Unable to open .docx

[abscomm]

Hello, I have the latest version of Open Office installed on Windows7 but am unable to open .docx files. Please help.

John

[RoryOF]

How are you trying to open the files?

[abscomm]

I have tried clicking on the file and saying use Open Office writer and I have tried opening open office writer and saying open the .docx file after specifying type .docx. Why, what would you suggest?

[RoryOF]

Is this every .docx file, or just one? Has it come by email?

In OpenOffice /File /Open will permit you to navigate to the directory in which the file(s) are stored. Then select the desired file, and press the Open button. If it/they open in that way, we can sort out the method of opening by double clicking on it.

It is possible that some .docx files will not open using OO.

[John_Ha]

1. Place the .docx file on your desktop
2. File > Open ..., and navigate to the file. Does it open?

If not

3. Rename the file from xxxxx.docx to xxxxx.zip. Double click it. If it is a real .docx file you will get something like this. If you don't, it isn't a .docx file.

[abscomm]

Yes I get something very similar .

[abscomm]

Also, no it does not open. Well technically, I suppose it does open to a blank document that seems to have some sort of tabbed structure to it but nothing else.

[John_Ha]

So it does open. The problem is that, when opened, it is just it is blank.

It probably contains a textbox - See [Tutorial] Differences between Writer and MS Word files for an explanation.

[Zizi64]

Your signature is:

John
OpenOffice 4.5.1 on Windows 7

There is not Apache OpenOffice 4.5.1 version yet.
Are you using LibreOffice? If the ansver is "not", then
- probably you are using AOO 4.1.5
- you can try the LibreOffice. It has a littlebit higher compatibility with the foreign file formats, and the LO can save into "OOXML Strict" .docx format.

Please upload your .docx type sample document here.

[abscomm]

No it is AOO 4.1.5 so sorry that my mistake in typing that caused you so much angst. I did however state that it was the latest version of Open Office so you should have assumed that I was not using LibreOffice

[robleyd]

I did however state that it was the latest version of Open Office so you should have assumed that I was not using LibreOffice

Quite often we notice that people do not distinguish correctly between AOO and LO, so making that assumption may well lead to incorrect advice being given. This is why we try to ensure we know exactly what you are using. The more precise your description of the environment and problem you are encountering, the less difficulty there is likely to be in readily finding a resolution.

[RoryOF]

Try AbiWord; it has sometimes opened .docx files that OO could not. However, do _not_ Save over the existing .docx file, so that you maintain the original unchanged.

[John_Ha]

you can try the LibreOffice. It has a little bit higher compatibility with the foreign file formats, and the LO can save into "OOXML Strict" .docx format.

Zizi64
Can LO save as either "strict" or "traditional, nonstrict"? LO can view and save MS Word Draw Textboxes which are not part of "OOXML Strict".

[Zizi64]

Can LO save as either "strict" or "traditional, nonstrict"? LO can view and save MS Word Draw Textboxes which are not part of "OOXML Strict".

The non-strict version of the OOXML Standard is named "Transitional". The name shows: it was developed for a transitional period, but the MS can not make the Strict version as the DEFAULT file format until now. They
can not do it, or they do not want it: "that is a question"...

I have not any information of the strategy of MS, and I have not too much information about the develepment strategy of the LO team. They want to achieve a higher compatibility, but is is not an easy thing while the Transitional version often will be changed.