Using Python to Automatically Populate Word Documents

In this tutorial, we will explore how to automatically fill Word files with Python using the python-docx library. This can be useful for generating personalized documents, filling in form letters, or automating the creation of reports.

Before we begin, make sure you have Python and the python-docx library installed on your system. You can install the library by running the following command:

pip install python-docx

Once you have the library installed, let’s get started by creating a new Python script. We will start by importing the necessary modules:

from docx import Document

Next, we will create a function that will open a Word file, fill in the placeholders with the provided values, and save the filled file:

def fill_word_template(template_file, output_file, values):
    doc = Document(template_file)

    for p in doc.paragraphs:
        for key, value in values.items():
            if key in p.text:
                p.text = p.text.replace(key, value)

    doc.save(output_file)

In the code above, the fill_word_template function takes three arguments: the path to the Word template file, the path to the output file, and a dictionary of values to fill in. The function opens the template file, searches for placeholders in the text, replaces them with the provided values, and saves the filled document to the output file.

Now let’s demonstrate how to use this function with a simple example. Create a new Word document (template.docx) with the following content:

Dear [name],

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the position of [position] at our company.

Sincerely,
[company_name]

Next, create a new Python script and add the following code:

template_file = "template.docx"
output_file = "filled_document.docx"
values = {
    "[name]": "John Doe",
    "[position]": "Software Engineer",
    "[company_name]": "ABC Company"
}

fill_word_template(template_file, output_file, values)

In this example, we provide a dictionary of values to fill in the placeholders in the Word document. When we run the script, a new filled_document.docx file will be created with the placeholders replaced by the provided values.

You can customize the Word template and the values to fill in based on your specific requirements. This method can be used to automate the generation of various types of documents, such as contracts, reports, or personalized letters.

I hope this tutorial was helpful in learning how to automatically fill Word files with Python. Feel free to explore more features of the python-docx library to further enhance your document automation capabilities.