Open a file with the docx extension. How to open a .DOCX file? Programs for opening and editing text documents

Many when downloading or saving test documents created using the application Microsoft Office, are faced with concepts such as doc and docx format. At first glance, the difference is one additional character, but if installed service can only support a certain type of file, often causing a lot of inconvenience.

Most often today there are files with doc extension x, but the previously popular .doc is no less relevant. True, they are gradually used less and less. And the office is more modern models is able to open both types of files, which cannot be said about more outdated versions of the software product.

Defining two file types

Before you start talking about the differences between formats such as .doc and .docx, you should understand the designation of each of them.

By doc we mean a certain type electronic documents, which are formed when working with Microsoft Word. At first it was just an extension for a group of files, but later it began to denote a series of individual formats Microsoft,

Docx is an abbreviation that stands for Office Open XML. This expansion text documents used to create electronic documents using a software package from Microsoft.

Key differences between the two file types

First of all, the difference between files with these formats is manifested in the possibility of their use in different versions of packages from Microsoft. Software products released before 2003 (including the product of the specified year) will not be able to open and allow you to work with the docx format. Using files with this resolution is only possible in Office versions from 2007. At the same time, a package of any year can recognize files with the doc extension.

But it is worth remembering that starting from Microsoft Word 2007, there are many more possibilities when creating text documents. Therefore, when opening the old .doc format in a more modern editor, the message “Mode limited functionality”, which will not allow you to use all the features of the editor, because you won’t be able to save them in doc anyway. In order to fully work with the document, you should save it in the improved docx format.

To solve the issue of opening a docx file, a special converter has been created, which, when used, unpacks the required file with the further possibility of adjustment if necessary. After all, in essence, doc files x – ‘these are special zip archives that contain the actual document in XML form, as well as all graphs, pictures, tables and diagrams. There are also files that define the structure and parameters of the document’s content. Version 2003 and earlier cannot handle the unpacking process itself.

It is this compression that is considered one of the main differences between the two types. office documents. True, thanks to it the file size becomes significantly smaller. The difference is especially noticeable in files that contain big number pictures or graphs. Docx is much more convenient for storing because it takes up little space on your hard drive.

It is also worth paying attention to the compatibility of files with other word processors. The docx format is partially supported in them, but doc opens very poorly. There is one software–, which can easily open a file with a docx extension.

Also, the docx format cannot be used with fonts that are drawn from right to left. And this type of Files only supports native Microsoft formats without paying attention to established standards.

The main differences between doc and docx formats

From the information received, the following can be highlighted:

1. A text document in docx format can be opened exclusively by Microsoft products since 2007, while doc - different versions Word.
2. The docx file uses a zip container that contains the document in XML form.
3. Doc does not assume a compression function at all.
4. Third-party programs are not (or very poorly) compatible with the doc extension.

Knowing distinctive features such files, it is now easy to navigate the advisability of using each of them.

Everyone knows that when working with text documents in Microsoft Office Word 2003, files are saved with the extension doc. But times change, new programs are created with additional functionality, and Microsoft is no exception. New versions of programs have been created Microsoft Office 2007/2010/2013, which are saved with the new docx extension. Therefore, office workers and ordinary users wondering how to open docx.

Every person does not like change, because new program, for example, the interface may change, but why change something that has long become familiar. But what if you have MS Word 2003 installed on your computer, and your colleague or friend gave you a file with the docx extension, but it is not possible to open it, since the MS Word 2003 version cannot open the format created in Microsoft versions Office 2007/2010/2013. Therefore, these users cannot open docx files.

I will offer you 3 ways to solve this problem. Whichever one will be closer to you, choose the one.

Ask the user to resave the document

IN new versions MS Word can save files with the *.doc extension; to do this, you need not just click on the save button, as we usually do, but indicate with what extension you want to save the file.

Now select the file type: “Word 97-2003 *.doc Document” and then click the “Save” button.

This method is suitable for those users who can ask another user for this action. After he saves in the right type file, can safely send you this document, because this time you will be able to successfully open it and make changes to it.

Add-on package for Microsoft Office

How to open a docx file if you can't ask a friend to forward the file? This option actually solves the problem. You don't have to ask anyone! By installing this software product on your computer, you will do everything yourself.

