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Supported Formats
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Word Processing
Microsoft Word 97-2003 Document - legacy binary format used by older Word versions. Supports rich text formatting, images, tables, and complex layouts. Maximum compatibility with legacy systems and older Microsoft Office versions (Office 97-2007). File sizes typically larger than modern DOCX. Common in corporate archives, legacy document management systems, and environments requiring backwards compatibility. Still widely supported but superseded by DOCX for new documents.
Microsoft Word 2007+ Document - modern XML-based format providing better compression (40-75% smaller than DOC), improved recovery from corruption, and enhanced features. Open XML standard with better data extraction capabilities. Supports all Word features including styles, themes, SmartArt, advanced formatting, and embedded objects. Industry standard for word processing. Native format for Microsoft Word 2007+, compatible with Google Docs, LibreOffice, and all modern office suites. Essential for professional documents, collaborative editing, and modern workflows.
OpenDocument Text - open standard format for word processors developed by OASIS consortium. Native format for LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice Writer. XML-based structure ensuring long-term accessibility and vendor independence. Supports advanced formatting, styles, images, tables, and all standard word processing features. Excellent for open-source environments, government documents (mandated in many countries), and avoiding vendor lock-in. Free from licensing restrictions and patent concerns.
Rich Text Format - universal document format developed by Microsoft (1987) for cross-platform text exchange. Readable by virtually all word processors (Word, WordPad, LibreOffice, Google Docs, Pages). Supports basic formatting (fonts, colors, styles, tables) without complex features. Larger file sizes than modern formats but maximum compatibility. Perfect for sharing formatted documents across different systems, email attachments ensuring readability, and legacy system compatibility. Reliable intermediate format for document conversion.
Word Macro-Enabled Document - DOCX format with embedded VBA macros. Supports automation, custom functions, and advanced document processing. Security risk if macros from untrusted sources. Used in business environments for automated document workflows. Same features as DOCX plus programmability. Perfect for automated reports, form processing, and document generation. Requires macro security settings in Word. Convert to DOCX to remove macros for safer sharing.
Word 97-2003 Template - legacy template format for Microsoft Word. Contains styles, formatting, and placeholder content for document creation. Binary format compatible with old Word versions. Larger file sizes than DOTX. Common in corporate environments with standardized documents. Perfect for letterheads, forms, and recurring document types. Being replaced by DOTX. Convert to DOTX for modern Word compatibility and smaller file sizes.
Word Template - modern XML-based template format for Microsoft Word 2007+. Contains styles, themes, formatting, and boilerplate content. Smaller file sizes than DOT. Used for standardized documents, letterheads, forms, and corporate templates. Opens as new document preserving template. Perfect for consistent branding and document standardization. Industry standard for Word templates. Compatible with modern Office versions and alternatives.
Word Macro-Enabled Template - DOTX template with embedded VBA macros. Combines template functionality with automation. Used for automated document generation and complex form processing. Security considerations for macro-enabled templates. Perfect for business workflows requiring automated document creation. Common in enterprise environments. Requires macro-enabled Word. Remove macros and convert to DOTX for safer distribution.
AbiWord Document - native format for AbiWord word processor (open-source alternative to Microsoft Word). XML-based lightweight format supporting basic word processing features including formatting, tables, images, and styles. Smaller file sizes than DOC/DOCX. Compatible with AbiWord on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Good RTF compatibility for cross-application usage. Perfect for lightweight word processing in open-source environments. Limited support outside AbiWord. Convert to DOCX or PDF for wider compatibility.
Applix Word Document - legacy format from Applix Words word processor (1990s Unix/Linux). Proprietary format with limited modern support. Historical format from early Unix office suites. Rarely encountered except in legacy system migrations. Convert to modern formats (ODT, DOCX, PDF) for accessibility. Important for recovering documents from old Applix installations. Better alternatives available for all use cases.
DocBook XML - semantic markup format for technical documentation. XML-based structure focusing on content over presentation. Widely used in software documentation, technical manuals, and publishing. Separates content from formatting enabling multiple output formats (PDF, HTML, EPUB). Perfect for complex technical documentation requiring version control and multiple output formats. Standard in open-source documentation. Requires XSLT processing for readable output.
