How to convert office (excel or word) to pdf with custom properties mapped to fields or ranges?I am using

I am using SolidWorks PDMPro to create pdf's from office documents. A task action tool in PDM provides a way to pass variable data from the donor office files custom document properties to tools that create the same custom properties in the pdf. However what is missing for this pdf to mirror the functionality of the office document is code for linking the custom properties in the pdf to the appropriate data fields as they were in the donor office document. The custom properties in the office documents are linked to named ranges (excel) or fields (word) and the PDM system is able to read and write to those custom properties which in turn update what is shown in those ranges or fields. This is referred to as dynamic content. We use this to update descriptions, signatures and dates, etc.

Here is the bit of code found in the advanced scripting options of the PDM task. It is missing the code to transfer the mapping of the custom properties to fields of the donor file to the pdf. I have no idea how to modify this to get this to work. Ideally I would like some code that is simple and generalizes the process to simply include "all linked ranges(fields) to custom properties copy to same" in concept.

Imports System
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Linq

Namespace SolidWorks

Public Class TaskAddin

Public Enum FileType
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Unknown
End Enum

Public Sub Log(message)
' Determine error log output path
Dim errorLogPath As Object = ""
Dim errorLogFolder As Object = "[TempErrorLogPath]"

errorLogPath = Path.Combine(errorLogFolder, "<TaskInstanceGuid>.log")

' Write error to output file
Dim objWriter As New System.IO.StreamWriter(errorLogPath, True)
objWriter.WriteLine( "[" + Date.Now.ToString("dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss.fff") + "]" + message)
objWriter.Close()
End Sub

Public Function Main(paramarray prmParameters() as object) as object

   Dim FileType as FileType = FileType.<FileType>
    Select Case FileType
      Case FileType.Word
         Return ConvertWordDocToPDF()
      Case FileType.Excel
         Return ConvertExcelFileToPDF()
      Case FileType.PowerPoint
        Return ConvertPPFileToPDF()
      Case Else
        Log( "File's type is not suitable for conversion" )
    End Select

Return False
End Function

Public Function IsProtected(file__1 As [String]) As [Boolean]

Dim bytes As [Byte]() = File.ReadAllBytes(file__1)
Dim prefix As [String] = Encoding.[Default].GetString(bytes.Take(2).ToArray())

' Zip and not password protected.
If prefix = "PK" Then
  Return False
End If

' Office format.
If prefix = "ÐÏ" Then
  ' XLS 2003
  If bytes.Skip(&H208).Take(1).ToArray()(0) = &HFE Then
   Return True
  End If

  ' XLS 2005
  If bytes.Skip(&H214).Take(1).ToArray()(0) = &H2F Then
   Return True
  End If

  ' DOC 2005
  If bytes.Skip(&H20B).Take(1).ToArray()(0) = &H13 Then
   Return True
  End If

  ' Guessing
  If bytes.Length < 2000 Then
   Return False
  End If

  ' DOC/XLS 2007+
  Dim start As [String] = Encoding.[Default].GetString(bytes.Take(2000).ToArray()).Replace(vbNullChar, " ")

  If start.Contains("E n c r y p t e d P a c k a g e") Then
   Return True
  End If

  Return False
End If

' Unknown format.
Return False
End Function

Public Function ConvertWordDocToPDF() As Boolean
    Dim success As Boolean = False
    Try
      'Log("Initialize application")
      Dim wordType As Type = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Word.Application")
   Dim wordApp As Object

   Try
       wordApp = Activator.CreateInstance(wordType)
   Catch ex As Exception
      Log("No version of Word installed on this system")
   Return False
      End Try

      'Word.Application wordApp = new Word.Application();
      wordApp.Visible = False

      Try
        'Log("Open document")
        Dim docPath As Object = ""
        docPath = Path.Combine("<SourceFolderPath>", "<SourceFileName>")

  If IsProtected(docPath) Then
   Log("The document " & docPath & " is protected, it cannot be handled by the addin.")
   Return False
  End If

        Dim doc As Object = wordApp.Documents.Open(docPath)
 
  Dim paramExportFormat As Int32 = 17
  Dim paramOpenAfterExport As Boolean = False
  Dim paramExportOptimizeFor As Int32 = 0 'WdExportOptimizeFor.wdExportOptimizeForPrint
  Dim paramExportRange As Int32 = [__MS_WORD_EXPORT_RANGE ]'WdExportRange.wdExportAllDocument
  Dim paramStartPage As Int32 = [__MS_WORD_START_RANGE ]
  Dim paramEndPage As Int32 = [__MS_WORD_END_RANGE ]
  Dim paramExportItem As Int32 = [__MS_WORD_MARKUP ] 'WdExportItem.wdExportDocumentContent
  Dim paramIncludeDocProps As Boolean = [__MS_WORD_DOC_PROP]
  Dim paramKeepIRM As Boolean = True
  Dim paramDocStructureTags As Boolean = True
  Dim paramBitmapMissingFonts As Boolean = True
  Dim paramUseISO19005_1 As Boolean = False

