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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 Still widely supported but superseded by DOCX for new documents.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.
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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.
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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 KWD file and how does it relate to the KWord word processor?
A KWD file is a document created by KWord, the word-processing component of the older KOffice suite, which was widely used on Linux desktops. KWord used a unique frame-based layout engine, letting users arrange text, images, and shapes similar to how desktop-publishing tools work. This made KWD a flexible format for reports, magazine-style documents, and structured layouts.
KWD files store text content, formatting, embedded graphics, styles, and layout frames in a proprietary structure that predates the modern OpenDocument format. Although later replaced by ODT in Calligra Suite, many users still encounter KWD files while opening archives, legacy documents, or migrating older systems.
Because KWD is no longer actively developed, modern office programs may require conversion or compatibility tools to properly interpret the layout and embedded assets inside the file.
Why do KWD files originate mainly from Linux environments?
KWord was part of KOffice, one of the earliest free and open-source office suites available for Linux. Its modular design and KDE integration made it popular among open-source users before ODT became the dominant standard.
Because KWD predates modern XML-based document formats, it reflects the Linux desktop ecosystem of the early 2000s, where proprietary formats like DOC were less accessible and open standards were still evolving.
Today, most new Linux distributions have transitioned to ODT, but many archived KOffice documents still use the KWD format.
Why do KWD files sometimes fail to open correctly in modern editors?
Modern suites like LibreOffice and Calligra may only partially support the original KWD specification, especially in documents with complex frames, anchored images, or unconventional layout structures.
Because the format was retired and replaced by the ODT-based Calligra Words engine, updates to KWD support are limited, leaving gaps in compatibility for advanced templates and custom styles.
Conversion tools attempt to preserve content, but some formatting differences—especially frame positioning—may require manual cleanup post-conversion.
Why does KWD use a frame-based layout instead of traditional word-processing flow?
KWord aimed to blend word-processing with desktop-publishing concepts, giving users granular control over how text and images are placed on a page.
Frames allow sophisticated multi-column layouts, wrapped images, and magazine-style document structures not easily achieved with simple flow-based editors.
While powerful, this layout system also made compatibility with other formats more challenging, influencing the eventual transition to ODT.
Why can converting KWD to DOCX or ODT alter formatting?
KWD’s frame system doesn’t always translate cleanly into DOCX or ODT’s flow-based structure, leading to repositioned elements or adjusted spacing.
Older KWord features—like linked frames or floating text blocks—have no direct equivalents in modern document formats.
As a result, content converts reliably, but page layout may require manual refinement after export.
Why is KWD considered a legacy document format today?
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Most active development shifted to ODT support, leaving KWD maintenance limited to compatibility libraries and community patches.
Because of this, KWD remains usable but is no longer part of mainstream office workflows.
Why do some KWD files contain missing images after conversion?
Certain older KWD documents stored embedded images using deprecated KOffice structures that modern conversion tools may only partially interpret.
If image references were external rather than embedded, moving or renaming source directories breaks the links.
Extracting the original KWord package or using specialized import filters often restores missing assets.
Why is KWD still used in some archival or academic settings?
Many institutions that adopted KOffice early preserved large repositories of documents in KWD format, especially before ODT became the universal open standard.
KWD documents often include custom layout structures that were easier to produce in KWord than in other editors of the time.
While no longer actively created, existing KWD files remain relevant for archival retrieval and document migration projects.
Why do some KWD files open faster inside Calligra Suite than in other programs?
Calligra uses a descendant of the original KOffice engine, which can interpret legacy KWD structures more accurately.
Other editors often rely on compatibility filters that must map KWD structures into modern schema, increasing processing time.
Using Calligra or older KWord versions yields the most faithful rendering of KWD documents.
Why is it recommended to convert KWD files to ODT or DOCX?
ODT and DOCX offer long-term support, universal compatibility, and active updates—ensuring documents remain accessible as software evolves.
Modern formats provide better stability, cross-platform support, and integration with cloud tools such as Google Docs and Office 365.
Converting ensures that legacy documents don’t become locked to discontinued editor ecosystems.
Why do KWD documents sometimes contain unusual spacing or alignment?
Frame-based layout can produce precise but rigid positioning that may appear unusual in flow-based modern editors.
KWord allowed overlapping or floating frames, which can confuse modern rendering engines during import.
Adjusting frames or converting to flexible layout models usually resolves such issues.
Why did KOffice stop using KWD and transition to OpenDocument?
The OpenDocument standard offered a unified, XML-based structure compatible across open-source and commercial suites.
Maintaining KWD as a separate format would have required parallel development and reduced interoperability.
By adopting ODT, the project aligned with global standardization efforts and improved compatibility.
Why do some KWD templates not convert cleanly?
Templates often contain advanced frame relationships, anchor rules, and reusable components not represented in other formats.
Conversion engines may prioritize content accuracy over layout fidelity, requiring manual template rebuilding.
Migrating templates directly to ODT is usually more reliable than converting to DOCX.
Why do embedded fonts behave inconsistently in KWD files?
KWord relied on system-installed fonts rather than embedding them in the file structure, so missing fonts are substituted.
This can cause noticeable reflow or style changes during conversion.
Installing matching fonts before opening or converting the file improves accuracy.
Should you keep using KWD or migrate to a modern format?
Keep KWD only if you maintain legacy systems or need to view historical documents with original layout fidelity.
For editing, collaboration, and long-term storage, migrating to ODT or DOCX is strongly recommended.
Converting ensures future accessibility while preserving essential content and structure.