Meryl's Notes Blog
Things wordy, geeky, and webbyConverting Files
Monday, September 24th, 2007 at 7:56 AM | 2 commentsI received an .odt file for posting on an organization’s Web site. Open Office’s word processor uses this file format. I didn’t want to download and install Open Office even though it cost nothing. And going back to the sender wasn’t a good idea because she would either not know how to convert it or she wasn’t the one who created the file.
Considering the popularity of Open Office, I took a chance and searched the Internet to see if there were converters or a Web-based application that could read .odt files. I struck gold at Media Convert, a no cost Web-based application — so I didn’t need to install anything. It did the job beautifully. All you have to do is locate the file, select the input format and select the output format.
The service doesn’t include Publisher, but you can convert it at PDF Online. At least, everyone can view PDF files and you don’t have to ask anyone to save the Publisher file into another format. Between the two Web-based applications, you should be covered.
Updated: A friend of mine uses PrimoPDF, free downloadable software.
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2 comments
I use OpenOffice and love it. When I’m sharing files with other people I use the built-in Export to PDF function to save read only versions, and save it in Microsoft Word format to share an editable version.
My only minor complaint with OO is that new releases (for MS Windows at least) require you to download the entire suite and reinstall, rather than provide a more compact upgrade option.
Recently, I’ve been receiving .docx files from Office 2007 users, that OpenOffice cannot open. I tried using a free internet conversion service that emailed you a link to the converted file, but when I clicked on that link I got a page not found error, so that didn’t work. Instead I have had to email the senders to request they re-send the files in .doc format.
I visited the PrimoPDF site, and the online service has a list of the file types it can convert at http://online.primopdf.com/FileTypes.aspx
MS Publisher is not in that list, but OpenOffice .odt files are.
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