Creating Documents from Scratch

Creating a Basic Document

Using OpenXML SDK

using DocumentFormat.OpenXml;
using DocumentFormat.OpenXml.Packaging;
using DocumentFormat.OpenXml.Wordprocessing;
using System.IO;

public static void CreateBasicDocument(string filepath)
{
    using (WordprocessingDocument doc = WordprocessingDocument.Create(
        filepath, WordprocessingDocumentType.Document))
    {
        // Add main document part
        MainDocumentPart mainPart = doc.AddMainDocumentPart();
        mainPart.Document = new Document();
        Body body = mainPart.Document.AppendChild(new Body());
        
        // Add a paragraph with text
        Paragraph para = body.AppendChild(new Paragraph());
        Run run = para.AppendChild(new Run());
        run.AppendChild(new Text("Hello World!"));
        
        // Save
        mainPart.Document.Save();
    }
}

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AppraiSys Pattern: Default Document

From DefaultDocument.cs:

public static void CreateDefaultDocument(MemoryStream documentStream)
{
    using (var document = WordprocessingDocument.Create(
        documentStream, 
        WordprocessingDocumentType.Document, 
        true))
    {
        // 1. Create main document part
        var mainPart = document.AddMainDocumentPart();
        mainPart.Document = new Document();
        var body = mainPart.Document.AppendChild(new Body());
        
        // 2. Create styles part
        var styleDefinitionsPart = mainPart.AddNewPart<StyleDefinitionsPart>();
        var styles = new Styles();
        styleDefinitionsPart.Styles = styles;
        
        // 3. Add document defaults
        CreateDocDefaults(styles);
        
        // 4. Add standard styles
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Normal", "Normal", 99);
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Heading1", "Heading 1", 98, "Normal");
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Heading2", "Heading 2", 97, "Normal");
        CreateCharacterStyle(styles, "DefaultParagraphFont", "Default Paragraph Font", 0);
        CreateTableStyle(styles, "NormalTable", "Normal Table", 99);
        
        // 5. Create numbering part
        var numberingDefinitionsPart = mainPart.AddNewPart<NumberingDefinitionsPart>();
        numberingDefinitionsPart.Numbering = new Numbering();
        
        mainPart.Document.Save();
    }
}

Document Defaults

private static void CreateDocDefaults(Styles styles)
{
    var docDefaults = new DocDefaults();
    
    // Run defaults
    var runPropertiesDefault = new RunPropertiesDefault();
    var runPropertiesBaseStyle = new RunPropertiesBaseStyle();
    runPropertiesBaseStyle.AppendChild(new RunFonts 
    { 
        Ascii = "Times New Roman",
        HighAnsi = "Times New Roman",
        EastAsia = "Times New Roman",
        ComplexScript = "Times New Roman"
    });
    runPropertiesBaseStyle.AppendChild(new FontSize { Val = "22" }); // 11pt
    runPropertiesBaseStyle.AppendChild(new FontSizeComplexScript { Val = "22" });
    runPropertiesBaseStyle.AppendChild(new Languages 
    { 
        Val = "en-US", 
        EastAsia = "en-US", 
        Bidi = "ar-SA" 
    });
    runPropertiesDefault.AppendChild(runPropertiesBaseStyle);
    docDefaults.AppendChild(runPropertiesDefault);
    
    // Paragraph defaults
    var paragraphPropertiesDefault = new ParagraphPropertiesDefault();
    var paragraphPropertiesBaseStyle = new ParagraphPropertiesBaseStyle();
    paragraphPropertiesBaseStyle.AppendChild(new SpacingBetweenLines 
    { 
        After = "0", 
        Line = "276", 
        LineRule = LineSpacingRuleValues.Auto 
    });
    paragraphPropertiesDefault.AppendChild(paragraphPropertiesBaseStyle);
    docDefaults.AppendChild(paragraphPropertiesDefault);
    
    styles.AppendChild(docDefaults);
}

---

Creating Paragraph Styles

private static void CreateParagraphStyle(
    Styles styles, 
    string styleId, 
    string styleName, 
    int uiPriority,
    string basedOn = null)
{
    var style = new Style 
    { 
        Type = StyleValues.Paragraph, 
        StyleId = styleId 
    };
    
    style.AppendChild(new Name { Val = styleName });
    style.AppendChild(new UIPriority { Val = uiPriority });
    
    if (basedOn != null)
    {
        style.AppendChild(new BasedOn { Val = basedOn });
    }
    
    // Style-specific properties
    if (styleId == "Heading1")
    {
        var paragraphProperties = new ParagraphProperties();
        paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new KeepNext());
        paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new KeepLines());
        paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new SpacingBetweenLines 
        { 
            Before = "240", 
            After = "120" 
        });
        paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new OutlineLevel { Val = 0 });
        style.AppendChild(paragraphProperties);
        
        var runProperties = new RunProperties();
        runProperties.AppendChild(new Bold());
        runProperties.AppendChild(new FontSize { Val = "32" }); // 16pt
        style.AppendChild(runProperties);
    }
    
    styles.AppendChild(style);
}

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Creating Table Styles

AppraiSys NormalTable

private static void CreateTableStyle(
    Styles styles, 
    string styleId, 
    string styleName, 
    int uiPriority)
{
    var style = new Style 
    { 
        Type = StyleValues.Table, 
        StyleId = styleId 
    };
    
    style.AppendChild(new Name { Val = styleName });
    style.AppendChild(new UIPriority { Val = uiPriority });
    
    var tableProperties = new TableProperties();
    
