docx-editor

Pure Python library for Word document track changes and comments, without requiring Microsoft Word.

Note: The PyPI package is named docx-editor because docx-edit was too similar to an existing package.

• Github repository: https://github.com/pablospe/docx-editor/
• Documentation: https://pablospe.github.io/docx-editor/

Features

• Track Changes: Replace, delete, and insert text with revision tracking
• Cross-Boundary Editing: Find and replace text spanning multiple XML elements and revision boundaries
• Mixed-State Editing: Atomic decomposition for text spanning <w:ins>/<w:del> boundaries
• Comments: Add, reply, resolve, and delete comments
• Revision Management: List, accept, and reject tracked changes
• Cross-Platform: Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows
• No Dependencies: Only requires defusedxml for secure XML parsing

Installation

pip install docx-editor

Claude Code Plugin

This repo includes a plugin for Claude Code that enables AI-assisted Word document editing.

This plugin extends the original Anthropic docx skill which requires Claude to manually manipulate OOXML. Instead, this plugin provides an interface (docx-editor) that handles all the complexity—Claude just calls simple Python methods like doc.replace() or doc.add_comment(), making document editing significantly faster and less error-prone.

Install as plugin

# Add the marketplace
/plugin marketplace add pablospe/docx-editor

# Install the plugin
/plugin install docx-editor@docx-editor-marketplace

# Install dependencies
pip install docx-editor python-docx

Manual install (alternative)

# Install dependencies
pip install docx-editor python-docx

# Copy skill to Claude Code skills directory
git clone https://github.com/pablospe/docx-editor /tmp/docx-editor
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/docx-editor/skills/docx ~/.claude/skills/
rm -rf /tmp/docx-editor

Once installed, Claude Code can help you edit Word documents with track changes, comments, and revisions.

Quick Start

from docx_editor import Document

with Document.open("contract.docx") as doc:
    # Track changes
    doc.replace("30 days", "60 days")
    doc.insert_after("Section 5", "New clause")
    doc.delete("obsolete text")

    # Comments
    doc.add_comment("Section 5", "Please review")

    # Revision management
    revisions = doc.list_revisions()
    doc.accept_revision(revision_id=1)

    doc.save()

Cross-Boundary Text Operations

Text in Word documents with tracked changes can span revision boundaries. docx-editor handles this transparently:

from docx_editor import Document

with Document.open("reviewed.docx") as doc:
    # Get visible text (inserted text included, deleted excluded)
    text = doc.get_visible_text()

    # Find text across element boundaries
    match = doc.find_text("Aim: To")
    if match and match.spans_boundary:
        print("Text spans a revision boundary")

    # Replace works even across revision boundaries
    doc.replace("Aim: To", "Goal: To")

    doc.save()