The problem that we are now dealing with is not only yours, and therefore Microsoft created it specifically for such users software compatibility, with which you can open files created in MS Word 2007/2010/2013 without any problems. After installing this package, you will be able to save files in Microsoft Office 2003 and then work with this document.

The compatibility pack can be downloaded. Check the box below and click “Continue”.

The installation of the package will begin. After installation, a message will appear indicating that the installation is complete. Click "OK".

We are trying to open files that until recently could not be opened.

Free on-line service

Above we figured out how to open docx. But also don’t forget about services that can come in handy when you don’t have time to download and install programs.

The last method I wanted to talk about is online converter. There is such a wonderful site with which you can do the conversion for free docx file in doc.

So, first we need to indicate which docx the file needs to be converted. To do this, click on the “Browse...” button, a window will appear where we indicate the path to the file *.docx and click the “Open” button.

If the file is small, the conversion will be quick. And when large file, the process may take a while, so keep that in mind. After uploading your file to the service, wait a couple of seconds until the message “File converted!” appears, which means the file has been processed.

To download the file, click on the “Download” button, which is located just below.

In the above the listed methods I told you how to open docx in word 2003. But if there are other programs that may be installed on your computer, then you can also use them for your own purposes. If you have installed free text editor OpenOffice, then you can use it to open/save doc and docx files. OpenOffice program It is distributed free of charge, has a friendly interface and can work with this format.

It's come to an end short review how to open a docx file. As I said above, the choice of how to open the file is yours.

It is clear that the easiest way is to use modern Microsoft Office, there is Word program. For example, Word 2010 (however, in Word 2007 it is also possible to open a file with the docx extension). However, not everyone has access to a modern office. In addition, a number of users (including us) simply do not want to switch to a new office. Firstly, you need to buy it (well, or get it somewhere, but we won’t talk about that; because we ourselves try to use either free ones, or self-written ones, or licensed programs).

Secondly, it is necessary to rebuild, because there are still some things done differently; this takes effort, time, and also introduces an element of destabilization into the process of working on a computer. Why if old office COMPLETELY satisfied, except for the inability to open files doc type x?

Thirdly, some macros, as well as programs written to automate routine operations in VBA (and we need this like air, because the flow of orders for diplomas, coursework, dissertations and similar works is very large and therefore should be done in texts routine operations manually - this is a completely unacceptable waste of time), may not earn money, i.e. you will need to rewrite them for the new office. Which will lead to loss of effort and time, which, undoubtedly, would be better spent on more useful things, for example, speeding up the completion of work for our customers.

Fourthly, the office needs to be installed (which, again, will take time, albeit a little).

Thus, if there is no particular need to use the new office (for example, to gain access to new VBA functions, which were absent in the old office, if these functions were urgently needed), switching to it just to try out the “new” is far from the most best practice. Agree, something new should somehow improve life, and not, on the contrary, introduce complexity and imbalance into it. This is why, by the way, we are in no hurry to use the LINUX system professionally (without any doubt an excellent operating system, but still unfinished, take at least , even Fedora or even Linux XP).

So what to do if you need to open a file Word type docx, but the existing office does not allow this (or does not open at all, or performs an unacceptable operation and closes abnormally)?

As Word alternatives there is, of course, the well-known OpenOffice, aimed at OS LINUX. True, this method has disadvantages. Note that, of course, you can open a file with the extension docx, for example, in Linux (by running it in virtual machine, if your main system is Windows or something other than LINUX) and then transfer the text into Word of the version that is installed on your computer. However, this, firstly, is not very convenient, because, at a minimum, it requires unnecessary actions. Secondly, not all text elements will be transferred correctly in this case (and in a number of Linux systems, work will also be required to configure the clipboard; we repeat, these systems are unfinished - each in its own way, so to speak). In addition, we have observed cases when, after opening a Word file in Linux system(using the appropriate editor) the latter stopped opening correctly in Word.

