Tech: Mac .docx converter for MS Word 2004

Subject: Tech: Mac .docx converter for MS Word 2004
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 04:48 PM

FYI...

If you have a Mac and don't have the latest version of MS Office, you may have had trouble with other people sending you Word .docx files that you can't open. You can download a converter from Microsoft that converts them to rtf (Rich Text Format) so you can read them: download page

Be aware that you won't want to use this to exchange documents back and forth if formatting is a big deal, since rtf format won't retain exactly all your Word format coding. But, you will be able to read it! If you need to collaborate with an Office 2007 or 2008 (coming soon) user, get them to save the file in .doc format.

More info from MS here.

It says that they plan to release an update for Office 2004 with the converter, but apparently they haven't done it yet (a year after they said that).

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac .docx converter for MS Word 2004
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 05:12 PM

This is said to not work very well.

There is a commercial product (still cheap) from Panergy Software that looks better, I haven't used it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac .docx converter for MS Word 2004
From: Tootler
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 06:31 PM

If you use Open Office, you can read and write MS word files. To read docx you need version 3 which is still in beta, but is due for release soon. I have version 3 on my PC and have had no problems with it. There is a version for Mac here

Subject: RE: Tech: Mac .docx converter for MS Word 2004
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 07:54 PM

Well, if you've got pretty straightforward text, it's fine, but, when you opt to open a .docx file the window that asks whether you want to convert it says:

"After conversion, some content might look different from the original version, and you might be unable to edit it. In addition, some content might not be converted and might not appear in the converted file."

That certainly doesn't say much for it. It says, "Buy our new product that made what you use obsolete!" as usual, in the Microsoft way. :-(

Undoubtedly safer to have the originator of the .docx save it in .doc format for you.

~ Becky in Tucson