static void ReconcileWords(Word._Application app, string inPath1, string inPath2, string outPath) { var doc1 = app.Documents.Add(inPath1); var doc2 = app.Documents.Add(inPath2); if (new[] { doc1.ProtectionType, doc2.ProtectionType }.Any(pt => pt != Word.WdProtectionType.wdNoProtection)) { app.Documents.Close(Word.WdSaveOptions.wdDoNotSaveChanges); return; } // CompareDocuments(...) makes an error if either one of the two docs is protected. app.CompareDocuments(doc1, doc2).SaveAs(outPath); app.Documents.Close(); }