New resources--using Office Open XML in apps for Word

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The JavaScript API for Office (Office.js) provides a way for developers to manipulate rich content in a Microsoft Word document by using Office Open XML. This blog post highlights a recently published MSDN article, Creating Better Apps for Word with Office Open XML, that shows how to use Office Open XML in the Office.js API in an app for Office.

Are you building apps for Office to run in Word or even just exploring the possibilities? If so, this post brings you good news!

You might already know that using Office Open XML with the JavaScript API for Office can add a lot of power and possibilities to your apps for Word. But now there’s a new white paper and related code samples to help you take advantage of those possibilities, whether you’re just getting started with Office Open XML for use in apps for Word or ready to take your work with it to the next level.

NOTE: Not familiar with Office Open XML? The Office Open XML Formats are the primary file format language (first introduced in Office 2007) for Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and (as of Office 2013) Visio. The Office Open XML File Formats are an open document standard, so you can learn more about them in general and check out the complete file format documentation here: Standard ECMA-376 .

We’ve heard a lot from apps for Office developers who are excited about what you can do with Office Open XML in apps for Word. But if you’re like many, you might be seeing Office Open XML markup for the first time—and we’ve heard from many of you that the volume of markup you get when you extract the Office Open XML for a document can seem overwhelming. So this paper introduces several examples of what you can do in apps for Word using Office Open XML with Office.js, shows you how to get it done, and helps you understand and simplify all that markup.

  • Check out hands-on examples in the paper and related, downloadable code samples to see how you can insert a variety of rich content types into a document (including pictures, charts, tables, diagrams, and more).
  • Get a detailed walkthrough of the core Office Open XML markup elements that you need to insert most any type of available content via your app, and learn how to create the minimal markup required for inserting the content you need.
  • Explore the code and the markup that you need to insert content both at the active selection in the document and at designated locations (that is, using the Office.js bindings object).
  • Get a code sample that you can use as a scratch pad for testing your own edited Office Open XML markup.

Ready to get started? Get the paper here: Creating Better Apps for Word with Office Open XML.

Use the following links to go directly to the code samples that demonstrate some of the techniques explained in the article:

Today’s blog post was authored by Stephanie Krieger. Stephanie is a Microsoft Office MVP and the author of three books on advanced Microsoft Office content creation and extensibility. As a professional document consultant, she specializes in developing custom solutions for Microsoft Office content and teaches clients to build great content by helping them understand how Microsoft Office programs “think.”