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How to Extract Text from DOCX

Ahmad Sohail
Ahmad Sohail
Updated:

Text extraction from DOCX files is a common requirement for document processing and data analysis. IronWord provides a straightforward way to read and extract text content from existing DOCX files, allowing you to access paragraphs, tables, and other text elements programmatically.

In this tutorial, the ExtractText() method will be talked about in detail and how it can help access text from various document elements.

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First Step:
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How to Extract Text from DOCX

  1. Download a C# library for extracting text from DOCX
  2. Create a new Word Document
  3. Access and extract text content using ExtractText
  4. Process or export the extracted text

Text Extraction Example

The ExtractText() method allows you to retrieve text content from an entire Word document. In this example, we create a new document, add text to it, extract the text using ExtractText(), and display it in the console. This demonstrates the primary text extraction workflow.

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

// Instantiate a new DOCX file
WordDocument doc = new WordDocument();

// Add text
doc.AddText("Hello, World!");

// Print extracted text from the document to the console
Console.WriteLine(doc.ExtractText());
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
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Output

Code example for basic text extraction

Console Log

Console output showing extracted text

Extract Text from a Paragraph

For more control, you can extract text from specific paragraphs instead of the entire document. By accessing the Paragraphs collection, you can target and process any paragraph you need. In this example, we’ll extract text from the first and last paragraphs, combine them, and save the result to a .txt file.

:path=/static-assets/word/content-code-examples/how-to/extract-text-paragraphs.cs
using IronWord;
using System.IO;

// Load an existing DOCX file
WordDocument doc = new WordDocument("document.docx");

// Extract text and assign variables
string firstParagraph = doc.Paragraphs[0].ExtractText();
string lastParagraph = doc.Paragraphs.Last().ExtractText();

// Combine the texts
string newText = firstParagraph + " " + lastParagraph;

// Export the combined text as a new .txt file
File.WriteAllText("output.txt", newText);
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
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First Paragraph

First paragraph extraction result

Last Paragraph

Last paragraph extraction result

Text File Output

Combined text output in text file

The screenshots above show the first paragraph extraction, last paragraph extraction, and the combined output saved to a text file.

Text Extraction from a Table

Tables often contain structured data that needs to be extracted for processing or analysis. IronWord allows you to access table data by navigating through rows and cells. In this example, we load a document containing an API statistics table and extract a specific cell value from the 4th column of the 2nd row.

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

// Load the API statistics document
WordDocument apiStatsDoc = new WordDocument("api-statistics.docx");

// Extract text from the 1st table, 4th column and 2nd row
string extractedValue = apiStatsDoc.Tables[0].Rows[2].Cells[3].ExtractText();

// Print extracted value
Console.WriteLine($"Target success rate: {extractedValue}");
IRON VB CONVERTER ERROR developers@ironsoftware.com
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Example Table

API statistics table in Word document

Console Log

Extracted table cell value in console

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary method for extracting text from DOCX files in IronWord?

The primary method for extracting text from DOCX files using IronWord is the `ExtractText()` method, which allows you to retrieve text content from various document elements such as paragraphs and tables.

How can I extract text from specific paragraphs using IronWord?

You can extract text from specific paragraphs by accessing the `Paragraphs` collection in IronWord. This allows you to target and process any paragraph you need, providing more control over the text extraction process.

Is it possible to extract data from tables in DOCX documents using IronWord?

Yes, IronWord allows you to extract data from tables by navigating through rows and cells, making it easy to access structured data for processing or analysis.

Can I export the extracted text into a file using IronWord?

Yes, once you extract the text using IronWord, you can process it further and export it into various formats, such as a .txt file, for storage or further use.

What are the steps to start using IronWord for text extraction?

To start using IronWord for text extraction, download the C# library, create a new Word document, use the `ExtractText()` method to access and extract text content, and then process or export the extracted text as needed.

Does IronWord support extracting data from entire DOCX documents?

Yes, IronWord supports extracting data from entire DOCX documents, allowing you to retrieve all text content, including paragraphs and tables, with the `ExtractText()` method.

How does IronWord handle text extraction from a Word document's first and last paragraphs?

IronWord allows you to extract text from specific paragraphs, including the first and last, by accessing them through the `Paragraphs` collection and processing the text as needed.

Is there a way to see the console output of extracted text in IronWord?

Yes, IronWord provides functionality to display extracted text in the console, allowing you to verify the output directly during the extraction process.

How can I extract a specific cell value from a table in a DOCX file using IronWord?

IronWord allows you to extract specific cell values from tables by navigating rows and columns, making it possible to target and retrieve data from any cell within the table.

What kind of text elements can IronWord extract from DOCX files?

IronWord can extract various text elements from DOCX files, including paragraphs, tables, and other text components, providing comprehensive text extraction capabilities.

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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