Join Multiple Documents into a Single Document in .NET Applications

				This technical tip allows developers to join multiple documents into a single large document. When migrating to Aspose.Words you will find that this task is very easy to achieve. Aspose.Words provides a special Document.AppendDocument method for this purpose and is used to join two documents together. This method copies the sections from the source document to the destination document. This removes any need to insert any section breaks which is required in automation. Also note that you can control how the documents appear joined together i.e continuous or on a new page by using the PageSetup.SectionStart property of the appropriate Section object. 
Code for Joining Multiple Documents Together
[C#]
 
// The document that the other documents will be appended to.
Document doc = new Document();
// We should call this method to clear this document of any existing content.
doc.RemoveAllChildren();
int recordCount = 5;
for (int i = 1; i <= recordCount; i++)
{
// Open the document to join.
Document srcDoc = new Document(@"C:\DetailsList.doc");
// Append the source document at the end of the destination document.
doc.AppendDocument(srcDoc, ImportFormatMode.UseDestinationStyles);
// In automation you were required to insert a new section break at this point, however in Aspose.Words we
// don't need to do anything here as the appended document is imported as separate sectons already.
// If this is the second document or above being appended then unlink all headers footers in this section
// from the headers and footers of the previous section.
if (i > 1)
doc.Sections[i].HeadersFooters.LinkToPrevious(false);
} 
 
[VB.NET]
 
' The document that the other documents will be appended to.
Dim doc As New Document()
' We should call this method to clear this document of any existing content.
doc.RemoveAllChildren()
Dim recordCount As Integer = 5
For i As Integer = 1 To recordCount
' Open the document to join.
Dim srcDoc As New Document("C:\DetailsList.doc")
' Append the source document at the end of the destination document.
doc.AppendDocument(srcDoc, ImportFormatMode.UseDestinationStyles)
' In automation you were required to insert a new section break at this point, however in Aspose.Words we
' don't need to do anything here as the appended document is imported as separate sectons already.
' If this is the second document or above being appended then unlink all headers footers in this section
' from the headers and footers of the previous section.
If i > 1 Then
doc.Sections(i).HeadersFooters.LinkToPrevious(False)
End If
Next i
 
[Code for Microsoft Word Automation]
 
for i = 1 to recordCount then
myDoc.Selection.WholeStory()
myDoc.Selection.EndOf()
myDoc.Selection.InsertFile "C:\DetailsList.doc"
if i < recordCount then
 myDoc.Selection.Range.InsertBreak 2
 if i > 1 then
 myDoc.ActiveDocument.Sections(i).Headers(1).LinkToPrevious = False
 end if
end if
next
The above code runs in a loop and inserts a document at the end of the current document. The content from each joined document is separated by a section break and the headers and footers of this new section are unlinked so they do not continue on from the previous section’s headers and footers.
 
More about Aspose.Words for .NET 
 
- Homepage of Aspose.Words for .NET: http://www.aspose.com/.net/word-component.aspx 
 
- Download Aspose.Words for .NET: http://www.aspose.com/community/files/51/.net-components/aspose.words-for-.net/default.aspx
 
- More Technical Tips by Joining and Appending Documents: http://www.aspose.com/docs/display/wordsnet/Joining+and+Appending+Documents 
 
Contact Information
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Lane Cove, NSW, 2066 
Australia 
http://www.aspose.com/
sales@aspose.com
Phone: 888.277.6734
Fax: 866.810.9465