Document files open. Troubleshooting an error when trying to open a Microsoft Word file
Our computer has many different programs. We use some of them often, while others we use extremely rarely or never at all. But there are also those in the computer that you simply need to know and be able to use. And one of them is Microsoft Word.
Of course, if you use your computer only for games and communication on the Internet, then you can easily do without Word. But in this case, you can hardly be called a confident user. After all, a confident user is one who knows how to perform basic operations on a computer (create a folder, copy, delete) and work with popular programs, including Word and Excel.
By the way, when an employer requires an employee to have computer knowledge, this means, first of all, knowledge of the Microsoft Word program.
What is Word
Microsoft Word is a program for printing text and composing documents. Simply put, it is used for printing.
You can type any type of text in it: an article, a document, an essay, a coursework, a diploma, and even a book. Also in this program you can beautifully design the text - add a picture or photo to it, highlight its parts with different colors, change the font, size of letters and much more. You can also create a table, print an ad, or make a poster in Microsoft Word. Plus, what is printed can be displayed on paper, that is, printed on a printer.
The Word program is a white sheet of paper on which you can immediately type using your computer keyboard. Moreover, this is not one sheet of paper: if you need to print a lot of text, and it does not fit on one sheet, then the program will automatically add more sheets. You can also edit the printed text: change the size of letters, font, style and much more. There are special buttons for this in Word.
How to open Word
Look at the Desktop, that is, at the screen of your computer. You may see this icon on it:
This icon opens the Word program.
If there is no such icon on the Desktop, click on the “Start” button in the lower left corner of the screen.
A list will open. Click on “Programs” (All Programs).
Senior Technology Writer
Someone emailed you a DOC file and you don't know how to open it? Maybe you found a DOC file on your computer and wondered what it was? Windows may tell you that you cannot open it, or in the worst case, you may encounter a corresponding error message associated with the DOC file.
Before you can open a DOC file, you need to find out what kind of file the DOC file extension is.
Tip: Incorrect DOC file association errors can be a symptom of other underlying issues within your Windows operating system. These invalid entries can also produce associated symptoms such as slow Windows startups, computer freezes, and other PC performance issues. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you scan your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other issues related to a fragmented registry.
Answer:
DOC files are Text files, which is primarily associated with DisplayWrite 4 File.
DOC files are also associated with BIFF File (Microsoft Corporation), Document or Documentation, Perfect Office Document (Perfect Office), Interleaf Document Format, Mastercam Material Files (CNC Software Inc.), Maybe RTF, Palm Pilot DOC File Format, Word Document ( Microsoft Corporation), Word DOT File (Microsoft Corporation), FrameMaker/FrameBuilder Document (Adobe Systems Incorporated), DeskMate Document and FileViewPro.
Additional types of files may also use the DOC file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats that use the DOC file extension, please contact us so we can update our information accordingly.
How to open your DOC file:
The fastest and easiest way to open your DOC file is to double-click on it. In this case, the Windows system itself will select the necessary program to open your DOC file.
In case your DOC file does not open, it is very likely that you do not have the necessary application program installed on your PC to view or edit files with DOC extensions.
If your PC opens the DOC file, but it's the wrong program, you'll need to change your Windows registry file association settings. In other words, Windows associates DOC file extensions with the wrong program.
Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | | | |
DOC Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME):
- mime application/msword
- mime application/x-msword
- mime text/plain
DOC File Analysis Tool™
Not sure what type your DOC file is? Do you want to get precise information about a file, its creator and how it can be opened?
Now you can instantly get all the necessary information about the DOC file!
The revolutionary DOC File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes and reports detailed information about the DOC file. Our patent-pending algorithm will quickly analyze the file and provide detailed information within seconds in a clear, easy-to-read format.†
In just a few seconds, you'll know exactly what type of DOC file you have, the application associated with the file, the name of the user who created the file, the file's protection status, and other useful information.
To begin your free file analysis, simply drag and drop your DOC file inside the dotted line below, or click "Browse My Computer" and select your file. The DOC file analysis report will be shown below, right in the browser window.
