WOPI host and WOPI client example

Question

I am a bit confused about WOPI host and WOPI client. Can anyone tell me exactly the meaning of above 2 terms. I want to know what exactly means WOPI host (either my web application or a WOPI server on Microsoft side) and same for WOPI client.

Dillion

Answer 1

WOPI host = WOPI server = a web API that serves files to WOPI client

WOPI client = an application that is able to edit files served by WOPI host

The two communicate via MS-WOPI protocol that is described here.

Example implementations:

• WOPI host - SharePoint
• WOPI client - Office Web Apps (Office Online Server)

A typical scenario is that you want to enable your application to edit files in Word/Excel... In that case, you need to implement a WOPI host - an endpoint which the WOPI client (OWA) will talk to. Implementing such a host is described here. You can take a look at existing projects on GitHub - marx-yu's implementation using HttpListener, or mine using ASP.NET Core 3.1.

Camp

thanks for the answer. I would like to know one more thing about that Lock request, There is nothing defined in Lock endpoint implementation document on wopi.readthedocs.io/projects/wopirest/en/latest/files/Lock.html What should this request generate ? Any random string or what ? – Dillion

A random string that is within the following boundaries: wopi.readthedocs.io/projects/wopirest/en/latest/… – Camp

Got it boss!! Thanks. :) – Dillion

Hi Rocky, that was a very good answer. I just want to ask that Is is possible to implement WOPI host in Node.js? Thank you in anticipation. – Orthoptic

I saw you submitted a separate question. Check out my answer there: #39062525 – Camp

Hi, rocky, could you give me some suggestions about this (problem)[#60540605 Thanks. – Ginni

@Camp is Office Web Apps free of cost? – Intentional

Afaik, it's only free for viewing docs, not editing. The full licensing terms can be found here: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/licensing/… – Camp

For Office Online Server (a newer version of OWA), see this: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeonlineserver/… – Camp