filename)
    {
       UseShellExecute = true
    };
    p.Start();

Programmatically Open Word Document Located in the Computer in C#

4 Answers4

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