Convert doc to pdf programmatically with out using WORD / thirdparty tools

Question

Is it possible to convert a doc file to a pdf file programmatically, with out using WORD application/third party tools. Preferably in Delphi XE4. If so, how?

Answer 1

Yes, you can convert .doc/.docx files to .pdf without Word and without third-party controls. The specifications are publically available - [simply] read and parse the .doc/.docx file according to the specification and generate the content according to the .pdf specification.

Here is the specification for MS-DOC (.doc) file format :

MS-DOC Specification (622 pages) -- Word97 through 2007

MS-DOCX Extensions Specification (105 pages) -- Word2010 through 2013

See also - Open Document and OpenXML Format

And the specification for the .pdf format :

PDF Reference (1310 pages)

Really, I think you'll find you probably want to use a third party component...