However, you can install OpenOffice under Windows (at least in Windows 7 it installs and works without problems). If installed enough latest version, files with the .docx extension will open without problems. True, working directly in OpenOffice is somewhat less convenient than in Word. In addition, compared to the latter, OpenOffice lacks a number of special features. Therefore, if, after opening a file, you save it in the old Word format (in .doc or .rtf format), then in the future this file can be opened in Word. However, when saving in this way, some of the capabilities may be lost, so the resulting file should be carefully reviewed. In principle, this method is one of the simplest. The only thing is that you need to install OpenOffice on your computer.

docx to doc converter

By the way, this file converter docx works great not only in Word 2003, but even in Word97 (which, oddly enough, is not guaranteed even by the manufacturer itself). Volume of the converter installation file from docx in doc is 37.1 MB ( as of June 10, 2015).

Although, oddly enough, this converter works... better in Word97. Because it can even open files with the .docx extension that, for example, cannot be opened in Word2003, causing an error.

Installing the converter is simple. After making sure that Microsoft Office of one version or another is already installed on the computer, launch installation file converter FileFormatConverters.exe.

We agree to the license agreement - and after a short time the converter will be installed on your computer. docx Next, if there is a need to open a file with the extension , proceed as usual: double-click on it with the mouse (or press Enter key ). After the file opens after conversion, you can save it in in the required format . For example, you can save it as a regular Word document. To do this, select save as, specify the file type: word document, and click save. In this case, the file will be saved with the same name and doc extension - in the format of exactly the version of Microsoft Word that is installed on your computer. By the way, after installing the converter it will appear

reverse possibility docx- save a doc or rtf file in docx format. By clicking on the Browse button, we look for a file on our computer with the extension, which needs to be converted into a doc form, then click the Send button.

True, if the file is large, then the conversion will take

certain time. Big time. Google Docs, Office Web Apps Google Docs docx and Microsoft Web Apps ID, having previously registered there. But it’s not difficult and won’t take much time.

However, the problem is that the speed of outgoing traffic (i.e. sending a file) is usually much lower than the download speed. docx.

Therefore, sending the file may take longer. In addition, the time of the conversion itself will also have an impact. Therefore, online services may be suitable for opening only small files of the format So, the conclusion. In our opinion, in the vast majority of cases, when working with old Word, the most convenient way docx open file - this is to say a converter program from Microsoft and install it on your computer. Unless, of course, the volume it occupies of 37.1 MB is not critical. Although, with containers modern hard disks equal, at the very minimum, 500 GB, or even more, this is probably not so significant. By the way, this converter will give you the opportunity to save the file not only in the native format of your Word, but also as Word document 2007, including macro support. True, we do not know whether macros written under old Microsoft

Office. But this can be checked. In addition, you can use open office

OpenOffice.

With respect to you.

In the process of working with documents, we often have to work with various types of document formats. In this short note, we will analyze the known formats, as well as how and with what tools the user can open them.

doc format Files with the doc extension are short for the English document. Microsoft used this format for text files Word processor up to version 2003 inclusive. Today, doc can be opened with either a modern word processor Word or outdated versions . You can also open doc with a word processor from free package office Open programs Office, or online services

working with text files such as Office Online and Google Docs.

docx format The doc format was in many ways inconvenient to work with due to its instability, especially in terms of compatibility with different versions Word. In 2007, with the release of Office 2007, Microsoft made it the main working format for its word processor. Word format

The docx format is the native format for the word processor Word starting from version 2007, respectively, you can open docx in Word 2007, 2010 or 2013. In fact, you can open docx in the old 2000 - 2003 version of Word, however, for this you will have to install a special add-on from Microsoft website - Compatibility Pack.

The compatibility pack allows you to open not only docx files in versions of Word lower than 2007, but also xlsx spreadsheet files in an outdated spreadsheet Excel processor(2000 - 2003), as well as pptx format in legacy PowerPoint.

rtf format

This so-called “rich text format” is a cross-platform format for storing text, but unlike the txt format, it allows you to store pictures in a document. The question “How to open rtf?” should not occur, because Almost anyone can work with it word processor. For example, in Windows systems free WordPad will cope perfectly with the task of opening rtf format.

txt format

The simplest format for saving text. It is often associated with Notepad in Windows, however, text files can even be viewed file manager. IN text file txt cannot contain any pictures or other elements in principle.

