How to convert docx to doc
With the release of MS Office 2007, Microsoft finally embraced an open file format for saving documents, docx being the format used natively by MS Word. Docx is an open format that is now managed by a non-profit organization Ecma International, and is made up of a series of XML files bundled together into a zip archive.
Despite pleasing sales of MS Office 2007, and the number of licenses of MS Works bundled with new home computers, the docx format has met with some resistance from corporations and users who prefer using doc files. Consumers are not aware of the advantages of docx and choose to continue using doc.
Converting from docx to doc for most users of MS Office is a very simple procedure since Office 2007 handles both formats natively, and Office 2003 and Office 2000 can be upgraded with the addition of a simple plugin available free from the Microsoft website. Once these are installed, users are able to open a docx file, and easily convert it to doc format using the 'save as' menu command.
For simple conversions, an online docx converter is probably the quickest option for most people, and several websites exist that convert from docx to either doc or pdf. Most of these sites are simple enough, offering only a form for uploading the docx file, and a submit button to start the process, which once complete gives a link to the converted doc file for users to download.
A number of other very capable applications such as the free OpenOffice and AbiWord now support docx and are able to used as docx converters. The document only needs to be opened like normal, some editing can be done if required, and then the file converted to doc using the save menu item.
If none of these options is suitable, some shareware software developers have produced specialist converter software that will batch convert entire folders of docx files to doc format. In the worst case scenario, and if the content of the docx is more important than the document formatting, simply renaming a docx to zip is a convenient method of extracting the text only, which can then be used in any text editor that supports saving to doc format.