Docx2Rtf is a free program that can convert .DOCX and .DOTX (Word 2007 MS Word formats) as well as SXW and .ODT (OpenOffice) into the universal .RTF format that can be read and edited by any Word Processor. It also offers the ability to convert documents to .PDF and can open, view, and print all the above mentioned formats as well as PalmOS Database Documents (*.PDF) and Aportis (*.PRC) files.
The recent release of MS Office 2007 brought in a number of file formats that do not open with older versions of MS Office or other word processing programs such as the OpenOffice Writer. Most of the time users of Office 2007 send out these files to colleagues and collaborators who only afterwards discover the incompatibility. It is possible to go around this simply by saving using the old .DOC format or, if you have an older version of Office, by using the Office 2007 Compatibility Pack that Microsoft released. A program like Docx2Rtf , however, gives you the ability to free a Word 2007 document from Office and convert it altogether to .RTF, which will allow you to use any word processor program to edit and/or work with the document. You may, however, lose some formatting and or functionality in the process.
To test this program I created a .DOCX document that included tables, special characters, some bolded, italicized, and underlined text, a formatted image, an embedded Excel sheet, a numbered list, and a URL linked to a text lable. For the results (and more notes on this program) see below:
- Converted elements: transfers text, (most) special characters and images (without any effects). Bolded text transferred as such but italicized and underlined text did not. Tables (and Excel sheets) as well as numbered lists lost their formatting and their contents were simply listed in rows of text. Linked URLs not transferred. (Note: most of this loss of fidelity is due to the limitations of the RTF format itself rather than Docx2Rtf).
- Contingencies: you do not need Word 2007, OpenOffice or any other program to perform the conversions.
- The user interface: of this program is very nice. Converted pages are displayed as thumbnails on the left pane and the various settings on the main interface area.
- Settings: include which pages to print (specify a range, odd, even, or all), convert to grayscale, save, and create a PDF.
- PDF creation: works fairly well, but I prefer a virtual PDF printer to do this (such as PDFCreator, SWF Printer Pro, etc.)
- No install program: just unzip and run.
The verdict: a handy tool that will liberate you from these fancy new formats if that is what you seek, but you will likely need to do some manual reformatting and re-working of the resulting .RTF file.
Version Tested: 2.4
Compatibility: WinAll.
Go to the program page to download the latest version (approx 1.72 megs). [Update 3/29/2011] If the program page is down, as it seems to be at the moment, you can download the program on this page.
I have it working on Linux through Wine, but even on Windows, docx2rtf would not convert as well for me as it did for you.
Andrew
Worked perfectly (Windows XP). Huge thanks!
PErfect: easy tot use and quickly installed
Worked famously – Thank you!
Please send this docx file software for update of my office 2003 which is earliest version.
Very nice. Works like it should with no distractions. I especially like the “association” tasks to give me a permenant fix to the MS compatability problem. Thanks.
Nice one
Good
Wonderful program. Works beautifully. God Bless you!
thanks
Worked – Thank you!
RAD Product. Super fast, gets the job done and stays out of the way. Very simple.
thanks life saver
Nice, thanks. If the program page is highlighted, it’l be easier for users to find the software. thanks again
Great Utility, took a while to find the download site but well worth the hunt.
Many Thanks
Works great on XP Pro! Thanks for a good product.
The tool is really amazing. Thanks a ton.
Been looking all morning for a tool to convert docx to something readable…
This one worked straight out the box – and free too!
Thanks heaps!
OMG! you saved my tail
I’ve been looking all over for this. Passing it around to everyone in the office. Thanks!
Excellent Tool to convert files to pdf.
Although small sized it has huge scope
This little program works wonders. Thank you.
nice software!
muahhhh life saver!
Thank you,worked a treat.Site recommended by a friend
excelent! great Work
muy bueno
nice
Thanks
thankx
You can do it online at http://www.docx2doc.com converts to rtf and lots of other formats
usefull thx
Thanks
A new site can be found on the web and it’s called odt-converter.com, it offers you an absolutely free service of converting files of odt formats into pdf. Our odt pdf converter operates in an online mode.
You won’t need to go through the registration procedure and specify the personal data. To get the result you only need to specify the path to the file that you want to convert and choose the direction of converting.
In the nearest future we plan to continue working on the creation of other free services, so we will be thankful to you for your donation.
How do you download it?
Seems to be gone. 404 not found
@ ADH: indeed the site seems to be down. You can still download v4 of the software at the link below:
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/NW-Docx-Converter-Download-85407.html
New website url: http://www.nativewindsofmontana.com/software/docx2rtf.html
Ver 4.1