KWord Document - native format for KWord word processor (part of KOffice/Calligra Suite). XML-based format for KDE office applications. Supports frames-based layout for flexible document design. Less common than mainstream formats. Linux-centric format with limited Windows/Mac support. Convert to ODT or DOCX for wider compatibility. Historical format from KDE office suite evolution. Better alternatives available for modern use.
OpenOffice.org 1.0 Writer - legacy OpenDocument format predecessor. XML-based format from OpenOffice.org 1.x era (2002-2005). Replaced by ODT in OpenOffice 2.0. Supported by older OpenOffice and LibreOffice versions. Convert to ODT for modern compatibility. Historical format important for accessing old OpenOffice documents. Modern LibreOffice can open but saving in ODT recommended.
Plain Text - simplest document format containing only unformatted ASCII or Unicode characters. No fonts, colors, images, or layout information. Universal compatibility across all platforms, text editors, and systems. Smallest possible file sizes. Perfect for notes, code, scripts, logs, and any situation requiring absolute simplicity and portability. Essential format for programming, configuration files, data exchange, and scenarios where formatting is unnecessary. Works on any device from mainframes to smartphones.
{group_spreadsheet}
Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Workbook - legacy binary spreadsheet format supporting up to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet. Contains formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple worksheets. Compatible with older Excel versions (Excel 97-2007). File size limited to ~30MB. Common in legacy business systems, old financial databases, and environments requiring Excel 97-2003 compatibility. Being replaced by XLSX but still encountered in corporate archives and legacy data systems.
Microsoft Excel 2007+ Workbook - modern XML-based spreadsheet format with 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns per sheet. Provides better compression (75% smaller than XLS), improved recovery from corruption, and enhanced features. Supports all Excel capabilities including formulas, pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting, and macros (in XLSM variant). Industry standard for spreadsheets. Compatible with Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, and all modern office suites. Essential for data analysis, financial modeling, and business intelligence.
OpenDocument Spreadsheet - open standard format for spreadsheet applications developed by OASIS. Native format for LibreOffice Calc and Apache OpenOffice Calc. XML-based structure ensuring data accessibility and vendor independence. Supports formulas, charts, multiple sheets, and standard spreadsheet features. Excellent for open-source workflows, government use (mandated by many countries), and avoiding Microsoft Office licensing. Free from proprietary restrictions with long-term document accessibility guarantees.
Comma-Separated Values - simple text format for tabular data where each line represents a row and commas separate columns. Universal data exchange format readable by all spreadsheet applications, databases, and programming languages. No formatting, formulas, or multiple sheets - pure data only. Smallest file sizes for tabular data. Perfect for data import/export, database operations, data analysis with Python/R, and sharing datasets. Essential format for data science, web applications, and system integration. Works with Excel, databases, and any data processing tool.
{group_presentation}
Microsoft PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation - legacy binary format for slide presentations. Supports slides, animations, transitions, embedded media, and speaker notes. Compatible with older PowerPoint versions (PowerPoint 97-2007). File sizes larger than modern PPTX. Common in legacy presentation archives, older corporate training materials, and environments requiring backwards compatibility. Still playable but superseded by PPTX for new presentations. Found in archived presentations from pre-2007 era.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007+ Presentation - modern XML-based format providing better compression (up to 75% smaller than PPT), improved recovery, and enhanced multimedia support. Supports all PowerPoint features including advanced animations, transitions, embedded videos, SmartArt, themes, and master slides. Industry standard for presentations. Native format for PowerPoint 2007+, compatible with Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress, and Keynote. Essential for business presentations, educational slideshows, and professional communication.
OpenDocument Presentation - open standard format for presentation software developed by OASIS consortium. Native format for LibreOffice Impress and Apache OpenOffice Impress. XML-based structure ensuring long-term accessibility. Supports slides, animations, transitions, multimedia, and standard presentation features. Excellent for open-source environments, government presentations, and avoiding vendor lock-in. Free from licensing restrictions. Compatible with PowerPoint through conversion but best used within open-source office suites.