        'Word bookmarks takes precedence
        '1 - WdExportCreateBookmarks.wdExportCreateHeadingBookmarks
        '2 - WdExportCreateBookmarks.wdExportCreateWordBookmarks
        Dim paramCreateBookmarks As Int32 = If(doc.Bookmarks.Count < 1, 1, 2)

        ' (int)Word.WdSaveFormat.wdFormatPDF = 17
        'Log("Save document as pdf" + "[OutputPath]")
  doc.ExportAsFixedFormat("[OutputPath]", _
            paramExportFormat, paramOpenAfterExport, _
            paramExportOptimizeFor, paramExportRange, paramStartPage, _
            paramEndPage, paramExportItem, paramIncludeDocProps, _
            paramKeepIRM, paramCreateBookmarks, _
            paramDocStructureTags, paramBitmapMissingFonts, _
            paramUseISO19005_1)

        If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty("[Sec_OutputPath]") Then
          'Log("Save document second output file as pdf" + "[Sec_OutputPath]")
    doc.ExportAsFixedFormat("[Sec_OutputPath]", _
            paramExportFormat, paramOpenAfterExport, _
            paramExportOptimizeFor, paramExportRange, paramStartPage, _
            paramEndPage, paramExportItem, paramIncludeDocProps, _
            paramKeepIRM, paramCreateBookmarks, _
            paramDocStructureTags, paramBitmapMissingFonts, _
            paramUseISO19005_1)
        End If

        'Log("Close document")
        Dim saveDoc As Object = False

        ' Close document
        doc.Close(saveDoc)

        'ComObjectCleanUp(doc)
        success = True
      Catch ex As Exception
        ' Problem saving the document
        Log(ex.Message.ToString())
      Finally
        If wordApp IsNot Nothing Then
          wordApp.Quit(Type.Missing, Type.Missing, Type.Missing)
          'Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(wordApp)
          wordApp = Nothing
        End If
      End Try
    Catch ex As Exception
      ' Unable to start Word
      Log(ex.Message.ToString())
    End Try
    Return success
  End Function

Public Function ConvertExcelFileToPDF() As Boolean
    Dim success As Boolean = False
    Try
      Dim oldCulture = System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture
      Dim newCulture = New System.Globalization.CultureInfo("en-US")
      System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = newCulture

      'Log("Initialize Excel application")
      Dim xlType As Type = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Excel.Application")
      Dim exApp As Object
   Try
    exApp = Activator.CreateInstance(xlType)
   Catch ex As Exception
      Log("No version of Éxcel installed on this system")
   Return False
      End Try

      'Excel.Application exApp = new Excel.Application();
      exApp.Visible = False

     Dim ExportAllPage As Boolean =  [__MS_EXCEL_EXPORTALL_PAGE]
     Dim Format As Int32 = 0
  Dim Quality As Int32 = 0
  Dim IncludeDocProps As Boolean = [__MS_EXCEL_DOC_PROP]
  Dim IgnorePrintAreas As Boolean = [__MS_WORD_PRINT_AREA]
     Dim StartPage As Int32 = [__MS_EXCEL_START_RANGE]
  Dim EndPage As Int32 = [__MS_EXCEL_END_RANGE]
  Dim PageCount As Int32
  Dim OpenAfterPublish As Boolean = False

      Try
        'Log("Open workbook")
        Dim excelPath As Object = ""
        excelPath = Path.Combine("<SourceFolderPath>", "<SourceFileName>")
  If IsProtected(excelPath) Then
   Log("The document " & excelPath & " is protected, it cannot be handled by the addin.")
   Return False
  End If
        Dim wb As Object = exApp.Workbooks.Open(excelPath)
  PageCount = wb.WorkSheets.count
  If StartPage > PageCount Then
   Log("The page selection is out of range.")
   wb.Close(False)
   Return False
  End If

  If EndPage > PageCount Then
   Log("The page selection is out of range.")
   wb.Close(False)
   Return False
  End If
  exApp.DisplayAlerts = False

        'Log("Export workbook as PDF" + "[OutputPath]" )
  If ExportAllPage = True Then
   wb.ExportAsFixedFormat(0, "[OutputPath]",
      Quality,
      IncludeDocProps,
      IgnorePrintAreas )
  Else
   wb.ExportAsFixedFormat ( Format,
    "[OutputPath]",
     Quality,
      IncludeDocProps,
      IgnorePrintAreas,
      StartPage,
      EndPage,
      OpenAfterPublish)
  End If  

        If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty("[Sec_OutputPath]") Then
    'Log("Export workbook as PDF" + "[Sec_OutputPath]")
    If ExportAllPage = True Then
   wb.ExportAsFixedFormat(0, "[Sec_OutputPath]",
      Quality,
      IncludeDocProps,
      IgnorePrintAreas )
    Else
   wb.ExportAsFixedFormat ( Format,
     "[Sec_OutputPath]",
     Quality,
      IncludeDocProps,
      IgnorePrintAreas,
      StartPage,
      EndPage,
      OpenAfterPublish)
    End If
        End If

  exApp.DisplayAlerts = True

        'Log("Close workbook")
        ' Do not save changes. May happen if the workbook is a legacy one. Task server cannot respond to this.
        wb.Close(False)

