Frequently Asked Questions

There are four primary server requirements to run WordWriter on the server:

• Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003 Server
• IIS 5 or higher
• Microsoft .NET Framework Redistributable
• J# Redistributable Package

A WordWriter template is a Word document that contains merge fields. You can create a WordWriter template using Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002 (XP), or 2003.

WordWriter templates can be created in Word 2003, however, if a template contains certain new Word 2003 features, WordWriter may throw an exception. This issue only applies to the creation of templates; WordWriter-generated output files can be viewed in Word 2003 with no limitations.

To open a Word file generated by WordWriter, you can use:

• Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002 (XP), or 2003.
• Microsoft's free Word Viewer. The Word Viewer allows the user to view and print Word 97 and 2000 files, but not to modify them.
• Another application that supports the Word format, such as, StarOffice or OpenOffice for Unix.

WordWriter supports Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002 (XP), and 2003.

WordWriter templates can be created in Word 2003, however, if a template contains certain new Word 2003 features, WordWriter may throw an exception. This issue only applies to the creation of templates; WordWriter-generated output files can be viewed in Word 2003 with no limitations.

Yes. Unlike Microsoft Word, WordWriter can stream a Word file to the browser.

In ASP.NET, WordWriter can populate a Word file from a DataSet, a DataTable, an SqlDataReader, an OleDbDataReader, an AdomdDataReader, a 1-dimensional array, a rectangular array, or a jagged array.

In ASP, WordWriter can populate a Word file from a Recordset, a 1-dimensional array, or a 2-dimensional array.

Yes. To populate a template from more than one data source, or to import multiple rows from a data source, use repeat blocks. For information on creating and populating repeat blocks, see:

Creating a Repeat Block
Importing from Multiple Data Sources
Importing Multiple Rows
SetRepeatBlock Method

No. At runtime, WordWriter can open a template Word file, populate it from data sources, and either save the new file or stream it to the client. WordWriter cannot change a document's format, edit static content, or merge multiple files at runtime.