Other Formats
Portable Document Format - universal document format developed by Adobe maintaining exact visual appearance across all platforms and devices. Preserves fonts, images, layouts, and formatting precisely. Industry standard for document distribution, official documents, forms, archival, and printing. Not designed for editing (though modern tools allow limited editing). Supports encryption, digital signatures, forms, annotations, and accessibility features. Essential for contracts, invoices, reports, e-books, and any document requiring consistent appearance. Most widely supported document format globally.
DjVu Document - specialized format for scanned documents, books, and manuscripts. Superior compression for bitonal and color scanned images. Smaller than PDF for scanned content (3-10x). Supports OCR text layer, annotations, and bookmarks. Perfect for digital libraries, scientific papers, historical documents, and scanned books. Specialized viewers required (DjVuLibre, browser plugins). Excellent for archiving paper documents digitally. Convert to PDF for broader accessibility.
XML Paper Specification - Microsoft's document format similar to PDF. Fixed-layout format preserving exact document appearance. Native support in Windows Vista+. Supports vector graphics, fonts embedding, and digital signatures. Alternative to PDF in Windows environments. Limited support outside Windows ecosystem. Perfect for Windows-only document distribution. Convert to PDF for universal compatibility across all platforms.
Open XML Paper Specification - standardized version of XPS as ECMA standard. Same features as XPS with formal specification. Better cross-platform support than original XPS. Fixed-layout document format with vector graphics support. Used in some Windows applications and printers. Limited adoption compared to PDF. Convert to PDF for maximum compatibility. Mainly relevant in Windows printing workflows.
Markdown - lightweight markup language using plain text formatting syntax for creating formatted documents. Simple symbols (* for italics, ** for bold, # for headings) convert to HTML. Human-readable in plain text. Perfect for README files, documentation, blogs, note-taking, and technical writing. Popular among developers, technical writers, and content creators. Supports headers, lists, links, images, code blocks, and basic formatting. Extremely portable and future-proof. Foundation of many static site generators and documentation systems.
HyperText Markup Language - standard markup language for web pages containing text, images, links, and multimedia. Readable in any web browser without special software. Supports styling (CSS), interactivity (JavaScript), and rich media embedding. Universal web standard since 1991. Perfect for web publishing, online documentation, email newsletters, and accessible content. Extremely portable with guaranteed long-term support. Can be converted from documents for web distribution or archived for offline viewing.
Electronic Publication - open standard e-book format based on HTML, CSS, and XML. Reflowable text adapts to any screen size. Supports fonts, images, metadata, table of contents, and CSS styling. Industry standard for e-books compatible with most e-readers (Kindle via conversion, Kobo, Nook, Apple Books, Google Play Books). Perfect for digital publishing, self-publishing, and distributing long-form content. EPUB 3 adds multimedia and interactivity. Essential format for authors, publishers, and digital libraries.
How to Convert Files
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DOCM file and how is it different from a standard DOCX document?
A DOCM file is a Microsoft Word document that supports embedded macros—small automated scripts written in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) that can perform repetitive tasks, generate dynamic content, or automate document workflows. It follows the same XML-based structure as DOCX but includes an additional component for storing macro code.
Unlike DOCX, which blocks all macro functionality for safety, DOCM is explicitly designed to bundle automation with text, images, tables, and other Word features. This makes it ideal for forms, templates, reports, and business documents requiring auto-fill, calculations, or logic-driven behavior.
Because macros can potentially execute harmful actions, DOCM documents are treated with stricter security warnings by email clients and Word itself, emphasizing safe handling and trusted sources.
Why do DOCM files trigger security warnings when opened?
DOCM files can contain executable macro code, which may perform unsafe operations such as modifying files, accessing system resources, or sending data externally if misused.
Microsoft Office includes built-in macro security filters, forcing users to enable content manually unless the file is from a trusted location. This prevents automatic execution of potentially malicious scripts.
The security warnings are not flaws—they are essential safeguards reflecting the powerful automation capabilities embedded within DOCM files.
Why are DOCM files commonly used in business automation workflows?
DOCM supports advanced VBA scripting, allowing companies to automate repetitive processes such as generating reports, validating input in forms, or building dynamic templates.
Macros can interact with databases, spreadsheets, APIs, and local files, turning a Word document into a functional automation tool rather than a simple text container.
