Working with Fields at Fixed Positions in Templates

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to work with fields at fixed positions within templates using GroupDocs.Parser for .NET. GroupDocs.Parser is a powerful document parsing library that enables developers to extract data from various document formats such as PDF, Word, Excel, and more. Specifically, we’ll focus on defining and utilizing template fields to extract targeted information based on their fixed positions.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• Basic understanding of C# and .NET development.
• Visual Studio installed on your system.
• GroupDocs.Parser for .NET library installed. You can download it from here.
• Sample document files for testing.

Import Namespaces

Start by including the necessary namespaces in your C# project:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using GroupDocs.Parser.Data;
using GroupDocs.Parser.Templates;

Step 1: Define a Template Field

First, define a field with a fixed position within a template. This field represents the area from which data will be extracted.

TemplateField field = new TemplateField(
    new TemplateFixedPosition(new Rectangle(new Point(35, 135), new Size(100, 10))),
    "FromCompany");

Here:

• Rectangle specifies the position and size of the field.
• Point(35, 135) represents the top-left corner coordinates.
• Size(100, 10) defines the width and height of the field.
• "FromCompany" is the name assigned to this field.

Step 2: Create a Template

Construct a template using the defined field.

Template template = new Template(new TemplateItem[] { field });

The Template object holds the defined fields.

Step 3: Parse Document Using the Template

Instantiate the Parser class with the target document path and then parse the document using the created template.

using (Parser parser = new Parser("YourSampleFile.pdf"))
{
    DocumentData data = parser.ParseByTemplate(template);
    // Iterate through extracted data
    for (int i = 0; i < data.Count; i++)
    {
        Console.Write(data[i].Name + ": ");
        PageTextArea area = data[i].PageArea as PageTextArea;
        Console.WriteLine(area == null ? "Not a template field" : area.Text);
    }
}

Here:

• Parser is initialized with the sample document file path.
• ParseByTemplate method is used to extract data based on the provided template.
• Extracted data is accessed using DocumentData, where each item corresponds to a defined field.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the process of working with fields at fixed positions in templates using GroupDocs.Parser for .NET. By defining templates with specific field positions, developers can accurately extract targeted data from various document formats.

FAQ’s

Is GroupDocs.Parser compatible with all document formats?

GroupDocs.Parser supports a wide range of file formats, including PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Refer to the documentation for a detailed list.

How can I obtain a temporary license for GroupDocs.Parser?

You can get a temporary license for testing purposes from here.

Where can I find support for GroupDocs.Parser?

For technical assistance and discussions, visit the GroupDocs.Parser forum.

Can I try GroupDocs.Parser before purchasing?

Yes, you can explore the library with a free trial available here.

How do I purchase a license for GroupDocs.Parser?

To buy a license, visit the purchase page.