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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 Still widely supported but superseded by DOCX for new documents.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 an SXW file and how does it relate to OpenOffice Writer?
An SXW file is a document created by OpenOffice.org Writer using the older XML-based file format that existed before the introduction of the modern ODF standard. SXW belongs to the 'StarOffice XML' family and was the default word-processing format for OpenOffice.org versions prior to the adoption of .ODT.
SXW stores text, formatting, paragraph styles, embedded images, tables, and metadata inside a ZIP-compressed package of XML files. It was one of the earliest open XML document formats available, paving the way for standardized open-document formats.
Although largely replaced by ODT, many legacy Linux systems, government archives, and older OpenOffice installations still contain SXW files, requiring modern tools to convert, open, or migrate them.
Why was SXW replaced by the ODT format?
The ODF standard (OpenDocument Format) was introduced to create a universal, ISO-approved, vendor-neutral alternative to competing proprietary formats like DOC and early XML variants.
ODT offered better interoperability, improved XML structure, standardized style handling, and long-term preservation guarantees.
As OpenOffice and LibreOffice adopted the ODF standard, the SXW format became deprecated, supported mainly for backward compatibility.
Why do SXW files sometimes fail to open correctly in modern editors?
SXW uses an outdated XML schema that modern software must interpret through compatibility layers, which may not fully map older structure or formatting behaviors.
Complex documents with floating frames, custom styles, or embedded media may not convert perfectly, leading to spacing or alignment differences.
LibreOffice provides the most reliable SXW support, but even it may require manual adjustments after opening legacy files.
Why were SXW documents popular on Linux and open-source systems?
OpenOffice.org was one of the earliest complete open-source office suites, distributed widely with Linux distributions long before LibreOffice existed.
SXW offered an open alternative to proprietary DOC formats, aligning with community goals for software freedom and accessibility.
Many institutions, especially government and academic bodies, used SXW while building digital archives before ODF emerged.
Why does converting SXW to ODT sometimes change formatting?
SXWโs old layout engine handled spacing, styles, and text flow differently from modern ODT standards.
Embedded images and frames may shift if conversion tools reinterpret their anchor rules or sizing data.
While text content is preserved, layout cleanup is often needed after conversion, especially in complex documents.
Why is SXW considered a legacy format today?
It was deprecated when OpenOffice.org adopted the ODF standard, and active development for SXW ceased.
Modern editors focus on supporting ODT, DOCX, and PDF workflows, leaving SXW compatibility dependent on aging import filters.
SXW remains relevant only for archival retrieval, data migration, and rare legacy systems still using old OpenOffice versions.
Why do SXW files sometimes lose images or styling when imported?
Some older SXW files referenced external images instead of embedding them, so missing files cause blank placeholders during import.
Legacy XML styling rules donโt always align with modern ODF equivalents, causing formatting mismatches.
Using LibreOffice or legacy OpenOffice versions often yields better results than third-party converters.
Why are SXW files still found in archives and government repositories?
Many public institutions adopted OpenOffice early in its lifespan, generating large collections of SXW files years before ODT existed.
When long-term digital archives were created, SXW was considered an open alternative to proprietary formats at the time.
These documents remain in use for historical data access, requiring reliable migration paths to modern formats.
Why do SXW documents sometimes appear differently across platforms?
Older rendering engines used different kerning, hyphenation, and text-flow algorithms compared to modern editors.
Fonts used originally may not be installed on the new system, leading to fallback substitutions that alter layout.
Document portability improves when SXW files are converted to ODT and cleaned up using updated styles.
Why is SXW easier for open-source tools to parse than proprietary legacy formats?
SXW is based on early open XML packaging concepts, making its structure more accessible for reverse engineering and compatibility work.
Unlike proprietary DOC binaries, SXW content is stored in readable XML files inside a ZIP archive.
This transparency allowed community projects to support SXW long after KOffice and early OpenOffice versions retired.
Why do some SXW documents open faster in LibreOffice than other suites?
LibreOffice inherits much of the original KOffice/OpenOffice codebase, giving it more accurate support for legacy SXW structures.
Other suites must rely on translators or limited import modules that require extra processing to convert SXW into modern layouts.
LibreOffice remains the recommended program for best SXW compatibility.
Why does converting SXW to PDF sometimes produce rendering differences?
During conversion, editors reinterpret SXW formatting based on modern ODF rendering rules, which may adjust spacing or line breaks.
Legacy fonts or frame behaviors may not translate perfectly into fixed-layout PDF output.
Cleaning up formatting after opening the SXW file often improves final PDF accuracy.
Why did OpenOffice switch from SXW to the OpenDocument standard?
The ODF standard offered better structure, improved interoperability, and international standardization through ISO.
SXW lacked many advanced layout features and long-term archiving guarantees needed for global adoption.
Transitioning to ODT helped unify open-document efforts across the open-source ecosystem.
Why do SXW templates sometimes fail to convert cleanly?
Templates often include advanced frame structures and custom style rules based on early XML models not fully compatible with ODT.
Field codes, numbering systems, or page styles may map differently during conversion.
Rebuilding templates directly in ODT provides a more stable long-term solution.
Should you keep SXW files or convert them immediately?
Convert SXW files to ODT or DOCX if you expect long-term use, collaboration, or editing on modern platforms.
Keep SXW copies only for archival reference or when exact historical layout matters.
Migration ensures documents remain accessible, editable, and compatible with todayโs office software.