How Can I Programmatically Convert DOC Files to PDF in C# or VB.NET Without Expensive Software?

Programmatic DOC to PDF Conversion in C# and VB.NET

This article addresses the challenge of converting DOC files to PDF format using C# or VB.NET without relying on costly commercial software.

The Problem: Efficiently converting .doc files to .pdf files programmatically in C# or VB.NET, avoiding expensive third-party libraries.

The Solution:

Method 1: Leveraging Microsoft Word Interop

This approach utilizes the Microsoft Word Interop library to perform the conversion. Note that this requires Microsoft Word to be installed on the system where the code executes.

<code class="language-csharp">// Add reference to Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word

Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Application wordApp = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Application();
wordApp.Visible = false; // Run Word in the background
wordApp.ScreenUpdating = false; // Disable screen updates for faster processing

DirectoryInfo dir = new DirectoryInfo(@"\server\folder"); // Specify the directory containing DOC files
FileInfo[] docFiles = dir.GetFiles("*.doc");

foreach (FileInfo docFile in docFiles)
{
    object filename = (object)docFile.FullName;
    Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Document doc = wordApp.Documents.Open(ref filename);
    object pdfFilename = (object)docFile.FullName.Replace(".doc", ".pdf");
    doc.SaveAs(ref pdfFilename, Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.WdSaveFormat.wdFormatPDF);
    doc.Close();
}

wordApp.Quit();</code>

Method 2: Handling Word 2007 and Later

For Word 2007 and later versions, ensure the necessary references are added to your project. The core conversion logic remains the same as Method 1.

Method 3: Iterating Through Pages (Illustrative Example)

The following code snippet demonstrates page iteration (relevant for image extraction, not directly PDF conversion). It's included for completeness but is not directly related to the main problem.

<code class="language-csharp">foreach (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Page page in pane.Pages) // 'pane' needs to be defined in context
{
    // ... code to convert page to image ...
}</code>

Remember to handle potential exceptions (e.g., file not found, Word not installed) for robust error handling. This approach offers a cost-effective solution for programmatic DOC to PDF conversion, provided Microsoft Word is available. Consider alternatives like free, open-source libraries if Word is unavailable or licensing is a significant concern.

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