Python-docx-template is a Python library that allows users to generate Microsoft Word documents (.docx) from templates. It extends the python-docx library by adding templating features, enabling users to create dynamic Word documents with placeholders for data, loops, and conditional statements.

Pros

• Easy integration with existing Word templates
• Supports complex document structures, including tables, lists, and images
• Allows for dynamic content generation using Jinja2-like syntax
• Compatible with Python 2.7 and 3.x

Cons

• Limited formatting options compared to direct manipulation with python-docx
• May have performance issues with very large documents or complex templates
• Requires basic knowledge of Jinja2 templating syntax
• Documentation could be more comprehensive for advanced use cases

Code Examples

1. Basic usage:

from docxtpl import DocxTemplate

doc = DocxTemplate("my_template.docx")
context = {'company_name': 'Acme Corp', 'amount': 123.45}
doc.render(context)
doc.save("generated_doc.docx")

2. Using loops in templates:

from docxtpl import DocxTemplate

doc = DocxTemplate("template_with_table.docx")
context = {
    'items': [
        {'name': 'Apple', 'price': 1.0},
        {'name': 'Banana', 'price': 0.5},
        {'name': 'Orange', 'price': 0.75}
    ]
}
doc.render(context)
doc.save("generated_table.docx")

3. Conditional statements in templates:

from docxtpl import DocxTemplate

doc = DocxTemplate("template_with_conditions.docx")
context = {
    'is_member': True,
    'name': 'John Doe',
    'discount': 15
}
doc.render(context)
doc.save("generated_conditional.docx")

Getting Started

To get started with python-docx-template:

1. Install the library:

   pip install docxtpl
   

2. Create a Word document template with placeholders using {{ }} syntax.

3. Use the following basic code structure:

   from docxtpl import DocxTemplate
   
   doc = DocxTemplate("path/to/your/template.docx")
   context = {'variable1': 'value1', 'variable2': 'value2'}
   doc.render(context)
   doc.save("output_document.docx")
   

4. Run your Python script to generate the document.