AutoIt and doc files wi/out M$ Office?

[falconv]

I'm trying to use AutoIt to edit/make .doc files. Pretty much all I need is to have a little section bolded, but also the output file needs to be in .doc format. Is there a way to do this? Without opening M$ Word itself. I'd like to be able to do it in a GUI window. I haven't figured out how to use DllCall yet, will that help me at all? Thanks in advance.

[DaleHohm]

I'm trying to use AutoIt to edit/make .doc files.  Pretty much all I need is to have a little section bolded, but also the output file needs to be in .doc format.  Is there a way to do this?  Without opening M$ Word itself.  I'd like to be able to do it in a GUI window.  I haven't figured out how to use DllCall yet, will that help me at all?  Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you saying you don't want to OPEN Word or that you don't HAVE Word? If you don't have it it is obviously much more complicated and would depend on the version of Word and other issues.

If you have Word and just don't want to work inside its GUI, I'd suggest that you look into the new V3.1.1++ from the developer forum and use the ObjCreate COM function and use the Word object model to open a document without making it visible, make your changes and then save it back out again.

Dale

[falconv]

Sorry for the delayed response, wasn't online over the weekend.

Yes, I have word, I just want to be able to keep my script all-inclusive (so the user doesn't have to bother with editing in Word, and then switching back to the script). The easier (rather, "dumber," no offense) the better

I'll download 3.1.1 now and research the ObjCreate COM function. Is there documentation on this already? or will I need to ask a lot of questions in the developer forum?

Thanks again!

[DaleHohm]

There is COM interface documentation in the Help file and there is a lot of discussion and examples being shared in the Developer forum.

Please note that the COM interface simply lets you access the application-specific functionality through its API... you'll want to check out MSDN and books on Office VBA etc. for the gory details. Most examples you find in VBSctipt or VBA can readily be translated into AutoIt.

Dale

[falconv]

Well, it took me nearly two weeks, but I finally think I'm beginning to grasp the concepts here!

I was able to successfully create a new word document, have it type some text, some in normal some in bold, save the file, and exit the program. I've done it both while watching, and hidden. It's quite nice

Here's an example of my script, for anyone else wanting to learn how to control Word documents, or other ObjCreate capable programs:

$word = ObjCreate("Word.Application")
$word.visible = False
$word.Documents.Add
$word.Selection.TypeText( "this is a " )
$word.Selection.Font.Bold = True
$word.Selection.TypeText( "test" )
$word.Selection.Font.Bold = False
$word.Selection.TypeText( "." )
$word.ChangeFileOpenDirectory( @DesktopDir )
$word.Activedocument.SaveAs( "test.doc" )
$word.Application.Quit

And if you want to watch, just change $word.visible = False to True

A great way to get the commands is to use Word (or Excel, or whatever program you're using) to create a macro, copy/paste it, put $word. before the commands (or whatever your string is called). It takes some cropping, and a lot of adjusting (and it took me a long time to figure out what to replace, ie for $word.Selection.Font.Bold, it was originally wdToggle, it took a while to figure out that it's either True or False).

Does anyone know if there's a list somewhere I can find the commands, and maybe even short descriptions of them? so I can create from scratch rather than making a macro and ripping/translating.

Also, is there anything like this for Outlook? Sorry to change topic a little, but I'd imagine Outlook would have something similar, but it doesn't have a Macro Record option, so I can't make macros and try to translate them or anything.

Thanks again for all the help! This program just keeps getting cooler and cooler!

[DaleHohm]

Nice job!

You've opened the door to brand new possibilities...

Regarding the application enumerations (e.g. wdToggle) see here:

Get Enumerated constants...

Regarding the object models for other office applications, go to http://www.msdn.com and search for "Outlook.Application" to find the object model for Outlook and other applications. Google for CreateObject("Outlook.Application") to find lots of other examples and discussions.

Dale