This balance of traditional document editing and programmable logic makes DOCM valuable in enterprise, government, and financial sectors.
Why do some features only work in DOCM and not DOCX?
DOCX is intentionally limited to static content—once macros are removed, dynamic behaviors like automated calculations, conditional formatting, or interactive forms may stop functioning.
DOCM stores an additional macros-enabled part inside the document package, enabling VBA code to execute when triggered by user actions or document events.
If your workflow relies on automation, data entry validation, or scripted actions, DOCM is the required format because DOCX strips out all macro functionality.
Why does converting DOCM to PDF disable all macros?
PDF is a final, fixed-layout format that does not support embedded VBA macro code from Word.
When exporting, Word renders only the visual content—text, images, and layout—while discarding interactive processing logic like scripts or data-fetching routines.
This ensures the exported document is safe, portable, and free from executable components, preserving layout while dropping automation.
Why do DOCM documents sometimes behave differently on different computers?
Macro execution depends on the user's security settings, trust center configuration, and whether Word identifies the file as coming from a safe location or the internet.
Variations in installed Word versions, VBA library availability, and system permissions can affect how macros run or whether they load correctly.
Organizations often enforce group policies controlling macro behavior, which may disable automated functions entirely on some devices.
Why is DOCM preferred for advanced Word templates?
Templates requiring automation—such as invoice generators, standardized reporting tools, or legal document wizards—depend on macros to populate data and enforce structure.
DOCM supports event-driven scripts that react to user input, making templates smarter and more efficient than static DOCX files.
This allows teams to standardize workflows and reduce errors through guided document creation.
Why do some users avoid DOCM files despite their functionality?
Concerns about macro-based malware make some organizations restrict or block DOCM usage entirely for security reasons.
Users without macro knowledge may find DOCM’s automation confusing, especially if scripts malfunction or rely on missing dependencies.
Even though DOCM offers powerful automation, its reliance on scripting makes it less universally compatible and more regulated.
Why can DOCM files break when emailed or downloaded?
Email clients or cloud services may flag and quarantine macro-enabled documents for safety, altering or blocking access to the file.
Some platforms automatically place downloaded files in a 'Protected View' zone, preventing macros from running until explicitly trusted.
Incorrect extraction from ZIP archives or the presence of file metadata markers can also trigger security lockdowns.
Why do DOCM files sometimes require digital signatures?
Digitally signing a DOCM document allows authors to verify authenticity and assure recipients that the macro code has not been altered.
Organizations often enforce “signed macros only” policies, meaning unsigned DOCM files are blocked automatically.
A digital signature ensures integrity and reduces the risk of malicious macro injection.
Why won’t some document editors open DOCM properly?
DOCM relies on Microsoft-specific VBA functionality that many third-party editors—such as Google Docs, OpenOffice, and mobile viewers—cannot interpret.
While some tools can display the text content, the macro scripts are usually ignored or stripped entirely.
Only Microsoft Word fully supports the complete DOCM feature set.
Why do DOCM files sometimes request runtime permissions?
Macros may need access to external files, clipboard data, or system-level elements to perform tasks.
Microsoft Word’s sandbox restricts these actions unless permissions are granted by the user or system.
These prompts prevent unauthorized scripts from performing harmful operations silently.
Why is DOCM commonly used with Excel and Access data sources?
Macros can programmatically fetch data from spreadsheets or databases, then format and insert it into Word documents automatically.
This allows dynamic report generation, mail merges, financial documentation, and multi-source data consolidation.
The combination of VBA-enabled Word and Excel creates powerful automated business workflows.
Why do DOCM structures resemble ZIP archives?
DOCM is built on the Open XML Packaging format, which stores content as a bundle of XML files and folders inside a compressed container.
The macro code is embedded as a binary component inside the package, separating executable logic from text and layout.
This modular structure improves recovery, editing, and compatibility across platforms supporting the Open XML standard.
Should you choose DOCM or DOCX for your document?
Use DOCM if your document relies on automation, scripting, data generation, or forms that require interactive behavior.
Use DOCX if you want maximum compatibility, easier sharing, and no exposure to macro-related security warnings.
If you don’t need macros, DOCX is safer and more widely supported—but if automation matters, DOCM is the only suitable option.