search⌘KtranslateENexpand_moreupload_fileConvert

Convert documents, and see what came through.

A free document converter with 28 formats listed, 17 read and 14 written by this page: Word and its templates, OpenDocument, RTF, AbiWord, KWord, StarOffice, XPS, EPUB, DocBook, HTML, Markdown, CSV, text and PDF. The rest go to the tool built for them. Each file is read into headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, styling and links, written by this page in the new format, then read back so you can count what survived.

What each format can carrythe 7 most-used targets

HeadingsListsTablesBold, italicLinksFixed pages

TXT

HTML

RTF

ODT

DOCX

PDF

keptpartlylost

Converting down the list keeps more; converting up loses whatever the target can't hold. PDF keeps the look but not the editable structure.

1 · your file

folder_openOpen filedescriptionSample .docx

The converter engine (doc-engine.js) failed to load: Failed to fetch dynamically imported module: http://127.0.0.1:9777/js/main/general/doc-engine.jsDrop any of 17 readable formats here: Word, ODT, RTF, AbiWord, KWord, StarOffice, EPUB, DocBook, XPS, HTML, Markdown, CSV or text. The format is read from the bytes, not the name.

arrow_forward

2 · convert to

.pdfshare, print.docxedit in Word.odtLibreOffice.epube-readers.mdREADMEs.txtwords only

searchAll 28 formats · 14 written hereexpand_more

No format matches.

A4Letter

PDF 1.7 with the standard 14 fonts (nothing embedded), lines wrapped with Helvetica metrics, link annotations.

swap_horizConvert to .pdfdownload ·

What survives .docx → .pdfwaiting for a file

partin sourceread backstatus

text_fieldsWordscounted in the source; convert to compare127--

titleHeadingscounted in the source; convert to compare4--

format_list_bulletedList itemscounted in the source; convert to compare6--

tableTables · cellscounted in the source; convert to compare1 · 16--

format_boldBold runscounted in the source; convert to compare3--

format_italicItalic runscounted in the source; convert to compare2--

linkLinkscounted in the source; convert to compare1--

imageImagescounted in the source; convert to compare0--

rate_reviewCommentscounted in the source; convert to compare0--

translateCharacterscounted in the source; convert to compare661--

Open a document or the sample. The table fills in from the file itself; after converting, the output is read back and counted again.

~/one-document-ten-outputs

What each format does to your document.

We converted one source document into every major output format and measured the file that came out. The source was a 37.4 KB DOCX with headings, bold and italic text, a table, numbered and bulleted lists, and one embedded image.

289%PDF, the largest output

166%RTF, bloated but portable

3%Markdown and TXT, image dropped

formattypeoutput size · vs 37.4 KB sourcelayoutkeepsverdict

.docxEditable37.4 KB · 100%ReflowsEverythingThe editing default

.docEditable51 KB · 136%ReflowsEverythingLegacy, larger than DOCX

.odtEditable33.5 KB · 90%ReflowsEverythingOpen standard, smallest office format

.rtfEditable62.1 KB · 166%ReflowsText, styling, tablesVery portable but bloated

.pdfFixed108 KB · 289%ExactExact appearanceFor sharing and printing, not editing

.epubReflowable31.3 KB · 84%Adapts to screenText, styling, imagesFor e-readers

.htmlMarkup1.5 KB · 4%ReflowsText, styling, tablesOpens in any browser

.mdPlain text1.2 KB · 3%ReflowsText, basic stylingSmallest, great for docs and notes

.txtPlain text1.1 KB · 3%NoneText onlyUniversal, but drops all formatting

.dbkMarkup3.5 KB · 9%StructuredText, structureTechnical documentation only

Plain text is tiny because the image goesMarkdown and TXT both came out at 3% of the source, against 100% for DOCX: the embedded image is the bulk of the file, and neither format can hold it.

PDF pays for a fixed pageAt 289% of the source, PDF was the largest output. That is the cost of fixing the layout, fonts and image into a page that looks identical everywhere.

RTF is the surpriseIt keeps formatting but grew to 166% of the DOCX, so it is only worth using when the receiving program cannot read anything better.

Sizes are from one representative document converted with Pandoc and LibreOffice. Your own files will differ, especially with more images, but the relative ordering holds.

~/is-your-pdf-really-text

Why PDF to Word is the hard direction.

A PDF has no paragraphs. It stores “draw these glyphs at x, y in this font”, often one word or one line at a time, and a scanned page stores only a picture. Drop any PDF to see which kind you have and what its page instructions look like.

picture_as_pdfInspect a PDFText PDF sampleScanned PDF sample

Nothing inspected yet. The two samples are written here: one with real text, one that is only a JPEG of a page.

info

EXTRACTED TEXT (first 600 characters)

first page instructions, decoded · operators explained

~/all-28-formats

28 formats, each written and read back here.

The test writes the sample report (4 headings, 6 list items, a 16-cell table, bold, italic, a link and accented text) in every format this page writes, reads each file back with this page's own reader, and counts what came through. Formats it only opens are tested with a small generated file.

