How do I open docx files ?

Posted by Martin in Operating Systems, Tools, Windows  Tags: , , , ,

25

Jul



Microsoft introduced the .docx file format in its new Office and Word applications and wants it to replace the commonly used doc format. The problem with the change from doc to docx is that many users are still working with prior versions of Word or no Microsoft product at all and face the problem that they can’t load the docx file because it is not supported in their application.

The main question for those users is of course how they would open a docx file to be able to read and work with it. The answer is that it depends on what program and computer the user is working with. Let me outline several possibilities to open and work with docx file without using the latest Microsoft Office or Word software.

Older versions of Microsoft Office or Microsoft Word:

Older versions such as Office XP do not support the docx format because it was not known when they were developed and sold. A simple way to read docx and xlsx files in those applications would be to install the Microsoft Compatibility Pack which adds support for the new file formats.

Open Office

You can use the Open XML Translator for Open Office to be able to read and edit docx files with Open Office.

Online Solution

The docx converter lets you convert docx documents online. This is a pretty good solution if you don’t want to install the previously mentioned add-ons.

Macintosh

You might want to use the Online Solution above or download a desktop widget from the same developers. If you happen to use Microsoft Office on your Mac you might want to take a look at the Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac.

Read More:

Microsoft Compatibility Pack
Open XML Translator
docx converter
desktop widget
Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac
Ways to open Office docx documents


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18 Users Commented In This Post

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Anonymoose says, July 25th, 2007   

In the event of an emergency, a docx file is just a zipped XML structure - if you don’t have access to any of the solutions above, you can change the extension to .zip, unpack it, then extract the XML file containing the text only from within the structure. Saved my bacon when I’m in a hurry and only have my PDA handy before :)

B

Eliena Andrews says, July 29th, 2007   

cool info, thanks you saved my day and my disk space.

Ghillie Suits » How do I open docx files ? says, October 21st, 2007   

[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptHow do I open docx files ? [...]

Freddy Nager says, October 23rd, 2007   

I was able to open .docx file using Apple iWork Pages. Apple rules!

Incidentally, when I tried to download the XML Converter from Microsoft, the link on their site was broken. I won’t say what I think of Microsoft.

Beef Lo Mein says, November 4th, 2007   

Excellent an simple. Thanks a lot

Ways to open Office .docx documents says, December 10th, 2007   

[...] How do I open .docx files was an article that I wrote some time ago. It explained how users that did not use Microsoft Office 2007 were able to open .docx documents that they downloaded or received from users who were using Office 2007. Some time has passed since writing the initial article and I thought it would be nice to take a look at more methods and programs that let users open. docx documents. [...]

Opening a Docx « Byte of the Week says, December 20th, 2007   

[...] Here are instructions to help open the .docx items if you aren’t a Microsoft user: http://www.ghacks.net/2007/07/25/how-do-i-open-docx-files/ [...]

Ivo Pavlik says, January 16th, 2008   

That ZIP hack worked for me. Thanx.

airtonix says, January 16th, 2008   

err, so wahts the point of docx if all you had to do was unzip it?

I thought balmers selling point on docx was that it was a secure format ( and one that linux wasnt able to reliably work with 100% )

everyone knows steve balmers wants to silenty murder each non-novell linux user.

But even then he wishes anything not under the Zieg-Hiel banner of Microsoft would just shrivel up and die.

RP says, January 30th, 2008   

The point becomes a little more obvious, if you try to alter contents or even just unzip it and zip it up again with your onboard XP compressor. Word says the file is corrupted and it won’t open it… . I am currently in search for a way to programmatically alter docx contents.
CU
RP

Inna says, March 20th, 2008   

Thanx! Online converter worked for me perfectly!

Nasir Ali Khan : underneath Office 2007 documents says, March 25th, 2008   

[...] Thanks Shafquat for sharing this …http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338205.aspx http://www.ghacks.net/2007/07/25/how-do-i-open-docx-files/http://help.lockergnome.com/office/docx-zip-ftopict981566.html CheersNasir Ali Khan  [...]

john doe says, March 25th, 2008   

just download the compatibility pack from Ms’s website…it is free and makes all old version of Word able to open DOCX. easy and free

Sham says, April 11th, 2008   

yeah the zip hack worked like a charm too! thx

carey says, April 22nd, 2008   

still looking for the best way to open the docx file

Techno News » Blog Archive » Ways to open Office .docx Documents says, May 26th, 2008   

[...] How do I open .docx files was an article that I wrote some time ago. It explained how users that did not use Microsoft Office 2007 were able to open .docx documents that they downloaded or received from users who were using Office 2007. Some time has passed since writing the initial article and I thought it would be nice to take a look at more methods and programs that let users open. docx documents. [...]

J says, June 3rd, 2008   

Thanks!
The Microsoft Compatibility Pack worked great! Saved me from a really stressful Morning.

Reed says, August 12th, 2008   

Novell seems to have taken down the download link. Is this add-on discontinued?

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