POI scratchpad and reading DOCs using the HDF package

[David Jack <Da...@tamaleresearch.com>]

hello-
 
i have a couple quick questions for users of POI's scratchpad jar ...
 
i am currently using the poi-2.5.1-final-20040804.jar which contains the
org.apache.poi.hdf package.  i am using the WordDocument class to read
MS DOCs to text.  i have noticed that the WordDocument class is unable
to open all MS DOC types.  i was wondering if anyone knew what types of
MS DOC types are not handled by the HDF package and if anyone knew of
any viable workarounds?
 
additionally, is anyone using the newer HWPF package?  i haven't yet
seen a general release of the package in a newer scratchpad jar and was
wondering what the stability of this package is and if it offers any
advantages for reading MS DOCs?  i have read that HWPF is a port of the
HDF package so i assume that it contains the same limitations.
 
thanks,
-david