What is invalid about this docx?

Matthew Binsfeld 21

Hi,

I generated this docx with my software. The Open XML SDK productivity tool does show some validation errors, but fixing these errors doesn't make it so this docx can be opened in Word. Usually when I have an invalid docx word gives me the option to repair and open, but this one appears to be too broken to even do that.

NOTE: I added .txt to the end of the file, so that the forum would let me upload the docx.

out.docx.txt

Mike Bowen 1,781 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-03-21T20:48:46.89+00:00

Hi @Matthew Binsfeld ,

Can you share SDK code you used to create the file and a copy of the file that was repaired, but still won't open in Word?

Thanks!

Michael Bowen

Escalation Engineer - Microsoft Open Specifications
Matthew Binsfeld 21 Reputation points

2023-03-21T20:57:20.15+00:00

Hi Mike,

We build the OOXML using our own library (in Java), so there is no SDK code to share.
Mike Bowen 1,781 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-03-21T21:48:13.2466667+00:00

Hi Mathew,

Can you share the repaired file that also won't open in Word?
Matthew Binsfeld 21 Reputation points

2023-03-21T22:14:10.9266667+00:00

Hi,

So the attached file is the only docx. Word normally offers to repair invalid docx files, but in this case it doesn't even offer that option.
Mike Bowen 1,781 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-03-21T23:40:46.8033333+00:00

I have found that the issue is with header1.xml and header4.xml. If you fix the issues found by the validator and replace the xml in header1.xml and header4.xml with valid header part code or remove the references to rId14 and rId8 in document.xml the file will open without errors or needing repair. I am working to narrow down exactly what causes the issue with the header parts.

1 answer

Mike Bowen 1,781 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-03-22T21:14:08.3233333+00:00
Hi @Matthew Binsfeld ,

I looked through the docx and besides the errors that the validator finds, there is invalid markup in header1.xml and header4.xml. If you look both of those files contain empty <w:sdtContent /> elements, but this is invalid. sdtContent must have at least one inline-level structure, such as a w:p.

From ISO/IEC 29500 17.5.2.34 sdtContent (Block-Level Structured Document Tag Content)

"This element specifies the last known contents of a structured document tag around one or more block-level structures (paragraphs, tables, etc.)"

If you replace the self-closing <w:sdtContent /> with something simple like below and resolve the errors found by the validator, the file will open without needing repair.

<w:sdtContent> <w:p> <w:r> <w:t></w:t> </w:r> </w:p> </w:sdtContent>

Please give that a try and let me know if you can open the file. If it resolves your issue, please mark this as answered.
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What is invalid about this docx?

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