Python‑docx Guide: Extract, Create, and Manipulate Word Documents

This guide shows how to work with Microsoft Word files using the python-docx library, covering common tasks such as extracting text, creating documents, modifying content, and customizing layout.

Extract all text from a Word document from docx import Document def extract_text_from_docx(docx_path): doc = Document(docx_path) return '\n'.join([para.text for para in doc.paragraphs]) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' text = extract_text_from_docx(docx_path) print(text)

Create a new Word document and add text from docx import Document def create_new_docx_with_text(file_path, text): doc = Document() doc.add_paragraph(text) doc.save(file_path) file_path = 'path/to/new_document.docx' text = "Hello, this is a new document." create_new_docx_with_text(file_path, text)

Replace text in a Word document from docx import Document def replace_text_in_docx(docx_path, old_text, new_text): doc = Document(docx_path) for paragraph in doc.paragraphs: if old_text in paragraph.text: inline = paragraph.runs for i in range(len(inline)): if old_text in inline[i].text: text = inline[i].text.replace(old_text, new_text) inline[i].text = text doc.save(docx_path) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' replace_text_in_docx(docx_path, "old text", "new text")

Add an image to a Word document from docx import Document def add_image_to_docx(file_path, image_path): doc = Document() doc.add_picture(image_path, width=None, height=None) doc.save(file_path) file_path = 'path/to/new_document_with_image.docx' image_path = 'path/to/your/image.png' add_image_to_docx(file_path, image_path)

Extract all images from a Word document from docx import Document def extract_images_from_docx(docx_path, output_dir): doc = Document(docx_path) images = [] for rel in doc.part.rels.values(): if "image" in rel.reltype: images.append(rel.target_part.blob) for index, image in enumerate(images): with open(f"{output_dir}/image_{index}.png", "wb") as f: f.write(image) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' output_dir = 'path/to/output/images' extract_images_from_docx(docx_path, output_dir)

Create a table in a Word document from docx import Document def create_table_in_docx(file_path): doc = Document() table = doc.add_table(rows=1, cols=3) hdr_cells = table.rows[0].cells hdr_cells[0].text = 'Qty' hdr_cells[1].text = 'Id' hdr_cells[2].text = 'Desc' doc.save(file_path) file_path = 'path/to/new_document_with_table.docx' create_table_in_docx(file_path)

Fill a table with data from docx import Document def fill_table_in_docx(file_path, data): doc = Document(file_path) table = doc.tables[0] for item in data: row_cells = table.add_row().cells row_cells[0].text = str(item['Qty']) row_cells[1].text = item['Id'] row_cells[2].text = item['Desc'] doc.save(file_path) file_path = 'path/to/document_with_table.docx' data = [ {'Qty': 1, 'Id': '123', 'Desc': 'First item'}, {'Qty': 2, 'Id': '456', 'Desc': 'Second item'} ] fill_table_in_docx(file_path, data)

Delete specific paragraphs from docx import Document def delete_paragraph(paragraph): p = paragraph._element p.getparent().remove(p) p._p = p._element = None def remove_paragraphs_in_docx(docx_path, to_delete): doc = Document(docx_path) for para in doc.paragraphs: if para.text in to_delete: delete_paragraph(para) doc.save(docx_path) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' to_delete = ["This is the text to be deleted"] remove_paragraphs_in_docx(docx_path, to_delete)

Set document style from docx import Document from docx.shared import Pt def set_style_in_docx(docx_path): doc = Document(docx_path) style = doc.styles['Normal'] font = style.font font.name = 'Times New Roman' font.size = Pt(12) doc.save(docx_path) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' set_style_in_docx(docx_path)

Add header and footer from docx import Document def add_header_footer(docx_path): doc = Document(docx_path) section = doc.sections[0] header = section.header footer = section.footer header.paragraphs[0].text = "This is the header" footer.paragraphs[0].text = "This is the footer" doc.save(docx_path) docx_path = 'path/to/your/document.docx' add_header_footer(docx_path)