Drag the DOC file here to start analysis
View my computer »
Please also check my file for viruses
Perhaps we can say that Microsoft Word is the second most popular program on most modern personal computers. The first place is occupied by the well-known Paint. 90% of all computer users use Word daily for studying, working, writing letters, poetry, personal diaries and many other important things. However, no matter how strange it may seem, there are still people who are not familiar with the doc format. How to open it and how to work with it? They have no idea about this, but this is not at all evidence of their incompetence. Most likely, they are either unfamiliar with computers and have never encountered electronic text documents of this format, or their operating system does not support Microsoft products.
Doc - text documents created using Microsoft Word. The new Microsoft Word 2007 program works both with the docx format, which is completely new and cannot be opened in previous versions of the program without updating, and with the doc format. You already roughly understand how to open it. Microsoft Word of any version allows you not only to open a file of this format, but also to read it, edit it, format it, and insert tables, images, graphs, and diagrams into a text document. All changes can be saved by clicking on the floppy disk icon or the “File” menu button and selecting the “Save” line.
There may also be another problem with the doc format. How can I open it if Office is not installed on my computer? The Paint program, which was mentioned above, is installed by default on all personal computers with the Windows operating system. And Word is included in the Microsoft Office package and is a paid program. Not everyone can afford it.
How to open a doc file?
How to open a document in doc format if it was sent to you by mail or you downloaded it from the Internet and you urgently need to read or edit it, but you don’t have Word? There is no need to panic or worry. There are other free programs and services on the Internet that allow you to open a doc and edit it.
Online services
To open a text document in doc format, you can use online services that are completely free. And you, moreover, do not have to install additional software on your computer. This is especially important if you practically never work with text documents. One example for opening a file with the doc extension is the Google Docs service. This free service allows you to open and edit Microsoft Word files. To use the service, you just need to register an account with Google.
Format readersdoc
If you need to work with doc files all the time, but for various reasons you cannot install Microsoft Word, you can install a program for a friend to read this format. Below we will introduce you to the most popular programs.
Word Viewer
This Microsoft development program allows you to view documents in doc format, copy information from a document, and paste it into another document. It also allows you to print data from this text document. But Word Viewer has one significant drawback - you cannot edit the document.
OpenOffice
This free package of various programs works on many operating systems and makes it possible not only to read doc files, but also to edit them. The program has all the same functions as Microsoft Word.
This program is also free and allows you to work with doc format. It has quite a wide range of functionality, but is still inferior to OpenOffice.
Now, if you come across a document with it, you already know. You have many options, and what you decide to choose depends on your preferences and capabilities. But don't despair if you are unable to install the full MO 2007 package.
At the end of the 80s of the last century, Microsoft Corporation practically established a monopoly on the software market for personal computers. The development of computer technology was proceeding at an unprecedented pace, which created the need for a new text format, more functional than the already existing TXT and RTF. They were replaced by the DOC format integrated into the MS Word program. We invite you to get acquainted with its features and learn how to open files saved in this format.
The DOC (.doc) extension gets its name from the English word “document,” which hardly needs translation. DOC files are used to store text with or without formatting. Moreover, the formatting possibilities are quite extensive - the user can work with different fonts, styles, sizes, style options, paragraphs and spacing, and types of text arrangement on the page. In addition, integration of various objects into the text is available: pictures, diagrams, formulas, tables, numbered and bulleted lists.
The DOC format was used by default in the MS Word text editor from 1990 to 2007, when it was replaced by the new DOCX extension. However, all new versions of the program remain compatible with DOC files, which can not only be viewed, but also edited.
The latest version with the basic DOC format was Word 2003, the interface of which looks like the one shown in the photo.
More modern editors 2007 and Word 2010 have an updated software shell. Their working windows are shown in the following figures.
The main area of application of the format is the storage, processing and printing of text data - from small notes to large works and official documentation. However, the functionality of DOC files is not wide enough to create full-fledged printed products, so other formats are used in journalistic and publishing practice.
How to open a DOC file on a PC?
The most obvious answer to this question would be all varieties of MS Word. Sometimes, if the formatting of DOC files is incompatible, a conversion procedure takes place before opening the file, which usually does not take much time. However, Word is not cross-platform software, meaning it only runs on the Windows operating system. In addition, the official license to use the program is quite expensive.