    // Table indentation
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableIndentation 
    { 
        Width = 0, 
        Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa 
    });
    
    // Cell margins
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableCellMarginDefault(
        new TopMargin { Width = "0", Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa },
        new TableCellLeftMargin { Width = 108, Type = TableWidthValues.Dxa },
        new BottomMargin { Width = "0", Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa },
        new TableCellRightMargin { Width = 108, Type = TableWidthValues.Dxa }
    ));
    
    style.AppendChild(tableProperties);
    
    // Table row properties
    style.AppendChild(new TableRowProperties(
        new CantSplit()  // Keep rows together
    ));
    
    styles.AppendChild(style);
}

PropertyImagesTable Style

private static Style CreatePropertyImagesTableStyle()
{
    var style = new Style 
    { 
        Type = StyleValues.Table, 
        StyleId = "PropertyImagesTable" 
    };
    
    style.AppendChild(new Name { Val = "Property Images Table" });
    style.AppendChild(new UIPriority { Val = 50 });
    
    var tableProperties = new TableProperties();
    
    // Center table
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableJustification 
    { 
        Val = TableRowAlignmentValues.Center 
    });
    
    // Cell spacing (gap between cells)
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableCellSpacing 
    { 
        Width = "100", 
        Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa 
    });
    
    // No borders
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableBorders(
        new TopBorder { Val = BorderValues.None },
        new BottomBorder { Val = BorderValues.None },
        new LeftBorder { Val = BorderValues.None },
        new RightBorder { Val = BorderValues.None },
        new InsideHorizontalBorder { Val = BorderValues.None },
        new InsideVerticalBorder { Val = BorderValues.None }
    ));
    
    // Zero cell margins
    tableProperties.AppendChild(new TableCellMarginDefault(
        new TopMargin { Width = "0", Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa },
        new TableCellLeftMargin { Width = 0, Type = TableWidthValues.Dxa },
        new BottomMargin { Width = "0", Type = TableWidthUnitValues.Dxa },
        new TableCellRightMargin { Width = 0, Type = TableWidthValues.Dxa }
    ));
    
    style.AppendChild(tableProperties);
    
    // Cell properties
    var tableCellProperties = new TableCellProperties();
    tableCellProperties.AppendChild(new VerticalMerge 
    { 
        Val = MergedCellValues.Continue 
    });
    tableCellProperties.AppendChild(new TableCellVerticalAlignment 
    { 
        Val = TableVerticalAlignmentValues.Top 
    });
    
    style.AppendChild(tableCellProperties);
    
    return style;
}

---

Creating Character Styles

private static void CreateCharacterStyle(
    Styles styles, 
    string styleId, 
    string styleName, 
    int uiPriority)
{
    var style = new Style 
    { 
        Type = StyleValues.Character, 
        StyleId = styleId,
        Default = true
    };
    
    style.AppendChild(new Name { Val = styleName });
    style.AppendChild(new UIPriority { Val = uiPriority });
    
    styles.AppendChild(style);
}

---

Creating Numbering Styles

AppraiSys Bullet List

private static void CreateNumberingStyle(
    Styles styles, 
    string styleId, 
    string styleName, 
    int abstractNumId)
{
    var style = new Style 
    { 
        Type = StyleValues.Numbering, 
        StyleId = styleId 
    };
    
    style.AppendChild(new Name { Val = styleName });
    style.AppendChild(new UIPriority { Val = 99 });
    style.AppendChild(new BasedOn { Val = "Normal" });
    
    var paragraphProperties = new ParagraphProperties();
    paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new NumberingProperties(
        new NumberingId { Val = abstractNumId }
    ));
    style.AppendChild(paragraphProperties);
    
    styles.AppendChild(style);
}

Numbering Definition

public static void CreateBulletList(NumberingDefinitionsPart numberingPart)
{
    // Abstract numbering definition
    var abstractNum = new AbstractNum { AbstractNumberId = 0 };
    
    abstractNum.AppendChild(new MultiLevelType { Val = MultiLevelValues.HybridMultilevel });
    
