automating-word

Automating Word (JXA-first, AppleScript discovery)

Relationship to the macOS automation skill

• Standalone for Word, aligned with automating-mac-apps patterns.
• Use automating-mac-apps skill for permissions, shell execution, and UI scripting guidance.
• PyXA Installation: To use PyXA examples in this skill, see the installation instructions in automating-mac-apps skill (PyXA Installation section).

Core framing

• Word dictionary is AppleScript-first; discover there.
• JXA provides logic, data handling, and ObjC bridge access.
• Objects are specifiers; read via methods, write via assignments.
• Handle errors from Word operations using try/catch blocks and Application error checking.

Implementation Workflow

1. Discover AppleScript Dictionary: Open Script Editor, browse Word's AppleScript dictionary to understand available objects and methods.
2. Translate to JXA: Use discovered AppleScript syntax as reference for JXA equivalents, consulting the dictionary translation table.
3. Set Up JXA Script: Initialize Word application object and document references.
4. Implement Operations: Apply find/replace, table manipulation, or export using JXA methods.
5. Test and Validate: Run script and verify document changes match expectations.

Quick Examples

Document opening:

// JXA
const word = Application('Microsoft Word');
word.documents.open('/path/to/document.docx');

# PyXA (Recommended)
import PyXA
word = PyXA.Word()
word.documents().open("/path/to/document.docx")

Find and replace:

// JXA
const range = word.activeDocument.content;
range.find.text = 'old text';
range.find.replacement.text = 'new text';
range.find.execute({replace: 'all'});

# PyXA
doc = word.active_document()
find_obj = doc.content().find()
find_obj.text = 'old text'
find_obj.replacement.text = 'new text'
find_obj.execute(replace='all')

Table creation:

// JXA
const table = word.activeDocument.tables.add(word.activeDocument.content, 3, 4);
table.cell(1, 1).range.text = 'Header';

# PyXA
table = doc.tables().add(doc.content(), 3, 4)
table.cell(1, 1).range().text = 'Header'