How to Convert a DOC File to DOCX Using Python

Microsoft Word documents come in two primary formats: .doc (older format) and .docx (modern XML-based format). If you're working with Python and need to convert legacy DOC files to DOCX programmatically, this guide will walk you through the process using the most popular Python libraries.

Why Convert DOC to DOCX?

The DOCX format offers several advantages:

• Smaller file size due to XML compression.
• Better compatibility with modern applications.
• Easier parsing since DOCX is structured as a ZIP archive.

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Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have the following installed:

• Python 3.6 or later
• The python-docx library (for DOCX handling)
• The pywin32 library (for Windows-based DOC conversion)

Install the required packages using pip:

pip install python-docx pywin32

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Method 1: Using pywin32 (Windows Only)

This method leverages Microsoft Word's built-in conversion capabilities via COM automation.

Step-by-Step Code

import win32com.client as win32

def convert_doc_to_docx(input_path, output_path):
    word = win32.gencache.EnsureDispatch('Word.Application')
    doc = word.Documents.Open(input_path)
    doc.SaveAs(output_path, FileFormat=16)  # 16 represents DOCX format
    doc.Close()
    word.Quit()

# Example usage
convert_doc_to_docx("input.doc", "output.docx")

Important Notes

• This method requires Microsoft Word to be installed.
• Works only on Windows systems.
• Ensure no Word instance is running before executing the script.

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Method 2: Using LibreOffice (Cross-Platform)

For non-Windows systems, you can use LibreOffice in headless mode.

Installation

First, install LibreOffice:

• Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install libreoffice
• MacOS: brew install libreoffice

Conversion Code

import subprocess

def convert_doc_to_docx(input_path, output_path):
    subprocess.run([
        "libreoffice",
        "--headless",
        "--convert-to",
        "docx",
        input_path,
        "--outdir",
        output_path
    ])

# Example usage
convert_doc_to_docx("input.doc", ".")  # Outputs to current directory

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Handling Batch Conversions

To convert multiple files at once:

import os

def batch_convert_doc_to_docx(input_folder, output_folder):
    for filename in os.listdir(input_folder):
        if filename.endswith(".doc"):
            input_path = os.path.join(input_folder, filename)
            output_path = os.path.join(output_folder, f"{os.path.splitext(filename)[0]}.docx")
            convert_doc_to_docx(input_path, output_path)

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Troubleshooting

• Permission Errors: Ensure the script has write access to the output directory.
• File Corruption: Verify the input DOC file isn't damaged.
• COM Errors: Restart your system if Word automation fails.

Summary: This guide demonstrated two methods to convert DOC to DOCX using Python—Windows-only pywin32 and cross-platform LibreOffice. Choose the approach that fits your environment.

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