Docx Manipulation
Create, edit, and manipulate Word documents programmatically using python-docx
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# DOCX Manipulation Skill
## Overview
This skill enables programmatic creation, editing, and manipulation of Microsoft Word (.docx) documents using the **python-docx** library. Create professional documents with proper formatting, styles, tables, and images without manual editing.
## How to Use
1. Describe what you want to create or modify in a Word document
2. Provide any source content (text, data, images)
3. I'll generate python-docx code and execute it
**Example prompts:**
- "Create a professional report with title, headings, and a table"
- "Add a header and footer to this document"
- "Generate a contract document with placeholders"
- "Convert this markdown content to a styled Word document"
## Domain Knowledge
### python-docx Fundamentals
```python
from docx import Document
from docx.shared import Inches, Pt, Cm
from docx.enum.text import WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH
from docx.enum.style import WD_STYLE_TYPE
# Create new document
doc = Document()
# Or open existing
doc = Document('existing.docx')
```
### Document Structure
```
Document
├── sections (margins, orientation, size)
├── paragraphs (text with formatting)
├── tables (rows, cells, merged cells)
├── pictures (inline images)
└── styles (predefined formatting)
```
### Adding Content
#### Paragraphs & Headings
```python
# Add heading (level 0-9)
doc.add_heading('Main Title', level=0)
doc.add_heading('Section Title', level=1)
# Add paragraph
para = doc.add_paragraph('Normal text here')
# Add styled paragraph
doc.add_paragraph('Note: Important!', style='Intense Quote')
# Add with inline formatting
para = doc.add_paragraph()
para.add_run('Bold text').bold = True
para.add_run(' and ')
para.add_run('italic text').italic = True
```
#### Tables
```python
# Create table
table = doc.add_table(rows=3, cols=3)
table.style = 'Table Grid'
# Add content
table.cell(0, 0).text = 'Header 1'
table.rows[0].cells[1].text = 'Header 2'
# Add row dynamically
row = table.add_row()
row.cells[0].text = 'New data'
# Merge cells
a = table.cell(0, 0)
b = table.cell(0, 2)
a.merge(b)
```
#### Images
```python
# Add image with size
doc.add_picture('image.png', width=Inches(4))
# Add to specific paragraph
para = doc.add_paragraph()
run = para.add_run()
run.add_picture('logo.png', width=Inches(1.5))
```
### Formatting
#### Paragraph Formatting
```python
from docx.enum.text import WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH
from docx.shared import Pt, Inches
para = doc.add_paragraph('Formatted text')
para.alignment = WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH.CENTER
para.paragraph_format.line_spacing = 1.5
para.paragraph_format.space_after = Pt(12)
para.paragraph_format.first_line_indent = Inches(0.5)
```
#### Character Formatting
```python
run = para.add_run('Styled text')
run.bold = True
run.italic = True
run.underline = True
run.font.name = 'Arial'
run.font.size = Pt(14)
run.font.color.rgb = RGBColor(0x00, 0x00, 0xFF) # Blue
```
#### Page Setup
```python
from docx.enum.section import WD_ORIENT
from docx.shared import Inches
section = doc.sections[0]
section.page_width = Inches(11)
section.page_height = Inches(8.5)
section.orientation = WD_ORIENT.LANDSCAPE
section.left_margin = Inches(1)
section.right_margin = Inches(1)
```
### Headers & Footers
```python
section = doc.sections[0]
# Header
header = section.header
header.paragraphs[0].text = "Company Name"
header.paragraphs[0].alignment = WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH.CENTER
# Footer with page numbers
footer = section.footer
para = footer.paragraphs[0]
para.text = "Page "
# Add page number field
run = para.add_run()
fldChar1 = OxmlElement('w:fldChar')
fldChar1.set(qn('w:fldCharType'), 'begin')
run._r.append(fldChar1)
# ... (field code for page number)
```
### Styles
```python
# Use built-in styles
doc.add_paragraph('Heading', style='Heading 1')
doc.add_paragraph('Quote', style='Quote')
doc.add_paragraph('List item', style='List Bullet')