A good alternative would be to use the free analogue included in the OpenOffice application package. The program is called Writer and can run on Windows, Linux and Mac OS systems. In addition to the DOC format, it can work with TXT, RTF, PDF and many others. By default, new documents are saved in Writer’s “native” format – ODT. The program interface looks like this:
It has been noted that not all OpenOffice builds work stably on Apple platforms. For them, the same developer offered a specialized NeoOffice package. In addition, the standard Apple program, iWork Pages, does an excellent job of opening DOC files on Mac OS.
If you do not plan to make any changes to the file, but just want to view or print its contents, use specialized free programs. One of the most convenient is Doc Viewer 2.0, which takes up very little space on your hard drive and is suitable even for old and very slow PCs. You can download the program here http://www.softportal.com/software-26750-doc-viewer.html.
Open DOC on your computer: Step-by-step instructions
If you already have a file in DOC format on your PC and have Word installed, you can open the document using any of the following methods:
- double-click the left mouse button on the icon;
- press Enter, having previously selected the document;
- by right-clicking and selecting “Open” from the drop-down menu.
To manually select a program to open a file, follow these steps:
In addition, you can import any file from your computer directly into the software shell of MS Word and other text editors. Simply follow the instructions below.
Note! In a similar way, you can search for the desired document in OpenOffice and other programs.
Working with DOC files on a smartphone
Almost any reader application available on Google Play (smartphones running Android OS) or App Store (gadgets running iOS) is suitable for viewing DOC files. Carefully read the description on the application page and choose one that supports all the formats you need, for example, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, PDF, FB2, EPUB. A good choice would be the cross-platform eBoox, which you can download here https://trashbox.ru/link/eboox-android. Here is a screenshot of its interface:
The ability to create new DOC files and edit existing ones is well implemented only in official and, fortunately, free applications from Microsoft and Apple. For smartphones and tablets running Android version 4.1 and older, the mobile version of Word is suitable.
iPhone and iPad owners should pay attention to the Pages app. The only worthy alternative to the official software, albeit with slightly reduced functionality, is the WPS Office program.
For tablets and netbooks running Windows OS, the same programs are suitable as for desktop PCs.
Cloud technologies
Many cloud storage services allow you to edit files online.
On mobile devices, it is more convenient to work with the OneDrive cloud from Microsoft. Install the appropriate application and you will be able to download files from the mobile version of Word. After installing the extension on your computer or laptop, your cloud storage will appear in the “My Computer” window next to the hard drive icons.
We hope you have received a comprehensive answer to all your questions. We wish you successful and productive work with DOC files!
Video - How to open a doc file
The DOC file extension is most often associated with documents created in a word processor. Microsoft Word, the famous word creation and processing application that comes with all versions of the Microsoft Office suite. This is the default file format used in Microsoft Word 97-2003, while newer versions of MS Word (2007+) offer users to save documents in DOCX.
What's in DOC files
A DOC file was originally created in WordPerfect, which was widely used in the 1980s. But the DOC extension has been on the lips of almost everyone since the advent of Microsoft Word in the 1990s. Today it is the most common format for text documents.
Previously, DOC files contained only formatted text, but over time it became possible to add a large number of built-in objects - such as any tables and various charts from other applications, as well as sounds, videos and images.
DOC conversion
To convert the DOC format, for example, convert DOC to - you can use any convenient online DOC converter or program, for example, Convertin.io.
How to open a DOC file
DOC files can be opened using the latest version of standard word processing applications such as Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer. Wordpad on Windows can also be used to open DOC files, although the formatting is very limited. As of Microsoft Office 2007, the format is the "native" format of that word processor, and it will not open in earlier versions of word processing programs without a compatibility pack.
The main program for opening DOC files is Microsoft Word (version 97 and above), but it is proprietary software (unless you are using the free trial version of MS Office). However, there are several free alternatives to the paid Microsoft Office that have support for DOC files - Kingsoft Writer, LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer. With their help, you can not only open DOC files, but also edit them, saving them in the same format. And in the first two, DOC files are even successfully saved in the new DOCX format from Microsoft. You can also open a Microsoft Word file online, for example, using the service
