How to Check Whether Two Word Tables in C# Have the Same Heading

Detect and Handle Word Tables Under the Same Heading

This solution uses C# and Microsoft Office Interop Word to identify and manage tables under the same heading.

using System;
using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;
using System.Linq;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Application app = new Application();
        object refpath = @"C:\\Path\\To\\Your\\Document.docx";
        object refmissing = Type.Missing;
        Document doc = app.Documents.Open(refpath, refmissing, false, refmissing,
            refmissing, refmissing, refmissing, refmissing, refmissing, refmissing,
            refmissing, refmissing, refmissing, refmissing, refmissing);

        foreach (Table table in doc.Tables)
        {
            if (IsTableEmpty(table))
            {
                if (AreTablesUnderSameHeading(table, doc.Tables))
                {
                    table.Delete();
                }
            }
        }

        doc.Save();
        doc.Close();
        app.Quit();
    }

    static bool IsTableEmpty(Table table)
    {
        foreach (Row row in table.Rows)
        {
            foreach (Cell cell in row.Cells)
            {
                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cell.Range.Text.TrimEnd('\r', '\a')))
                {
                    return false;
                }
            }
        }
        return true;
    }

    static bool AreTablesUnderSameHeading(Table table, Tables tables)
    {
        Range tableRange = table.Range;
        Range headingRange = GetHeadingForRange(tableRange);

        foreach (Table otherTable in tables)
        {
            if (!ReferenceEquals(table, otherTable))
            {
                Range otherRange = otherTable.Range;
                if (headingRange != null && headingRange.InRange(otherRange))
                {
                    return true;
                }
            }
        }
        return false;
    }

    static Range GetHeadingForRange(Range range)
    {
        Paragraphs paragraphs = range.Paragraphs;
        foreach (Paragraph para in paragraphs)
        {
            if (para.Range.get_Style() is Style style &&
                style.NameLocal.Contains("Heading"))
            {
                return para.Range;
            }
        }
        return null;
    }
}

Optimized Approach Using LINQ for Enhanced Performance

This solution integrates LINQ for table filtering and efficient processing.

using System;
using System.Linq;
using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Application app = new Application();
        object filePath = @"C:\\Path\\To\\Document.docx";
        Document doc = app.Documents.Open(ref filePath);

        var tables = doc.Tables.Cast<Table>().ToList();
        var groupedByHeadings = tables.GroupBy(t => GetHeadingForTable(t));

        foreach (var group in groupedByHeadings)
        {
            var emptyTables = group.Where(t => IsTableEmpty(t)).ToList();
            foreach (var table in emptyTables)
            {
                table.Delete();
            }
        }

        doc.Save();
        doc.Close();
        app.Quit();
    }

    static string GetHeadingForTable(Table table)
    {
        var range = table.Range; 
        return range.Paragraphs.Cast<Paragraph>()
                    .Select(p => p.get_Style() as Style)
                    .FirstOrDefault(s => s?.NameLocal.Contains("Heading"))?.NameLocal;
    }

    static bool IsTableEmpty(Table table)
    {
        return !table.Rows.Cast<Row>().Any(row =>
            row.Cells.Cast<Cell>().Any(cell =>
                !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cell.Range.Text.TrimEnd('\r', '\a'))));
    }
}

Frequently Asked Questions on Managing Word Tables in C#

1. What is the purpose of range.InRange?
2. The range.InRange method is used to check if one range of content (like a table) falls within another, such as a heading's range.
3. How does doc.Tables help?
4. The doc.Tables collection provides all tables in the document, making it easy to loop through and process them programmatically.
5. What is the benefit of style.NameLocal?
6. style.NameLocal retrieves the localized name of a style, essential for working with non-English documents or identifying custom headings.
7. Can table.Delete delete multiple tables?
8. Yes, table.Delete can be applied iteratively to remove specific tables based on conditions like being empty or under certain headings.
9. Why is LINQ used in this context?
10. LINQ helps simplify operations like grouping tables under the same heading, making the code more efficient and readable.

Final Thoughts on Automating Word Table Management

Automating table handling in Word documents using C# can save time and reduce errors. By analyzing headings and table content, unnecessary tables can be removed while preserving important data. This is particularly useful for large or repetitive documents. 🚀

Leveraging tools like range operations and LINQ ensures the solution is both efficient and adaptable. Whether cleaning up placeholders or managing report templates, these methods make document processing streamlined and intuitive, helping you focus on more critical tasks.