# Common styles:
# - 'Normal', 'Heading 1-9', 'Title', 'Subtitle'
# - 'Quote', 'Intense Quote', 'List Bullet', 'List Number'
# - 'Table Grid', 'Light Shading', 'Medium Grid 1'
```
## Best Practices
1. **Structure First**: Plan document hierarchy before coding
2. **Use Styles**: Consistent formatting via styles, not manual formatting
3. **Save Often**: Call `doc.save()` periodically for large documents
4. **Handle Errors**: Check file existence before opening
5. **Clean Up**: Remove template placeholders after filling
## Common Patterns
### Report Template
```python
def create_report(title, sections):
doc = Document()
doc.add_heading(title, 0)
doc.add_paragraph(f'Generated: {datetime.now()}')
for section_title, content in sections.items():
doc.add_heading(section_title, 1)
doc.add_paragraph(content)
return doc
```
### Table from Data
```python
def add_data_table(doc, headers, rows):
table = doc.add_table(rows=1, cols=len(headers))
table.style = 'Table Grid'
# Headers
for i, header in enumerate(headers):
table.rows[0].cells[i].text = header
table.rows[0].cells[i].paragraphs[0].runs[0].bold = True
# Data rows
for row_data in rows:
row = table.add_row()
for i, value in enumerate(row_data):
row.cells[i].text = str(value)
return table
```
### Mail Merge Pattern
```python
def fill_template(template_path, replacements):
doc = Document(template_path)
for para in doc.paragraphs:
for key, value in replacements.items():
if f'{{{key}}}' in para.text:
para.text = para.text.replace(f'{{{key}}}', value)
return doc
```
## Examples
### Example 1: Create a Business Letter
```python
from docx import Document
from docx.shared import Inches, Pt
from docx.enum.text import WD_ALIGN_PARAGRAPH
from datetime import datetime
doc = Document()
# Letterhead
doc.add_paragraph('ACME Corporation')
doc.add_paragraph('123 Business Ave, Suite 100')
doc.add_paragraph('New York, NY 10001')
doc.add_paragraph()
# Date
doc.add_paragraph(datetime.now().strftime('%B %d, %Y'))
doc.add_paragraph()
# Recipient
doc.add_paragraph('Mr. John Smith')
doc.add_paragraph('XYZ Company')
doc.add_paragraph('456 Industry Blvd')
doc.add_paragraph('Chicago, IL 60601')
doc.add_paragraph()
# Salutation
doc.add_paragraph('Dear Mr. Smith,')
doc.add_paragraph()
# Body
body = """We are pleased to inform you that your proposal has been accepted...
[Letter body continues...]
Thank you for your continued partnership."""
for para_text in body.split('\n\n'):
doc.add_paragraph(para_text)
doc.add_paragraph()
doc.add_paragraph('Sincerely,')
doc.add_paragraph()
doc.add_paragraph()
doc.add_paragraph('Jane Doe')
doc.add_paragraph('CEO, ACME Corporation')
doc.save('business_letter.docx')
```
### Example 2: Create a Report with Table
```python
from docx import Document
from docx.shared import Inches
doc = Document()
doc.add_heading('Q4 Sales Report', 0)
# Executive Summary
doc.add_heading('Executive Summary', 1)
doc.add_paragraph('Q4 2024 showed strong growth across all regions...')
# Sales Table
doc.add_heading('Regional Performance', 1)
table = doc.add_table(rows=1, cols=4)
table.style = 'Medium Grid 1 Accent 1'
headers = ['Region', 'Q3 Sales', 'Q4 Sales', 'Growth']
for i, header in enumerate(headers):
table.rows[0].cells[i].text = header
data = [
['North America', '$1.2M', '$1.5M', '+25%'],
['Europe', '$800K', '$950K', '+18%'],
['Asia Pacific', '$600K', '$750K', '+25%'],
]
for row_data in data:
row = table.add_row()
for i, value in enumerate(row_data):
row.cells[i].text = value
doc.save('sales_report.docx')
```
## Limitations
- Cannot execute macros or VBA code
- Complex templates may lose some formatting
- Limited support for advanced features (SmartArt, Charts)
- No direct PDF conversion (use separate tool)
- Track changes reading is limited
## Installation
```bash
pip install python-docx
```
## Resources
- [python-docx Documentation](https://python-docx.readthedocs.io/)
- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/python-openxml/python-docx)
- [Office Open XML Spec](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/open-xml/open-xml-sdk)Related Skills
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