Using MS Word on server

[CMan]

Hi

We have a requirement for a browser based app which needs to be able to
create/print word files, mail merges e.t.c.

How should we approach this? I an assuming that running word on the server
is not a great idea because of threading issues.

Has anyone else done this kind of thing?

Is serializing access to the word component the only way?

Thanks

CMan

 

[Brock Allen]

How should we approach this? I an assuming that running word on the

server is not a great idea because of threading issues.

Word wasn't designed for this. Also, I believe you'll have licensing issues,
since you're supposed to have one for each user of your web app. You'll have
to read the fine print on your EULA.

A different approach is to work with WordML which is the XML format of the
document. Send that back to the browser where they can open their copy of
word and print, etc from the browser.

-Brock
DevelopMentor
http://staff.develop.com/ballen

 

[Mark Rae]

How should we approach this? I an assuming that running word on the server
is not a great idea because of threading issues.

Threading issues would be the least of your worries! Server performance
would very soon grind to a halt with only a relatively small amount of
concurrent users - write yourself a small WinForms app which instantiates
Word, and watch what that does to your PC's memory... Now multiply that by,
say, 25...

Also, you'd probably be in contravention of your Word licensing agreement
unless you could prove that you have as many Word licenses as users of your
site, which I'm assuming you don't.

As has already been suggested, WordML might be the way to go. Failing that,
have a look at this: http://www.aspose.com/Products/Aspose.Word/

 

[John Timney \(ASP.NET MVP\)]

Create a word server, so your web app only puts data in a database and a
windows service or exe reads the data and runs word creation jobs one after
the other.

--
Regards

John Timney
ASP.NET MVP
Microsoft Regional Director

 

[bradley]

Crystal Reports can export to MS Word format. For example, the user can
enter their selection criteria into a form (ex: zip code 50120 and income >
50,000) and Crystal exports the report to a document on the server side,
which can then be opened by the user as a link. I would try to avoid any
implementation that would automate the MS Word application on the client
side or server side.

 

[Steve C. Orr [MVP, MCSD]]

COM automation to Word is not recommended from ASP.NET.

Instead you could use one of these techniques:
http://SteveOrr.net/articles/ExportPanel.aspx
http://SteveOrr.net/Articles/ExcelExport.aspx

If you have more advanced needs, I'd recommend going with a 3rd party
component, such as one of these:
http://www.SteveOrr.net/Reviews/AsposeWord.aspx
http://officewriter.softartisans.com/officewriter-189.aspx

 

[Guest]

Hello!

I see this is an old article but I met with the same problem on last week.
Can you somebody give me some information How I should to start working with
WordML?

I developed an Appl. in ASP.NET Which make some special Word Documents.
Unfortunatly I realized it's not the good way to solve this problem because
of the problems of Server-side Automation of Word.

Now I gotta make this documents with WordML. Is this possible?
How can I do that?

Thaks for your help!

Gabor