    // Level 0 (bullet)
    var level0 = new Level { LevelIndex = 0 };
    level0.AppendChild(new StartNumberingValue { Val = 1 });
    level0.AppendChild(new NumberingFormat { Val = NumberFormatValues.Bullet });
    level0.AppendChild(new LevelText { Val = "●" });
    level0.AppendChild(new LevelJustification { Val = LevelJustificationValues.Left });
    
    var previousParagraphProperties = new PreviousParagraphProperties();
    previousParagraphProperties.AppendChild(new Indentation 
    { 
        Left = "720", 
        Hanging = "360" 
    });
    level0.AppendChild(previousParagraphProperties);
    
    var numberingSymbolRunProperties = new NumberingSymbolRunProperties();
    numberingSymbolRunProperties.AppendChild(new RunFonts 
    { 
        Ascii = "Symbol", 
        HighAnsi = "Symbol", 
        Hint = FontTypeHintValues.Default 
    });
    level0.AppendChild(numberingSymbolRunProperties);
    
    abstractNum.AppendChild(level0);
    
    numberingPart.Numbering.AppendChild(abstractNum);
    
    // Numbering instance
    var numberingInstance = new NumberingInstance { NumberID = 1 };
    numberingInstance.AppendChild(new AbstractNumId { Val = 0 });
    numberingPart.Numbering.AppendChild(numberingInstance);
}

---

Adding Content

Add Simple Paragraph

public static Paragraph CreateParagraph(string text, string style = null)
{
    var paragraph = new Paragraph();
    
    if (style != null)
    {
        var paragraphProperties = new ParagraphProperties();
        paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new ParagraphStyleId { Val = style });
        paragraph.AppendChild(paragraphProperties);
    }
    
    var run = new Run();
    run.AppendChild(new Text(text));
    paragraph.AppendChild(run);
    
    return paragraph;
}

Add Formatted Text

public static Paragraph CreateFormattedParagraph(
    string text, 
    bool bold = false,
    bool italic = false,
    string color = null,
    int? fontSize = null,
    JustificationValues alignment = JustificationValues.Left)
{
    var paragraph = new Paragraph();
    
    // Paragraph properties
    var paragraphProperties = new ParagraphProperties();
    paragraphProperties.AppendChild(new Justification { Val = alignment });
    paragraph.AppendChild(paragraphProperties);
    
    // Run
    var run = new Run();
    
    // Run properties
    var runProperties = new RunProperties();
    
    if (bold)
        runProperties.AppendChild(new Bold());
    
    if (italic)
        runProperties.AppendChild(new Italic());
    
    if (color != null)
        runProperties.AppendChild(new Color { Val = color });
    
    if (fontSize.HasValue)
        runProperties.AppendChild(new FontSize { Val = (fontSize.Value * 2).ToString() });
    
    run.AppendChild(runProperties);
    run.AppendChild(new Text(text));
    paragraph.AppendChild(run);
    
    return paragraph;
}

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Complete Example: AppraiSys Report Template

public static MemoryStream CreateReportTemplate()
{
    var stream = new MemoryStream();
    
    using (var document = WordprocessingDocument.Create(
        stream, WordprocessingDocumentType.Document, true))
    {
        var mainPart = document.AddMainDocumentPart();
        mainPart.Document = new Document();
        var body = mainPart.Document.AppendChild(new Body());
        
        // Add styles
        var stylesPart = mainPart.AddNewPart<StyleDefinitionsPart>();
        var styles = new Styles();
        CreateDocDefaults(styles);
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Normal", "Normal", 99);
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Heading1", "Heading 1", 98, "Normal");
        CreateParagraphStyle(styles, "Heading2", "Heading 2", 97, "Normal");
        CreateTableStyle(styles, "NormalTable", "Normal Table", 99);
        stylesPart.Styles = styles;
        
        // Add content
        body.AppendChild(CreateParagraph("Appraisal Report", "Heading1"));
        body.AppendChild(CreateParagraph(""));  // Empty paragraph
        
        // Property information section
        body.AppendChild(CreateParagraph("Property Information", "Heading2"));
        
        // Add content control for address
        var sdt = CreateContentControl("PropertyAddress", "Property Address");
        body.AppendChild(sdt);
        
        // Add table
        var table = CreatePropertyInfoTable();
        body.AppendChild(table);
        
        mainPart.Document.Save();
    }
    
    stream.Position = 0;
    return stream;
}

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Helper: Create Content Control

public static SdtBlock CreateContentControl(string tag, string alias)
{
    var sdtBlock = new SdtBlock();
    
    // Properties
    var sdtProperties = new SdtProperties();
    sdtProperties.AppendChild(new Tag { Val = tag });
    sdtProperties.AppendChild(new Alias { Val = alias });
    sdtProperties.AppendChild(new SdtId { Val = GenerateUniqueId() });
    sdtBlock.AppendChild(sdtProperties);
    
    // Content
    var sdtContent = new SdtContentBlock();
    var paragraph = new Paragraph();
    var run = new Run();
    run.AppendChild(new Text("[" + alias + "]"));
    paragraph.AppendChild(run);
    sdtContent.AppendChild(paragraph);
    sdtBlock.AppendChild(sdtContent);
    
    return sdtBlock;
}

private static int GenerateUniqueId()
{
    return new Random().Next(100000, 999999);
}

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Next Steps

➡️ Next: Table Creation

Related:

• DefaultDocument.cs Pattern
• Document Structure Basics
• Styles Deep Dive

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💡 Remember: Always create styles part before adding styled content. Default document setup is critical for consistency!