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docx-js/docs/usage/packers.md
2018-08-21 21:46:12 +01:00

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Packers

Packers are the way in which docx turns your code into .docx format. It is completely decoupled from the docx.Document.

Version 4

Packers in version 4 and above are now one single Packer. It works in both a node and browser environment (Angular etc). Now, the packer returns a Buffer, Blob or base64 string. It is up to you to take that and persist it with node's fs, send it down as a downloadable file, or anything else you wish. As of version 4, this library will not have options to export to PDF.

Export as Buffer

This will return a NodeJS Buffer. If this is used in the browser, it will return a UInt8Array instead.

const packer = new docx.Packer();

packer.toBuffer(doc).then((buffer) => {
    fs.writeFileSync("My Document.docx", buffer);
});

Export as a base64 string

const packer = new docx.Packer();

packer.toBase64String(doc).then((string) => {
    console.log(string);
});

Export as Blob

This is useful if you want to send it as an downloadable in a browser environment.

const packer = new docx.Packer();

packer.toBlob(doc).then((blob) => {
    // saveAs from FileSaver will download the file
    saveAs(blob, "example.docx");
});

Version 3 and below

File System Packer

const docx = require("docx");

const doc = new docx.Document();
const exporter = new docx.LocalPacker(doc);
exporter.pack("My Document");
// Word Document is in file system

Buffer Packer

const docx = require("docx");

const doc = new docx.Document();
const exporter = new docx.BufferPacker(doc);
const buffer = exporter.pack();

Stream Packer

Creates a node Readable stream

const docx = require("docx");

const doc = new docx.Document();
const exporter = new docx.StreamPacker(doc);
const stream = exporter.pack();

Express Packer

The old express packer is now deprecated and may disappear soon, so you should upgrade.

The reason for this is because it means this project needs to know about and use express, which for a Word document generator, does not sound right. Seperation of concerns.

It will still be usable (for now), but it is ill advised.

I used the express exporter in my website.

The recommended way is to use the StreamPacker and handle the express magic outside of the library:

const docx = require("docx");

const doc = new docx.Document();
const exporter = new docx.StreamPacker(doc);

const stream = exporter.pack();

// Express' response object
res.attachment("yourfile.xlsx");
stream.pipe(res);

where res is the response object obtained through the Express router. It is that simple. The file will begin downloading in the browser.

PDF Exporting

You can export your word document as a PDF file like so:

const exporter = new docx.LocalPacker(doc);
exporter.packPdf("My Document");

// Express
const exporter = new docx.ExpressPacker(doc, res);
exporter.packPdf("My Document");