File in use word document

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I have a WinForms application where I am using Word Automation to build documents via a template, and then save them to the database. After the document is created, I retrieve the document from the database, write it to the file system in a temp directory, and then open the document using the Word Interop services.

There is a list of documents loaded and the user can open only 1 instance of each document, but can open multiple different documents simultaneously. I don’t have any problems with opening, saving, and closing when they open 1 document, however, when they open multiple documents simultaneously, I get the following error when closing any of my instances of Word:

The file is in use by another application or user. (C:...TemplatesNormal.dotm) 
This error is commonly encountered when a read lock is set on the file that you are attempting to open.

I am using the following code to open the document and handle the BeforeDocumentClosed event:

public void OpenDocument(string filePath, Protocol protocol, string docTitle, byte[] document)
{
    _protocol = protocol;
    documentTitle = docTitle;
    _path = filePath;

    if (!_wordDocuments.ContainsKey(_path))
    {
        FileUtility.WriteToFileSystem(filePath, document);

        Word.Application wordApplication = new Word.Application();
        wordApplication.DocumentBeforeClose += WordApplicationDocumentBeforeClose;

        wordApplication.Documents.Open(_path);

        _wordDocuments.Add(_path, wordApplication);
    }
    _wordApplication = _wordDocuments[_path];
    _currentWordDocument = _wordApplication.ActiveDocument;

    ShowWordApplication();
}

public void ShowWordApplication()
{
    if (_wordApplication != null)
    {
        _wordApplication.Visible = true;
        _wordApplication.Activate();
        _wordApplication.ActiveWindow.SetFocus();
    }
}

private void WordApplicationDocumentBeforeClose(Document doc, ref bool cancel)
{
    if (!_currentWordDocument.Saved)
    {
        DialogResult dr = MessageHandler.ShowConfirmationYnc(String.Format(Strings.DocumentNotSavedMsg, _documentTitle), Strings.DocumentNotSavedCaption);

        switch (dr)
        {
            case DialogResult.Yes:
                SaveDocument(_path);
                break;
            case DialogResult.Cancel:
                cancel = true;
                return;
        }
    }

    try
    {
        if (_currentWordDocument != null)
            _currentWordDocument.Close();
    }
    finally
    {
        Cleanup();
    }
}

public void Cleanup()
{
    if (_currentWordDocument != null)
        while(Marshal.ReleaseComObject(_currentWordDocument) > 0);

    if (_wordApplication != null)
    {
        _wordApplication.Quit();
        while (Marshal.ReleaseComObject(_wordApplication) > 0);
        _wordDocuments.Remove(_path);
    }
}

Does anyone see anything wrong that I am doing to allow opening of multiple documents at the same time? I am fairly new to Word Automation and the Word Interop services, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

This article explains more about DOCX files, like how to open one or convert it to a format that’s compatible with other software.

What Is DOCX?

A file with the DOCX file extension is a Microsoft Word Open XML Format Document file.

DOCX files are used for everything from resumes and cover letters to reports, flyers, documentation, invitations, newsletters, and more. These files usually contain text but can also include objects, styles, rich formatting, and images.

Microsoft started using DOCX files in Microsoft Word beginning in Word 2007, while earlier versions of Word use the DOC file extension.

DOCX files are smaller and easier to support than DOC files because the format is XML-based and all the content is stored as separate files, and ultimately compacted in a single, ZIP-compressed file.

How to Open a DOCX File

Microsoft Word (version 2007 and above) is the primary software program used to open and edit DOCX files. If you have an earlier version of Microsoft Word, you can download the free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to open, edit, and save DOCX files in your older version of MS Word.

Actually, you don’t even need to open a DOCX file with Word because Microsoft has a free Word Viewer program that lets you open Word documents like DOCX files without needing to have MS Office installed. 

What’s more, you don’t even need any Microsoft Office/365-related program on your computer to open this type of file because there are several completely free word processor programs that open and edit DOCX files. WPS, OpenOffice Writer, and ONLYOFFICE are some that we recommending on a regular basis.

The free Google Docs tool is an online word processor that can also open/edit DOCX files and, being a web-based tool, doesn’t require any software downloads. This also means, of course, that any DOCX files you want to use with Google Docs must be uploaded to the tool before they can be viewed and edited.

Microsoft Word Online is another way to view and edit DOCX files online. That service is from Microsoft, so it looks a bit like the desktop version of Microsoft Word, but it’s completely free.

Google also has a free Chrome extension that lets you view and edit DOCX files right inside your browser. It supports dragging local DOCX files into the Chrome browser as well as opening DOCX files directly from the internet without having to download them first.

The now-defunct Microsoft Works opens DOCX files, too. While not free, Corel WordPerfect Office is another option, which you can pick up at Amazon.

How to Convert a DOCX File

Most people are interested in converting a DOCX file to PDF or DOC, but the programs and services below support a number of additional file formats as well.

The quickest, easiest, and most effective way to convert a DOCX file is to just open it in one of the word processor programs mentioned above and then save it to your computer as the file format you’d like it to be in. Most applications do this through the File > Save As menu, or something similar.

If that doesn’t seem to work for you, you could use a dedicated converter from our list of free file converter software programs and online services, like Zamzar or FileZigZag. These are great examples of online DOCX converters that can save the file to not only document formats like DOC, PDF, ODT, and TXT but also eBook formats and image formats like MOBI, LIT, JPG, and PNG.

To convert your DOCX file to the Google Docs format to edit the file there, all you have to do is upload it to your account. This can be done from Google Drive’s New > File upload menu or directly from Google Docs via the file picker icon.

Calibre is a very popular free program that converts DOCX to eBook formats, too, like EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, PDB, PDF, and several others. We recommend reading their instructions on converting Word documents for some help making an eBook from your DOCX file.

Thanks for letting us know!