in the code section of this post is a simple word97 document with the test inside reading "Hello this the word format"
In order for you to use it effectively you would have to read in the file structure the same way it is represented with the file format and also the correct version of that format.
www.whatsit.org I think is one place to look for file format specifications but i think it will be hard to cover so many format changes of word and its obscure access to the format specifications.
here is a couple of quotes whether they are accuarte or not im not sure
Quote: "
Most computer users use Microsoft Word. That is unfortunate for them, since Word is proprietary software, denying its users the freedom to study, change, copy, and redistribute it. And because Microsoft changes the Word file format with each release, its users are locked into a system that compels them to buy each upgrade whether they want a change or not. They may even find, several years from now, that the Word documents they are writing this year can no longer be read with the version of Word they use then.
"
Quote: "
Free software today can read some Word documents, but not all--the format is secret and has not been entirely decoded. Even worse, Microsoft can change it at any time
"
source:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
It would be easier to just create a textfile and use this to populate textual data.
If your current document is in word u can always export to a txt document.
a small step up from text if u wanted a format to tackle conversion on might .rtf or rich text format.
compare this line in a txt file
Hello this the word format
to the source button belwo and keep inmind how many different versions there are.
Ill post a small string txt write / read sample next