12written, all kept

2written, some lost

4open-only, read OK

0failed

Writes 14 formats and reads 4 more. Takes a second or two.scienceTest all formats

formatwhat it isrecognised byopens herewrites hereround trip

Word processing13 formats

.13 formatsWhat is .?Convert . →Word processing →

11.6 KB · 7/7 parts keptWord document

.docxWord documentBest for everyday editing and sharing with Word users.The right default for anything new.What is .docx?Convert .docx →PK · word/document.xmlthis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

handled by another toolWord 97–2003

.docWord 97-2003Best for opening older files and legacy systems.Still opens almost everywhere, but DOCX is smaller.What is .doc?Convert .doc →D0 CF 11 E0 (OLE)other toolnohandled by another toolDOC to DOCX →

10.1 KB · 7/7 parts keptOpenDocument text

.odtOpenDocument textBest for LibreOffice and OpenOffice workflows.An open standard that Word can also read.What is .odt?Convert .odt →PK · mimetype …opendocument.textthis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

3.0 KB · 7/7 parts keptRich Text Format

.rtfRich Text FormatBest when the other program cannot read DOCX.Very compatible, but files run noticeably large.What is .rtf?Convert .rtf →{\rtf1this pagethis pagenot tested yet →

11.5 KB · 7/7 parts keptWord, macro-enabled

.docmWord, macro-enabledBest for templates and forms that automate work.Many systems block macro files by default.What is .docm?Convert .docm →PK · macroEnabled content typethis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

handled by another toolWord 97–2003 template

.dotWord 97-2003 templateBest for reusing an old document blueprint.You open it to create a new file, not to edit.What is .dot?Convert .dot →D0 CF 11 E0 (OLE)other toolnohandled by another toolDOC to DOCX →

11.6 KB · 7/7 parts keptWord template

.dotxWord templateBest for standard layouts your team reuses.Same idea as DOT, XML-based and macro-free.What is .dotx?Convert .dotx →PK · wordprocessingml.templatethis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

11.5 KB · 7/7 parts keptWord template, macros

.dotmWord template, macrosBest for reusable documents that automate steps.Combines DOTX structure with VBA scripting.What is .?Convert .dotm →PK · macroEnabledTemplatethis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

6.0 KB · 7/7 parts keptAbiWord

.abwAbiWordBest for files created in AbiWord itself.Rare elsewhere, so convert it before sharing.What is .?Convert .abw →<abiwordthis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

not supported on this pageApplix Words

.awApplix WordsBest for recovering documents from old archives.Largely historical, so convert it forward.What is .?Convert .aw →*BEGIN WORDSnononot supported on this page →

generated file read: 8 words, 1 heading, 1 list item, bold keptKWord

.kwdKWordBest for opening legacy KOffice documents.Superseded by Calligra and ODT.What is .?Convert .kwd →PK · maindoc.xmlthis pagenonot tested yet →

generated file read: 127 words, 4 heading, 6 list item, bold keptStarOffice Writer

.sxwStarOffice WriterBest for reading pre-OpenOffice archives.Convert it to ODT or DOCX to keep working.What is .?Convert .sxw →PK · mimetype vnd.sun.xml.writerthis pagenonot tested yet →

750 B · 1/7 parts kept · lost headings, list items, table cells, bold, italic, linksPlain text

.txtPlain textBest for notes, logs, and raw readable data.Opens anywhere, but keeps no formatting at all.What is .txt?Convert .txt →none (UTF-8 checked)this pagethis pagenot tested yet →

Spreadsheets4 formats

.4 formatsWhat is .?Convert . →Spreadsheets →

handled by another toolExcel 97–2003

.xlsExcel 97-2003Best for older spreadsheets and legacy tools.Capped at 65,536 rows; XLSX handles far more.What is .xls?Convert .xls →D0 CF 11 E0 (OLE)other toolnohandled by another toolXLS to XLSX →

handled by another toolExcel workbook

.xlsxExcel workbookBest for everyday spreadsheets and data sharing.Supports over a million rows per sheet.What is .xlsx?Convert .xlsx →PK · xl/workbook.xmlother toolnohandled by another toolXLSX to CSV →

handled by another toolOpenDocument spreadsheet

.odsOpenDocument spreadsheetBest for LibreOffice Calc and open workflows.An open standard that Excel can also open.What is .?Convert .ods →PK · mimetype …spreadsheetother toolnohandled by another toolDocument tools →

114 B · 1/7 parts kept · lost words, headings, list items, bold, italic, linksComma-separated values

.csvComma-separated valuesBest for moving data between apps and databases.Universally importable, but holds no formulas.What is .csv?Convert .csv →none (RFC 4180)this pagethis pagenot tested yet →

