Duplicating Word document using OpenXml and C#

calendar_today Asked Jul 17, 2009
thumb_up 8 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

This piece of code should copy all parts from an existing document to a new one. using (var mainDoc = WordprocessingDocument.Open(@"c:sourcedoc.docx", false)) using (var…. This is a 11-line Word VBA snippet, ranked #19th of 32 by community upvote score, from 2009.


The Problem (Q-score 5, ranked #19th of 32 in the Word VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2009

I am using Word and OpenXml to provide mail merge functionality in a C# ASP.NET web application:

1) A document is uploaded with a number of pre-defined strings for substitution.

2) Using the OpenXML SDK 2.0 I open the Word document, get the mainDocumentPart as a string and perform the substitution using Regex.

3) I then create a new document using OpenXML, add a new mainDocumentPart and insert the string resulting from the substitution into this mainDocumentPart.

However, all formatting/styles etc. are lost in the new document.

I’m guessing I can copy and add the Style, Definitions, Comment parts etc.. individually to mimic the orginal document.

However is there a method using Open XML to duplicate a document allowing me to perform the substitutions on the new copy?

Thanks.

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 32 Word VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds solid answer (above median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — solid answer (above median) (+8)

11-line Word VBA pattern (copy-ready)

This piece of code should copy all parts from an existing document to a new one.

using (var mainDoc = WordprocessingDocument.Open(@"c:sourcedoc.docx", false))
using (var resultDoc = WordprocessingDocument.Create(@"c:newdoc.docx",
  WordprocessingDocumentType.Document))
{
  // copy parts from source document to new document
  foreach (var part in mainDoc.Parts)
    resultDoc.AddPart(part.OpenXmlPart, part.RelationshipId);
  // perform replacements in resultDoc.MainDocumentPart
  // ...
}


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #19th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 58% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Word VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2009 and 2026

The answer is 17 years old. The Word VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this above-median answer still worth copying?
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Answer score +8 vs the Word VBA archive median ~4; this entry is solid. The score plus 5 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+5) means the asker and 7 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 11-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 11-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 17 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2009, which is 17 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Word VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Word VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #18?
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The pattern one rank above is “I need to print 20,000 Word documents, is there a 3rd party tool that will help me do…”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 5, Answer-score 8, original post 2009, ranked #19th of 32 in the Word VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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