Create Word document from template

[asedt]

Hi

I have a Word document that I will use as a template, i need to replace words in the document like replace "<NameField >" with a name and so on. And save the new Word file on anoter place.

I'm working with VB 2005 starting with a windows application template. (Windows Forms)

I have looked into some stuff, like Visual Studio Tools for Office, i but i need guidelines, i'm stuck reading about PIA's and stuff.

Any help is appreciated.

[asedt]

I was first thinking that you maybe can do ths with a macro. And the only need to run the macro from the application.

I have the values that i want in the word file in a text file like:

<NameField>
My name

So a small macro for replacing and a way to call it from my program will maybe work.

[Curtis Rutland]

I think that you should be able to do this with Interop:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316384

[asedt]

Ok i have solved some parts, maybe not the best way but it works.

First i added the reference for Word 11 (Interop.Word 8.3.0.0)

To start word i use:

Dim WDApp As Word.Application
WDApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
WDApp.Visible = False

or

Dim WDApp As Word.Application
WDApp = New Word.Application()
WDApp.Visible = False

Dunno the difference...

Then to create a word documet from template:

        WDApp.Documents.Add(Template:="C:\template.dot", Visible:=False)

And after that to save as and quit:

WDApp.Documents.Item(1).SaveAs("C:\newdoc.doc")

WDApp.Quit()
WDApp = Nothing

Ok then i also need to do som replacing in the word document:

WordApp.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting()
WordApp.Selection.Find.Text = "<Replaceme>"
WordApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting()
WordApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = "NewText"
WordApp.Selection.Find.Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll, Forward:=True, Wrap:=Word.WdFindWrap.wdFindContinue)

This worked when i when i tried.

But the i dicided to try put it in a sub:

Private Sub Replace(ByRef WordApp As Word.Application, ByVal OLDText As String, ByVal NEWText As String)
        WordApp.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting()
        WordApp.Selection.Find.Text = OLDText
        WordApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting()
        WordApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = NEWText
        WordApp.Selection.Find.Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll, Forward:=True, Wrap:=Word.WdFindWrap.wdFindContinue)
    End Sub

Replace(WDApp, "<Replace ME>", "New Text")

It worked on my developer computer, but when i tested on a target system i got this error message:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
  at VSTO.Form1.Replace(Application& WordApp, String OLDText, String NEWText)

I have problem soliving this, do i use the ByRef corectly for WordApp? Can anyone help me with this? thx

[asedt]

Hmm i don't get this to work. I tried witout the sub, becaus I was thinking it was what creating the problem.

WDApp.Selection.Find.ClearFormatting()
WDApp.Selection.Find.Text = "<OLDText>"
WDApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.ClearFormatting    ()
WDApp.Selection.Find.Replacement.Text = "NEWText"
WDApp.Selection.Find.Execute(Replace:=Word.WdReplace.wdReplaceAll, Forward:=True, Wrap:=Word.WdFindWrap.wdFindContinue)

But i still get the same problem on the target system, but not at my developer machine, :((

So do anyone know how to replace stuff in a Word document?, do I do it wrong? I think i copied my code from a msdn page abaut VSTO ("How to: Search for and Replace Text in Documents)