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How to Edit Text in a Word Document

Ahmad Sohail
Ahmad Sohail
Updated:

Editing text in Word documents is crucial for content updates and maintaining documents. IronWord provides direct access to paragraph text runs, allowing precise modifications to existing DOCX content programmatically.

This tutorial demonstrates how to edit text in DOCX files using C# and IronWord.

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How to Edit Text in a Word Document

  1. Download a C# library for programmatic access to Word Documents
  2. Load an existing DOCX file which needs to be updated
  3. Navigate and identify the text content requiring changes
  4. Modify the selected text via the Texts array
  5. Export the DOCX file for later use

Edit Text Example

To edit text in a Word document, load the existing file and access the target paragraph. The paragraph exposes a Texts array, and Texts[0] property references the first text run within that paragraph. Text runs are segments of text with consistent formatting.

TipsIf a paragraph contains multiple formatting styles, each distinct segment is a separate text run.

:path=/static-assets/word/content-code-examples/how-to/edit-text-simple.cs
using IronWord;

// Load a DOCX document
WordDocument doc = new WordDocument("raw_document.docx");

// Edit existing text on the first paragraph
doc.Paragraphs[0].Texts[0].Text = "First paragraph is updated successfully";

// Export docx
doc.SaveAs("edited_document.docx");
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Before Modification

Document before text modification

After Modification

Document after text modification

Edit Specific Text Run

When a paragraph contains multiple text runs with different formatting, you can target specific runs using array indexing. Text runs use zero-based indexing, where Texts[0] is the first run, Texts[1] is the second, and so on. In this example, we target the second text run of the fourth paragraph using Paragraphs[3].Texts[1].

:path=/static-assets/word/content-code-examples/how-to/edit-text-text-run.cs
using IronWord;

// Load the document
WordDocument doc = new WordDocument("text_document.docx");

// Edit second text run in the 4th paragraph
doc.Paragraphs[3].Texts[1].Text = "Edited the textrun successfully within the same paragraph";

// Save to the same file
doc.SaveAs("text_document.docx");
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Before Modification

Document before text run modification

After Modification

Document after text run modification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IronWord?

IronWord is a powerful C# library designed for manipulating DOCX files, allowing users to edit and modify text in Word documents programmatically.

How can I edit text in a DOCX file using IronWord?

To edit text in a DOCX file using IronWord, load the existing file, identify the paragraph containing the text you want to modify, and use the `Texts` array to make changes before exporting the updated file.

What are text runs in a Word document?

Text runs are segments of text within a paragraph that maintain consistent formatting. Each paragraph can have multiple text runs, especially if different formatting styles are applied.

How do I target a specific text run in a paragraph using IronWord?

You can target specific text runs using zero-based indexing. For example, to edit the second text run in the fourth paragraph, use `Paragraphs[3].Texts[1]`.

What is the importance of editing text in Word documents?

Editing text in Word documents is essential for updating content and maintaining the accuracy and relevance of documents.

Can IronWord handle multiple formatting styles within a paragraph?

Yes, IronWord can handle multiple formatting styles within a paragraph by treating each distinct segment as a separate text run, which can be individually accessed and modified.

Is it possible to programmatically access Word documents with C#?

Yes, you can programmatically access and manipulate Word documents using C# with the help of libraries like IronWord.

Ahmad Sohail
Ahmad Sohail
  Chat with engineering team now
Full Stack Developer

Ahmad is a full-stack developer with a strong foundation in C#, Python, and web technologies. He has a deep interest in building scalable software solutions and enjoys exploring how design and functionality meet in real-world applications.

Before joining the Iron Software team, Ahmad worked on automation projects ...

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