        'ComObjectCleanUp(wb)
        success = True
      Catch ex As Exception
  If System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetHRForException(ex) = -2146827284 Then
   Log("The page selection is out of range.")
   Return False
  End If
  Log(ex.Message.ToString())
      Finally
        If exApp IsNot Nothing Then
          'Log("Quit Excel application")
          exApp.Quit()
          'Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(exApp)
          exApp = Nothing
        End If
        System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = oldCulture
      End Try
    Catch ex As Exception
      Log(ex.Message.ToString())
    End Try
    Return success
  End Function

  Public Function ConvertPPFileToPDF() As Boolean
    Dim success As Boolean = False
    Try
      Dim ppType As Type = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("PowerPoint.Application")
   Dim ppApp As Object
   Try
  ppApp = Activator.CreateInstance(ppType)
   Catch ex As Exception
      Log("No version of PowerPoint installed on this system")
   Return False
      End Try

      Try
        'Log("Open presentation")
        Dim ppPath As Object = ""
        ppPath = Path.Combine("<SourceFolderPath>", "<SourceFileName>")
  If IsProtected(ppPath) Then
   Log("The document " & ppPath & " is protected, it cannot be handled by the addin.")
   Return False
  End If
        ' (int)Office.MsoTriState.msoTrue = -1, (int)Office.MsoTriState.msoFalse = 0
        Dim ppPresentation As Object = ppApp.Presentations.Open(ppPath, -1, 0, 0)

        ' (int)PowerPoint.PpSaveAsFileType.ppSaveAsPDF = 32
        'Log("Save presentation as pdf")
        'ppPresentation.SaveAs("[OutputPath]", 32)

  Dim ExportAllPage As Boolean =  [__MS_PPT_EXPORTALL_PAGE]
  Dim Intent As Int32 = 1
  Dim FrameSlides As Int32 = [__MS_PPT_FRAMESLIDES]
  Dim HandoutOrder As Int32 = 0
  Dim OutputType  As Int32 = 1
  Dim PrintHiddenSlides As Int32 = [__MS_PPT_INC_HIDDEN_SLIDES]
  Dim RangeType As Int32 = 1
     Dim StartPage As Int32 = [__MS_PPT_START_RANGE]
  Dim EndPage As Int32 = [__MS_PPT_END_RANGE]
  Dim SlideShowName As String = ""
  Dim IncludeDocProperties As Boolean = [__MS_PPT_DOC_PROP]

  Dim PrintRange As object = ppPresentation.PrintOptions.Ranges.Add(StartPage, EndPage)
  If ExportAllPage = True Then
   ppPresentation.ExportAsFixedFormat("[OutputPath]", 2, _
   Intent, FrameSlides, HandoutOrder, _
   OutputType, PrintHiddenSlides, _
   PrintRange, RangeType, SlideShowName, IncludeDocProperties )
  Else  
   ppPresentation.ExportAsFixedFormat("[OutputPath]", 2, _
   Intent, FrameSlides, HandoutOrder, _
   OutputType, PrintHiddenSlides, _
   PrintRange, 4, SlideShowName, IncludeDocProperties )
  End If

        If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty("[Sec_OutputPath]") Then
          'Log("Save presentation as pdf")
            If ExportAllPage = True Then
   ppPresentation.ExportAsFixedFormat("[Sec_OutputPath]", 2, _
   Intent, FrameSlides, HandoutOrder, _
   OutputType, PrintHiddenSlides, _
   PrintRange, RangeType, SlideShowName, IncludeDocProperties )
  Else
   ppPresentation.ExportAsFixedFormat("[Sec_OutputPath]", 2, _
   Intent, FrameSlides, HandoutOrder, _
   OutputType, PrintHiddenSlides, _
   PrintRange, 4, SlideShowName, IncludeDocProperties )
  End If
        End If

        'Log("Close presentation")
        ppPresentation.Close()
        'Marshal.ReleaseComObject(ppPresentation)
        ppPresentation = Nothing

        success = True
      Catch ex As Exception
  If System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetHRForException(ex) = -2147467259 Then
   Log("The page selection is out of range.")
   Return False
  End If
        ' Problem saving the document
        Log(ex.Message.ToString())
      Finally
        'Log("Quit PowerPoint application")
        If ppApp IsNot Nothing Then
          ppApp.Quit()
          'Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(ppApp)
          ppApp = Nothing
        End If
      End Try
    Catch ex As Exception
      ' Couldn't initialize ppApp
      Log(ex.Message.ToString())
    End Try
    Return success
  End Function

End class

End Namespace

Thank you,

Ron