How do I locate a Word application window?

Question

I have a VB.net test application that clicks a link that opens the Microsoft Word application window and displays the document. How do I locate the Word application window so that I can grab some text from it?

Answer 1

You can use the Word COM object to open the work document and then you manipulate it. Make sure to add a reference for Microsoft Word first.

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word

Public Class Form1

Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim strFileName As String
Dim wordapp As New Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Application
Dim doc As Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.Document

Try
    doc = wordapp.Documents.Open("c:\testdoc.doc")
    doc.Activate()

Catch ex As COMException

    MessageBox.Show("Error accessing Word document.")

End Try

End Sub

End Class

The doc object is a handle for the instance of Word you have created and you can use all the normal options (save, print etc). You can do likewise with the wordapp. A trick is to use the macro editor in Word to record what you want to do. You can then view this in the Macro Editor. This give you a great starting point for your VB code.

Also, be sure to dispose of the Word COM objects at the end.

Answer 2

I've done something similar with a SourceSafe dialog, which I posted on my blog. Basically, I used either Spy++ or Winspector to find out the window class name, and make Win32 calls to do stuff with the window. I've put the source on my blog: http://harriyott.com/2006/07/sourcesafe-cant-leave-well-alone.aspx

Answer 3

Are you trying to activate the word app? If you want full control, you need to automate word from your vb.net app. Check here for some samples: 1, 2