How to realize the online preview of Word on the front end

How to realize the online preview of Word on the front end

When implementing online preview of Word files on the front end, common methods include using third-party libraries, browser plug-ins, back-end servers, online document conversion platforms, etc., as follows:

1. Use third-party libraries

Common front-end third-party libraries include Mammoth.js, Docx.js, jsreport-docx, etc. These libraries can convert Word files to HTML format, and then insert the HTML format content into the page for preview. The advantage is that it is easy to use and the amount of code is small. The disadvantage is that it needs to load additional libraries, which may affect the page loading speed, and the conversion results may also be biased.

• Mammoth.js: It is a JavaScript library that can convert Word files into HTML format and return the converted HTML
  markup content. It supports multiple input formats, including docx, html, odt, pdf, and tf.
• Docx.js: It is a Word file parser implemented in pure JavaScript, which can read the contents of docx files and convert them into
  HTML contents. The JSZip plug-in is used internally to achieve parsing and processing of docx files.
• jsreport-docx: It is a plug-in based on the jsreport library, which can convert Word files into HTML format and return the converted
  HTML content. It can directly read docx files from the server and convert them into HTML format.
• Google Docs Viewer: It is an online document viewer developed by Google, which can preview various document formats in the browser, including
  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, TIFF, SVG and PostScript, etc. Word files can
  be previewed in web pages by inserting iframe tags. But be aware that Google services cannot be accessed.
• Office Online: An online office suite developed by Microsoft, including
  programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, which can directly write and preview Word files in the browser. Users can
  use Office Online applications through the Office Online website or services such as OneDrive. But be aware that there is a file size limit.

2. Use browser plug-ins

Some browser plug-ins such as 0fice Online for Chrome, Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides, etc. can directly open Word files in the browser for online editing and preview. The advantage is that it is easy to use, and there is no need to load additional third-party libraries. The disadvantage is that browser plug-ins need to be installed, and only some browsers are supported.

• In addition, when using a browser plug-in to convert Word files to HTML format, the conversion effect may not be satisfactory. Therefore, when choosing to use a browser plug-in for Word file conversion, you need to pay attention to the compatibility and conversion quality of the plug-in. At the same time, it is necessary to consider that browser plug-ins may occupy certain system resources and affect computer performance.

3. use backend server

Upload the Word file to the back-end server, convert it into a previewable HTML format, and then return the content in HTML format to the front-end. The advantage is that the conversion result is accurate, and Word files can be processed more finely through the back-end program. The disadvantage is that the back-end program needs to be developed, and file uploads may have security issues.

The common back-end plug-ins for word online preview are as follows:

• Apache POI: Apache POI is an open source Java API that supports reading and writing Microsoft Office format files, and can easily convert word files to other formats such as HTML or PDF.

• List item

• LibreOffice: LibreOffice is a free open source office software suite with a built-in text processor Writer that can convert word files to HTML or PDF format.

• OpenOffice: OpenOffice is a free open source office software suite, the Writer component of which can also convert word files to HTML or PDF format.

• Microsoft Office Online: Microsoft Office Online is a cloud service of Microsoft that provides an online version of the word document processor, and users can edit and preview word files directly in the browser.

• Google Docs: Google Docs is Google's cloud service that provides an online version of the document processor, and users can also edit and preview word files directly in the browser.

4. Use an online document conversion platform

Online document conversion platforms such as CloudConvert, Zamzar, etc. can convert Word files to PDF or other formats and provide a preview function. The advantage is that it is easy to use and does not need to develop additional programs. The disadvantage is that files need to be uploaded to a third-party platform, which may cause information leakage.

5. Use an online document conversion platform

Currently, there are many online document conversion platforms, such as CloudConvert, Zamzar, etc., which can convert Word files to PDF or other formats and provide a preview function. The advantage is that it is easy to use and does not need to develop additional programs, but the disadvantage is that files need to be uploaded to a third-party platform, which may cause information leakage

• Open an online document conversion platform such as CloudConvert or Zamzar etc.
• Select the Word document to be converted by uploading the file. You can drag and drop the file or click the upload button to select the file.
• Select the format to convert, such as PDF or another format.
• Wait for the conversion to complete, which usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the file size and server responsiveness.
• Download the converted file. Generally, the conversion website will send the converted file to your email or provide a download link.
• Preview the converted files, some conversion platforms will provide a preview function, you can preview the converted files online to ensure the conversion is successful.
• It should be noted that using the online document conversion platform requires uploading files to a third-party platform, which is time-consuming and has risks in terms of security. It is recommended to only upload files that do not involve sensitive data and use a trusted conversion platform. At the same time, other methods can also be used to realize Word online preview, such as using server-side conversion tools or third-party APIs.

Developers can choose a suitable method to realize online preview of Word files according to specific needs. It should be noted that the use of the above plug-ins and services needs to follow the corresponding usage agreements and terms of their developers.