PDF format

Portable Document Format or simply pdf is a cross-platform format for electronic documents. Open for reading pdf there may be countless programs, probably the most popular is Adobe Reader. Starting with the 2013 version of Word, you can not only save files in pdf format, but open them for editing. Feature of this format is that the printed text will be exactly as it appears in the pdf file. Learn more about working with pdf files V .

DOCX is a text version of a series of electronic Office formats Open XML. It is a more advanced form of the previous Word DOC format. Let's find out which programs can be used to view files with this extension.

Noting that DOCX is text format, it is natural that it is primarily manipulated by word processors. Some readers and other software also support working with it.

Method 1: Word

Considering that DOCX is a development by Microsoft, which is the base format for Word applications, starting with the 2007 version, we will begin our review with this program. The named application supports absolutely all standards of the specified format, can view DOCX documents, create them, edit and save them.

There are more easy option opening DOCX in Word. If Microsoft Office is installed on your PC, then this extension will automatically be associated with the Word program, unless, of course, you manually specify other settings. Therefore, it is enough to go to the object of the specified format in Windows Explorer and click on it with the mouse, doing it twice with the left button.

These recommendations are only suitable if you have installed Word version 2007 or newer. And here early versions by default they cannot open DOCX, since they were created before this format appeared. But it is still possible to make sure that applications of older versions can launch files with the specified extension. To do this, you just need to install a special patch in the form of a compatibility pack.

Method 2: LibreOffice

Launch file element with the extension you are studying, you can drag an object from Conductor into the LibreOffice startup shell. This manipulation should be performed with the left mouse button held down.

If you have already launched Writer, you can perform the opening process through the internal shell of this program.

Method 3: OpenOffice

LibreOffice is considered a competitor. It also has its own word processor, also called Writer. Only, unlike the two previously described options, you can use it to view and change the contents of DOCX, but you will have to save it in a different format.

How to use previous application, you can drag it into the OpenOffice start shell desired object from Conductor.

You can also launch an object with a DOCX extension after launching Writer.

In general, it should be noted that of all the word processors studied here, OpenOffice Writer is least suitable for working with DOCX, since it cannot create documents with this extension.

Method 4: WordPad

Separate text editors can also run the format being studied. For example, this can be done by the built-in Windows program- WordPad.

Taking into account all the above circumstances, it must be said that using WordPad for viewing, and even more so editing DOCX content is less preferable than using the ones described in previous methods full-fledged word processors.

Method 5: AlReader

Some representatives of software for reading electronic books (“readers”) also support viewing the format being studied. True, for now specified function Not all programs in this group have it. You can read DOCX, for example, using a “reader”, which is very different big amount supported formats.

You can also open a document by dragging from Conductor V graphical shell"readers".

Of course, read books DOCX format It’s nicer in AlReader than in text editors and processors, but this application only offers the ability to read the document and convert to a limited number of formats (TXT, PDB and HTML), but does not have tools for making changes.

Method 6: ICE Book Reader

Another “reader” with which you can read DOCX is . But the procedure for launching a document in this application will be somewhat more complicated, since it is associated with the task of adding an object to the program library.

Method 7: Caliber

An even more powerful reader with a book cataloging function is . She also knows how to operate with DOCX.

Overall, Caliber is better suited for cataloging DOCX objects rather than quickly viewing them.

Method 8: Universal Viewer

Documents with a DOCX extension can also be viewed using separate group programs that are universal viewers. These applications allow you to view files of a wide variety of types: text, tables, videos, images, etc. But, as a rule, they are inferior to highly specialized programs in terms of their ability to work with specific formats. This is fully true for DOCX. One of the representatives of this type software is .

As you can see, currently quite capable of processing DOCX files a large number of applications in different directions, working with text objects. But, despite such abundance, only Microsoft Word fully supports all format capabilities and standards. His free analogue LibreOffice Writer also has almost full set to process this format. But the OpenOffice Writer word processor will only allow you to read and make changes to the document, but you will have to save the data in a different format.

If the DOCX file is e-book, then it will be convenient to read it using the AlReader “reader”. To add a book to the library, the ICE Book Reader or Caliber programs are suitable. If you just want to view what is inside the document, then you can use a universal viewer for these purposes Universal Viewer. Built in Windows text The WordPad editor will allow you to view the content without installing third-party software.