create tables in word documents using Java

Microsoft Word is a popular word-processing application used for creating various types of documents. These documents may contain several types of elements including text, images, tables, and charts. When it comes to automating document creation and manipulation in Java, you may need an effortless solution to create tables within Word documents. So in this blog post, we will explore how to create tables in Word documents in a Java application.

Java Library to Create Tables in Word Documents

Aspose.Words for Java is an API that allows Java developers to work with Microsoft Word documents programmatically. It provides a wide range of features for creating, modifying, and manipulating Word documents, making it a valuable tool for automating document generation and processing tasks. We will use this library to insert tables into a Word document.

You can download the library or install it using the following Maven configurations.

<repository>
    <id>AsposeJavaAPI</id>
    <name>Aspose Java API</name>
    <url>https://repository.aspose.com/repo/</url>
</repository>

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.aspose</groupId>
    <artifactId>aspose-words</artifactId>
    <version>23.10</version>
    <classifier>jdk17</classifier>
</dependency>

Create a Table in a Word Document in Java

There are two ways to create tables in Word documents using Aspose.Words for Java:

  • Using DocumentBuilder
  • Using DOM (Document Object Model)

You can choose the method that best suits your requirements. So let’s explore each of these methods in detail.

Create Table using DocumentBuilder

The DocumentBuilder class provides you with a quick and easy way of creating dynamic documents from scratch or processing existing documents. It offers a range of functions for inserting various content elements such as text, checkboxes, OLE objects, paragraphs, lists, tables, images, and more.

The following are the steps that use DocumentBuilder class to create a table in a Word document in Java.

  • Create an object of the Document class to load or create the Word document.
  • Create an object of the DocumentBuilder class.
  • Start a table using DocumentBuilder.startTable() method.
  • Insert a cell using DocumentBuilder.insertCell() method.
  • (Optional) Apply formatting to the cell, such as font and alignment.
  • Insert text into cell using DocumentBuilder.write() method.
  • Repeat inserting cells and text into cells as required.
  • End a row when you complete inserting cells using DocumentBuilder.endRow() method.
  • End table when you have inserted all the rows using DocumentBuilder.endTable() method.
  • Save the Word document using Document.save() method.

The following code snippet shows how to create a table in a Word document using Java.

The following is the screenshot of the table we have created using the code sample above.

Table in a Word Document

Create Table using DOM

The Document Object Model (DOM) is an in-memory representation of a Word document that allows you to programmatically read, manipulate, and modify the content and formatting of a Word document. The following steps demonstrate how to create a table in a Word document using DOM.

  • Create an object of the Document class to load or create the Word document.
  • Create an object of Table class and insert table into the document using Document.getFirstSection().getBody().appendChild(Table) method.
  • Create an object of the Row class and insert it into the table using the Table.appendChild(Row) method.
  • Create an object of the Cell class, set formatting options, and add text to the cell.
  • Insert cell into the row using Row.appendChild(Cell) method.
  • Repeat the process for as many rows as you want.
  • Save the Word document using Document.save() method.

The following code snippet shows how to create a table in a Word document in Java.

Insert a Nested Table in Word Documents

There could also be the case when you need to create a nested table, which is located inside a cell of the parent table. You can do it without going through a complex process. First, create a parent table and then call the DocumentBuilder.moveTo(Cell.getFirstParagraph()) method to move the control inside the desired cell of the parent table. Once done, create a new table in the same way.

The following code snippet shows how to create a nested table in a Word document using Java.

The following is the screenshot of the nested table we have created above.

Nested Table in a Word Document

Nested Table in a Word Document

Create a Word Table from HTML in Java

You can also create a table in a Word document using HTML string and here are the steps to be followed.

  • Create an object of the Document class to load or create the Word document.
  • Create an object of the DocumentBuilder class.
  • Insert HTML string of the table into the document using the DocumentBuilder.insertHtml(String) method.
  • Finally, save the document using Document.save() method.

Below is the code snippet to generate a Word table from an HTML string.

Get a Free License

You can get a temporary license to use Aspose.Words for Java without evaluation limitations.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we’ve explored how to create tables in Word documents using Java. You have seen how to create a table using document builder or DOM, create a nested table, and create a table from an HTML string. By installing the library and following the guidelines, you can easily integrate the table creation feature into your Java application.

Aspose.Words for Java provides numerous other features and formatting options, allowing you to create rich and complex documents with ease. To learn more about Aspose.Words for Java, explore its extensive documentation and examples. In case of any questions, feel free to let us know via our forum.

See Also