If you're only looking at Word 2007 files (
*.docx
), then
DocX[
^] can read them.
(It's a free and open-source version of a commercial product, but so far the only differences are that it doesn't come with support, and the free version can't convert to PDF.)
Alternatively, you can use the OpenXML SDK:
Retrieving Custom Properties from Word 2010 Documents by Using the Open XML SDK 2.0.[
^]
To support the older file format (
*.doc
), there's an ancient tool available from Microsoft:
Download Microsoft Developer Support OLE File Property Reader 2.1 Sample (KB 224351) from Official Microsoft Download Center[
^]
However, given the age, there's no guarantee it will still work.
NB: You can't use Office Interop from ASP.NET:
Microsoft does not currently recommend, and does not support, Automation of Microsoft Office applications from any unattended, non-interactive client application or component (including ASP, ASP.NET, DCOM, and NT Services), because Office may exhibit unstable behavior and/or deadlock when Office is run in this environment.