Presentations3 formats

.3 formatsWhat is .?Convert . →Presentations →

handled by another toolPowerPoint 97–2003

.pptPowerPoint 97-2003Best for opening older presentations.PPTX produces smaller files and is preferred now.What is .ppt?Convert .ppt →D0 CF 11 E0 (OLE)other toolnohandled by another toolPPT to PPTX →

handled by another toolPowerPoint

.pptxPowerPointBest for building and sharing slide decks.Better compression than the old PPT format.What is .pptx?Convert .pptx →PK · ppt/presentation.xmlother toolnohandled by another toolPresentation Converter →

handled by another toolOpenDocument presentation

.odpOpenDocument presentationBest for LibreOffice Impress presentations.PowerPoint can open it too.What is .odp?Convert .odp →PK · mimetype …presentationother toolnohandled by another toolPresentation Converter →

Fixed layout, web & ebook8 formats

.8 formatsWhat is .?Convert . →Fixed layout, web & ebook →

9.1 KB · 133 of 127 words extracted againPDF

.pdfPDFBest for sharing, printing, and final versions.Looks identical everywhere, but is hard to edit.What is .pdf?Convert .pdf →%PDF-other toolthis pagenot tested yet →

not supported on this pageDjVu

.djvuDjVuBest for archives of scanned magazines and texts.Compresses scans far smaller than PDF.What is .djvu?Convert .djvu →AT&TFORMnononot supported on this page →

generated file read: 10 words, 1 heading, 1 list itemXPS

.xpsXPSBest for documents produced by Windows printing.Support is thin, so PDF is the safer target.What is .xps?Convert .xps →PK · .fdseq / .fpagethis pagenonot tested yet →

generated file read: 10 words, 1 heading, 1 list itemOpenXPS

.oxpsOpenXPSBest for newer Windows fixed-layout output.Still worth converting to PDF for sharing.What is .oxps?Convert .oxps →PK · .fdseq / .fpagethis pagenonot tested yet →

876 B · 7/7 parts keptMarkdown

.mdMarkdownBest for READMEs, notes, and documentation.Tiny files that convert cleanly into HTML.What is .md?Convert .md →none (text)this pagethis pagenot tested yet →

1.5 KB · 7/7 parts keptHTML

.htmlHTMLBest when the document should open in a browser.Keeps text, links, tables, and styling.What is .html?Convert .html →<html / <!doctypethis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

4.1 KB · 7/7 parts keptEPUB 3

.epubEPUB 3Best for e-readers, phones, and tablets.Text reflows to fit any screen size.What is .epub?Convert .epub →PK · mimetype application/epub+zipthis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

2.1 KB · 7/7 parts keptDocBook 5

.dbkDocBook 5Best for technical manuals and software docs.Stores structure and meaning, not visual styling.What is .?Convert .dbk →xmlns docbook.org/ns/docbookthis pagethis pagenot tested yet →

1987RTF 1.0Microsoft publishes Rich Text Format for moving Word files between systems.

1993PDF 1.0Adobe Acrobat 1.0 and the Portable Document Format.

1995HTML 2.0RFC 1866 standardises HTML; the first drafts date from 1993.

2004MarkdownJohn Gruber publishes Markdown; CommonMark pins it down from 2014.

2005ODF 1.0OASIS approves OpenDocument; ISO/IEC 26300 in 2006.

2006Office Open XMLECMA-376 1st edition; Word 2007 makes .docx the default.

2008ISO 32000-1PDF 1.7 becomes an ISO standard.

2017PDF 2.0ISO 32000-2 removes proprietary dependencies and tightens tagging.

2021ODF 1.3OASIS standard adding OpenPGP signatures and encryption.

When you need one specific conversion

DOCX→PDFFreeze a document for sending or printing.contract.docx · 3 pagesarrow_forwardcontract.pdf · same layout PDF→DOCXRebuild paragraphs from positioned text so it can be edited again.report.pdf · text layerarrow_forwardreport.docx · paragraphs ODT→DOCXLibreOffice to Word with styles mapped one by one.minutes.odtarrow_forwardminutes.docx RTF→DOCXBring WordPad and old Mac files into a modern package.letter.rtf · 1998arrow_forwardletter.docx DOC→DOCXRewrite the binary Word 97-2003 format as XML.thesis.doc · OLEarrow_forwardthesis.docx · ZIP PDF→TXTPull out the text layer in reading order, for search or AI tools.paper.pdf · 24 pagesarrow_forwardpaper.txt · 61 KB DOCX→TXTKeep only the words, with tracked changes resolved.draft.docxarrow_forwarddraft.txt TXT→PDFTypeset plain text onto pages with proper wrapping.notes.txtarrow_forwardnotes.pdf · A4 XLSX→CSVExport one sheet as values for import anywhere.sales.xlsx · 3 sheetsarrow_forwardsales.csv · Sheet1

Sources

[1]ECMA-376: Office Open XML file formats [2]OASIS OpenDocument (ODF) 1.3 [3]ISO 32000-2: Portable Document Format (PDF 2.0)[4]PDF 32000-1:2008 (PDF 1.7): standard 14 fonts, text operators [5]Rich Text Format (RTF) Specification 1.9.1 [6]CommonMark Spec 0.31.2 [7]GitHub Flavored Markdown: tables [8]HTML Living Standard [9]Adobe Font Metrics File Format (AFM) Specification [10]Windows-1252 to Unicode mapping