Convert Word 'doc' files to 'docx' format using win32com to automate Microsoft Word

word_doc_to_docx.py

# Convert Microsoft Word 'doc' files to 'docx' format by opening and
# saving Word files using win32com to automate Microsoft Word.
# 
# The script walks a directory structure and converts all '.doc' files found.
# Original 'doc' and new 'docx' files are saved in the same directory.
# 
# This Word automation method has been found to work where OFC.exe and 
# wordconv.exe do not.
# 
# Tested using Windows 7, Word 2013, python 2.7.10, pywin32-219.win-amd64-py2.7

import os.path
import win32com.client

baseDir = 'E:\Docs' # Starting directory for directory walk

word = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.application")

for dir_path, dirs, files in os.walk(baseDir):
	for file_name in files:
		file_path = os.path.join(dir_path, file_name)
		file_name, file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)
		if file_extension.lower() == '.doc': # 
			docx_file = '{0}{1}'.format(file_path, 'x')
			if not os.path.isfile(docx_file): # Skip conversion where docx file already exists
				print('Converting: {0}'.format(file_path))
				try:
					wordDoc = word.Documents.Open(file_path, False, False, False)
					wordDoc.SaveAs2(docx_file, FileFormat = 16)
					wordDoc.Close()
				except Exception: 
					print('Failed to Convert: {0}'.format(file_path))

word.Quit()

I have found the error.
You need to insert file_path = os.path.abspath(file_path)
and also docx_file = os.path.abspath(docx_file)
in line 26.

The full code would look like this:

import os.path
import win32com.client

baseDir = 'alles\\' # Starting directory for directory walk

word = win32com.client.Dispatch("Word.application")

for dir_path, dirs, files in os.walk(baseDir):
	for file_name in files:

		file_path = os.path.join(dir_path, file_name)
		file_name, file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)

		if "~$" not in file_name:
			if file_extension.lower() == '.doc': #
				docx_file = '{0}{1}'.format(file_path, 'x')

				if not os.path.isfile(docx_file): # Skip conversion where docx file already exists

					file_path = os.path.abspath(file_path)
					docx_file = os.path.abspath(docx_file)
					try:
						wordDoc = word.Documents.Open(file_path)
						wordDoc.SaveAs2(docx_file, FileFormat = 16)
						wordDoc.Close()
					except Exception as e:
						print('Failed to Convert: {0}'.format(file_path))
						print(e)

Hi everyone,
What value should I put for FileFormat to convert to ".doc" rather than ".docx" in the line below?
wordDoc.SaveAs2(docx_file, FileFormat = 16)
Assuming I make the proper changes to the code in other lines. Thank you.

Hi Asalim11

I have not tried it myself but the Microsoft reference below suggests file format '0'.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/word.wdsaveformat

I hope this helps.

Worked like a charm. Thank you.

Hi Asalim11

You are welcome.

After looking at the script in relation to your question I thought it needed a bit of an update.
If you look for 'microsoft_doc_converter.py' on https://gist.github.com/davecoutts you will now find an updated python3 version that handles Word and Excel conversions.

https://gist.github.com/davecoutts/0e981c3b5f765320561aa6ca78ddebd2

Thank you Dave. Highly appreciated.

This method to convert doc to docx format. Doc file table to convert docx table board line missing. Can you help

could someone please add the sensitivity label to it, when i am trying , it opens the doc goes to save as docx but then there is a prompt for setting sensitivity which i am unable to execute, the prompt comes at the SaveAs2 step but setting sensitivity can be done after that step only, since the old doc format did not support sensitivity.

my question is: how to add sensitivity to docx while converting file from old doc format as it prompts for setting sensitivity before saving ?