6

I am a bit confused about WOPI host and WOPI client. Can anyone tell me exactly the meaning of above 2 terms. I want to know what exactly means WOPI host (either my web application or a WOPI server on Microsoft side) and same for WOPI client.

rocky
  • 7,506
  • 3
  • 33
  • 48
user2846382
  • 385
  • 1
  • 3
  • 16

1 Answers1

12

WOPI host = WOPI server = a web API that serves files to WOPI client

WOPI client = an application that is able to edit files served by WOPI host

The two communicate via MS-WOPI protocol that is described here.

Example implementations:

  • WOPI host - SharePoint
  • WOPI client - Office Web Apps (Office Online Server)

A typical scenario is that you want to enable your application to edit files in Word/Excel... In that case, you need to implement a WOPI host - an endpoint which the WOPI client (OWA) will talk to. Implementing such a host is described here. You can take a look at existing projects on GitHub - marx-yu's implementation using HttpListener, or mine using ASP.NET Core 3.1.

rocky
  • 7,506
  • 3
  • 33
  • 48
  • thanks for the answer. I would like to know one more thing about that Lock request, There is nothing defined in Lock endpoint implementation document on http://wopi.readthedocs.io/projects/wopirest/en/latest/files/Lock.html What should this request generate ? Any random string or what ? – user2846382 Jun 24 '16 at 07:52
  • A random string that is within the following boundaries: http://wopi.readthedocs.io/projects/wopirest/en/latest/concepts.html#lock-length – rocky Jun 24 '16 at 08:43
  • Got it boss!! Thanks. :) – user2846382 Jun 24 '16 at 09:49
  • Hi Rocky, that was a very good answer. I just want to ask that Is is possible to implement WOPI host in Node.js? Thank you in anticipation. – Eesa Aug 21 '16 at 06:34
  • I saw you submitted a separate question. Check out my answer there: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/39062025/wopi-host-implementation-in-nodejs/39186295#39186295 – rocky Aug 27 '16 at 22:20
  • Hi, rocky, could you give me some suggestions about this (problem)[https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60540105/how-to-let-office-online-own-the-style-of-view-mode] Thanks. – xyz Mar 11 '20 at 01:57
  • @rocky is Office Web Apps free of cost? – Mahadev Mandale Oct 11 '21 at 08:39
  • Afaik, it's only free for viewing docs, not editing. The full licensing terms can be found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/licensing/how-to-license-office-web-apps-server – rocky Oct 12 '21 at 06:51
  • For Office Online Server (a newer version of OWA), see this: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeonlineserver/office-online-server – rocky Oct 12 '21 at 06:54