[JoeP]

It had to happen eventually.....

I have a document in the Word 2007 docx format that I need to read.

After looking at Microsoft's site, it appears I have to download 3 separate packages (50+ Mb)

This seems rather OTT for reading one document, so does anyone have any 'slimmer' solutions?

I've tried loading it through various filters, and also just reading it as a byte file, but it's fluent Seattle Goobledegock.

Thanks in advance

[Nazo]

This supposedly converts from docx to open document format though I haven't tried it myself.

http://odf-converter.sourceforge.net/

[JoeP]

Cheers - I've taken a quick look and it looks like this package goes the other way, so to say.

Unless I've missed something! Always possible!

http://docx-converter.com/

[altus]

You could always go back to who you got the document from and suggest to them that they distribute documents in formats that other people are likely to be able to read (either that or suggest they buy you a copy of MS Office 2007).

[fred_notdead]

This was the reason why I went back to Office 2003.

[esme]

Originally Posted by altus

You could always go back to who you got the document from and suggest to them that they distribute documents in formats that other people are likely to be able to read (either that or suggest they buy you a copy of MS Office 2007).

gets my vote, not everyone updates the second redmond decide to fleece us for some more bloatware release a wonderful new office suite

[Nazo]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Cheers - I've taken a quick look and it looks like this package goes the other way, so to say.

Unless I've missed something! Always possible!

Ugh you're right sorry. There's a plug-in for Word that lets you save as odf but that's not very useful for your case.

I agree going back to your source is probably the best plan, they may not even realise most people won't be able to open the files.

[JoeP]

Thanks folks!

Mod_Man - that'sa good looking link but the downloadable widget is for Macs only - they offer an online service for converting Windows docs but as the document is best described as 'commercial in confidence' I'm loathe to commit it to an unknown site.

Back to the sender, and a pox on Bill's House!

[Nazo]

Oo hang on, just stumbled across this plug-in for Open Office which might do it.

http://download.novell.com/SummaryFr...ESrjfdE4U58%7E

Also, supposedly a docx file is just a zip file with a collection of files inside. If you open it up as a zip there should be an xml file inside you can read (with markup though)
I wondered why they were calling it open xml...

[esme]

well ooxml is m$'s proprietary format, they tried to get it adopted as a standard by the ISO, by ballot stuffing allegedly, but it was defeated on both votes

it has promise but it needs a lot more work before it can be adopted as a standard, basically M$ rushed it in to try and prevent a rival standard being approved

couple of nice articles on it in PC Pro # 158

[JoeP]

Hi all,

Just an update.

I renamed the file to .zip rather than .docx and lo and behold was able to unpack the whole thing in to a directory structure full of XML files and supporting images.

However, after hacking around the xslt references and such,although I could parse the XML (sort of) it still didn't look sensible,so the originator sent me a Word 97 version of the file.

The irony - docx file, 1.2Mb. Word 97 file, 320k.

Seattle Bloatware strikes again!