DOCX4J is an open-source free-to-use Java API for creating and manipulating Microsoft Office file formats. It lets you create and update Microsoft OpenXML file formats i.e. Word DOCX, PowerPoint PPTX, and Excel XLSX. DOCX4J uses JAXB (Java™ Architecture for XML Binding) for creating in-memory representation of corresponding objects.

Key Features of DOCX4J API for Java

DOCX4J supports working with DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX files in a number of ways. The following are key features of DOCX4J API.

  1. Create and Modify DOCX Documents: Docx4J allows you to create new Word documents from scratch or modify existing documents. You can add paragraphs, tables, images, headers, footers, and more.
  2. Template-Based Document Generation: You can use docx4j to create Word document templates with placeholders, and then populate those placeholders with data dynamically. This is useful for generating documents with dynamic content, such as invoices, reports, and letters.
  3. Content Control Support: Docx4J provides support for content controls, which are structured XML elements that can be inserted into Word documents. Content controls can be used for data binding, document assembly, and content manipulation.
  4. Merge and Compare Documents: The library enables you to merge multiple Word documents into a single document. Additionally, it supports document comparison, allowing you to compare two documents and identify differences.
  5. PDF Conversion: Docx4J can be used to convert Word documents to PDF format, allowing you to generate PDF files from DOCX files.
  6. Import and Export Features: You can import and export content from and to various formats, including HTML, RTF (Rich Text Format), and XHTML.
  7. MathML Support: Docx4J supports MathML, which is a markup language for representing mathematical notation.
  8. Custom XML Part Support: The library allows you to add custom XML parts to Word documents, providing a way to extend the capabilities of the document beyond the standard Word features.
  9. Support for Word Extensions: Docx4J handles Word extensions, which are custom features or elements that may be present in a Word document. Comprehensive Documentation and Active Community: The library is well-documented, with a strong and active community, providing support and updates.
  10. Comprehensive Documentation and Active Community: The library is well-documented, with a strong and active community, providing support and updates.

How to Install DOCX4J?

You can use the following step-by-step guide to install DOCX4J API for working with Office file formats from within your Java applications.

Steps to Install DOCX4J API

To install docx4j in your Java project, you can use Maven or Gradle, which are popular build automation tools for Java projects. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install docx4j using Maven:

Step 1: Create a new Maven Project (Skip this step if you already have an existing Maven project).
Step 2: Open your project in your preferred Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Eclipse, IntelliJ, or NetBeans.
Step 3: Locate the pom.xml file in your project. This file is where you declare your project’s dependencies.
Step 4: Add the docx4j dependency to your pom.xml file. Open the file and add the following dependency within the section:

<dependencies>
    <!-- Other dependencies... -->
    <dependency>
        <groupId>org.docx4j</groupId>
        <artifactId>docx4j-JAXB-ReferenceImpl</artifactId>
        <version>8.2.11</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Step 5: Save the pom.xml file.

DOCX4J Resources

Upcoming DOCX4J Examples

Stay tuned for upcoming articles about working with DOCX4J API in your Java applications.