How to open file .doc use "Word" app on Xamarin Forms?

Question

Use Xamarin Forms and on iOS, how to check and open Word app when Open file by UrL? Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/integration/integrate-with-office-from-ios-applications

This is my code, it isn't work:

Device.OpenUri(new Uri("ms-word:ofe|u|https://calibre-ebook.com/downloads/demos/demo.docx"));

Please help me! Thanks!

You need a dependency service for this its not a xamarin forms thing! — FreakyAli, Nov 22 '18 at 12:05
I guess [this](https://wopi.readthedocs.io/projects/officewopi/en/latest/overview.html) guide here has necessary information. — FreakyAli, Nov 22 '18 at 12:43
I only want that view file .doc on external app ("Word" app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-word/id586447913?mt=8). May be your solution don't fit with me. — Huu Bao Nguyen, Nov 22 '18 at 15:25
I find a answer is same with your answer https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51494932/open-a-word-doc-from-my-ios-application-and-edit-it-in-msword-app-and-get-the-ed But you don't want "edit" file, Do you only want "view" file .docx with Word app?when open it to your app. — , Nov 22 '18 at 16:04

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 23 '18 at 06:51

What you are asking here can be done using a simple WebView in iOS:

First, create a custom WebView class that allows you to pick file uri:

public class CustomWebView : WebView
{
    public static readonly BindableProperty UriProperty = BindableProperty.Create(propertyName: "Uri",
            returnType: typeof(string),
            declaringType: typeof(CustomWebView),
            defaultValue: default(string));

    public string Uri
    {
        get { return (string)GetValue(UriProperty); }
        set { SetValue(UriProperty, value); }
    }

}

Then in ios make a renderer for the same and do something like this:

  [assembly: ExportRenderer (typeof(CustomWebView), typeof(CustomWebViewRenderer))]
  namespace DisplayPDF.iOS
 {
   public class CustomWebViewRenderer : ViewRenderer<CustomWebView, UIWebView>
  {
    protected override void OnElementChanged (ElementChangedEventArgs<CustomWebView> e)
    {
        base.OnElementChanged (e);

        if (Control == null) {
            SetNativeControl (new UIWebView ());
        }
        if (e.OldElement != null) {
            // Cleanup
        }
        if (e.NewElement != null) {
            var customWebView = Element as CustomWebView;
            string fileName = Path.Combine (NSBundle.MainBundle.BundlePath, string.Format ("Content/{0}", WebUtility.UrlEncode (customWebView.Uri)));
            Control.LoadRequest (new NSUrlRequest (new NSUrl (fileName, false)));
            Control.ScalesPageToFit = true;
          }
       }
   }
}

Then use the custom control like this:

 <local:CustomWebView Uri="FooPath" HorizontalOptions="FillAndExpand" VerticalOptions="FillAndExpand" />

Where FooPath is the path for the doc file.

Tried this code, but pdf/word files not opening. Showing `NSURLConnection finished with error - code -110`. — Sreejith Sree, Apr 01 '20 at 04:26

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 26 '18 at 16:29

I have solution for my project, I try it:

If you only open file .docx on iOS, you could write code at Share Code of iOS:

Check device of user has setup app (Word, Excel, PP, etc...)

public static bool HasSetupAppDocument(string extension)
{
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(extension))
        return false;

    // Device has setup app?
    var result = UIApplication.SharedApplication.CanOpenUrl(NSUrl.FromString($"{extension}"));
    return result;
}

(Ex: extension is ms-word: or ms-excel: or ms-excel:

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/client-developer/integration/integrate-with-office-from-ios-applications#office-protocols)

Notes: Add source to Info.plist:

<key>LSApplicationQueriesSchemes</key>
<array>
     <string>ms-word</string>
     <string>ms-excel</string>
     <string>ms-powerpoint</string>
</array>

At Class Dependencies, open file with URL:

Device.OpenUri(new Uri($"{convertExtension}{url}"));

Note: url is link file share on Onedrive and Be sure that account Onedrive as same as account login Word app (if you had set security).

If file has mode Read-only, app Word will open file with mode Read-only.

How to open file .doc use "Word" app on Xamarin Forms?

2 Answers2