Extract Tables from Microsoft Office Word Documents Leave feedback

How Table Extraction Works

GroupDocs.Parser converts a document’s layout into a structured XML format. Tables are represented by <table> tags within this XML. The extraction process involves reading this XML structure to identify and process table content.

Warning
GetStructure method returns null value if text structure extraction isn’t supported for the document. For example, text structure extraction isn’t supported for TXT files. Therefore, for TXT file GetStructure method returns null. If Microsoft Office Word document has no text, GetStructure method returns an empty XmlReader object.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create a Parser Instance

Begin by initializing the Parser with your document path.

using (Parser parser = new Parser("YourDocument.docx"))
{
    // Extraction code goes here
}

2. Retrieve Document Structure

Get the XML representation of the document’s structure.

using (XmlReader reader = parser.GetStructure())
{
    if (reader == null)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Text structure extraction isn't supported for this document.");
        return;
    }
    // Process the XML structure
}

3. Find and Process Tables

Iterate through the XML to locate and process table elements.

while (reader.Read())
{
    // Look for table start elements
    if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "table")
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Found a table:");
        ProcessTable(reader);
    }
}

4. Table Processing Method

This method handles the extraction of rows and cells from each table.

private static void ProcessTable(XmlReader reader)
{
    StringBuilder cellValue = new StringBuilder();
    int rowIndex = 0;

    while (reader.Read())
    {
        // Exit when table ends
        if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.EndElement && reader.Name == "table")
        {
            break;
        }

        // Detect new rows
        if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "tr")
        {
            rowIndex++;
            Console.WriteLine($"[Row {rowIndex}]");
        }

        // Reset cell value at cell start
        if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "td")
        {
            cellValue.Clear();
        }

        // Output cell value at cell end
        if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.EndElement && reader.Name == "td")
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"  {cellValue}");
        }

        // Accumulate cell text content
        if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Text)
        {
            cellValue.Append(reader.Value);
        }
    }
}

Complete Example

Here’s a complete working example that extracts and displays tables from a Word document:

using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;
using GroupDocs.Parser;

public static class WordTableExtractor
{
    public static void ExtractTables(string filePath)
    {
        using (Parser parser = new Parser(filePath))
        {
            using (XmlReader reader = parser.GetStructure())
            {
                if (reader == null)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Text structure extraction isn't supported for this document.");
                    return;
                }

                Console.WriteLine($"Analyzing: {filePath}");
                Console.WriteLine("----------------------------------------");

                while (reader.Read())
                {
                    if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "table")
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("\n>>> TABLE FOUND");
                        ProcessTable(reader);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    private static void ProcessTable(XmlReader reader)
    {
        StringBuilder cellValue = new StringBuilder();
        int rowIndex = 0;

        while (reader.Read())
        {
            if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.EndElement && reader.Name == "table")
            {
                break;
            }

            if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "tr")
            {
                rowIndex++;
                Console.WriteLine($"[Row {rowIndex}]");
            }

            if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element && reader.Name == "td")
            {
                cellValue.Clear();
            }

            if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.EndElement && reader.Name == "td")
            {
                Console.WriteLine($"  {cellValue}");
            }

            if (reader.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Text)
            {
                cellValue.Append(reader.Value);
            }
        }
    }
}

More resources

GitHub examples

You may easily run the code above and see the feature in action in our GitHub examples:

Free online document parser App

Along with full featured .NET library we provide simple, but powerful free Apps.

You are welcome to parse documents and extract data from PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, Emails and more with our free online Free Online Document Parser App.

We value your opinion. Your feedback will help us improve our documentation.