Tables in OneNote help keep information organized, from meeting notes and data logs to quick comparison sheets. There are certain cases when you need to programmatically extract text from a table in OneNote. Maybe you want to analyze the table contents, move them into a database, or convert them into another format.

In this guide, we will show you how to extract text from tables in OneNote using C#. You will learn how to get text from an entire table, a single row, or even an individual cell using simple, easy-to-follow examples.

Let’s get started.

Why Extract Text from Tables in OneNote?

Developers often need to extract data from OneNote tables for automation, reporting, or integration with other systems. Here are a few real-world examples:

  • Export meeting summaries into structured reports.
  • Read tabular data from shared notes for analysis.
  • Sync OneNote tables with external systems or dashboards.

Instead of manually copying data, Aspose.Note for .NET allows you to handle all of this through code in a fast, consistent, and fully automated way.

C# Library to Extract Text from OneNote Tables

Aspose.Note for .NET is a robust API that lets developers create, read, edit, and convert OneNote files in .NET applications. It supports rich object models to access elements like pages, text, images, outlines, and tables. For table text extraction, it provides the Document class, which represents a OneNote file, and methods like GetChildNodes(), allowing developers to easily locate and extract table elements.

You can download it from the Aspose.Note for .NET releases page or install it using NuGet:

PM> Install-Package Aspose.Note

How to Extract Text from Tables in OneNote

Aspose.Note makes it possible to extract text from OneNote documents at different levels:

  • The entire table
  • A specific row
  • An individual cell

Let’s go through each of these step by step.

How to Extract Text from Tables in OneNote: Sample Table

Sample Table

To learn more about extracting text and images from OneNote documents using C#, check out our detailed guide on extracting content from OneNote files.

1. Extract Text from the Table in OneNote using C#

We can easily extract text from all available tables in a OneNote document using Aspose.Note for .NET. We will go through the process of accessing table nodes, reading their content, and displaying the extracted text in a readable format.

Follow the steps below to extract text from tables in a OneNote document:

  1. Load the .one file using the Document class.
  2. Use the GetChildNodes<Table>() method to retrieve all table nodes.
  3. Loop through each table and extract its text content.
  4. Print the results on the console.

The following code example shows how to extract text from all the tables in a OneNote document.

Output

Table # 1
cell_1.1
cell_1.2
cell_1.3
cell_2.1
cell_2.2
cell_2.3

2. Extract Text from a Specific Row in a OneNote Table

Sometimes, you just need to extract the text from a particular row instead of the entire table. We will loop through all tables, then through each row, extracting text independently. It’s useful when you need to analyze or process table data row-wise.

You can extract text row by row by following the steps below:

  1. Load the OneNote file using the Document class.
  2. Get a list of table nodes.
  3. Loop through each table, then through each row.
  4. Extract and display text from each row.

The following code example shows how to extract a row of text from a table using C#:

Output

Row #1:
cell_1.1
cell_1.2
cell_1.3

Row #2:
cell_2.1
cell_2.2
cell_2.3

3. Extract Text from a Specific Cell in a Table

If you want to go even deeper and extract text from a particular cell, you can do that too. For this purpose, we will retrieve the smallest text unit, i.e., the content of each cell. It’s perfect when you need fine-grained control over data extraction for further processing or data mapping.

Follow the steps below to extract text from a specific cell in a table in OneNote:

  1. Load the OneNote document using the Document class.
  2. Retrieve table nodes using GetChildNodes<Table>().
  3. Loop through each table and its rows.
  4. Extract cell nodes using GetChildNodes<TableCell>().
  5. Extract text from each cell and display it.

The following code example shows how to get cell text from a row in a table using C#:

Output

cell_1.1

cell_1.2

cell_1.3

cell_2.1

cell_2.2

cell_2.3

Why Use Aspose.Note for .NET for Text Extraction?

  • Works entirely offline without utilizing Microsoft OneNote.
  • Extracts text with formatting and structure preserved.
  • Supports all table elements (headers, cells, nested tables).
  • Offers strong LINQ support for filtering and querying content.
  • Easy integration with existing .NET applications.

Whether you’re building analytics tools, automation scripts, or custom note converters, Aspose.Note gives you the flexibility and control you need.

You can get a free temporary license from the Aspose License Page to try Aspose.Note for .NET without limitations. It only takes a minute to apply, and you will be able to test the full features of the library.

Free Additional Resources

Conclusion

Extracting text from tables in OneNote doesn’t have to be complicated. With Aspose.Note for .NET, you can easily get text from entire tables, specific rows, or individual cells using just a few lines of C# code. The API handles parsing, node management, and content traversal while you focus on using that data however you need it.

If you have any questions or need help getting started, visit our free support forum to connect with the Aspose.Note team.

FAQs

Q: Can I extract text from a specific table in my OneNote document?

Yes, you can filter table nodes using LINQ or index-based selection to target specific tables for extraction.

Q: Do I need Microsoft OneNote installed to use Aspose.Note for .NET?

No, Aspose.Note for .NET works independently and does not require Microsoft OneNote or any other external software.

Q: Does Aspose.Note for .NET preserve the table structure during text extraction?

Yes, it preserves the logical structure of tables, allowing you to extract content from entire tables, rows, or individual cells while maintaining order.

Q: Can I extract formatted text from a OneNote table?

Aspose.Note primarily extracts plain text. However, you can access and process rich text objects if you need formatting details.

Q: Is Aspose.Note for .NET compatible with .NET Core and .NET 6+?

Yes, it supports .NET Framework, .NET Core, and the latest .NET versions across Windows, Linux, and macOS.

See Also