How can I integrate an external word processing application with a Java Swing app?

Question

Hi all, I need some genius advice on this one.

I have a Java Swing application that needs to launch a word processor in order to allow the user to complete some work, and then retrieve the output of that work and evaluate it later.

In my head I am thinking my application can look in the normal places for Open Office or Word executables to see if one of those programs is installed, and then create a process and block the Swing window until that process returns. Is this really the best way to go? Also, how can I pass data back and forth?

I looked into the Open office java bean already, but alas I do not think there is Mac/Linux support.

So, to sum up my question:

• is creating a process for the word processor the best way to do this?
• how can I pass info between my app and the word processor (more specifically, when they have finished creating their document, how can the Swing app get it)

Thanks,

Ben

Answer 1

Use the open office sdk, which is available for Linux. You might want to use open office in server mode.

Answer 2

You could integrate docx4all (Swing based docx word processor) into your app.