File Formats

Using the Save As option provides you with the opportunity to save information in a specific file format, to change where the file is saved, or to rename the file. By default, when you save information, a specific file format will be assigned. That particular file format will use the settings that are specific to the application, and retain all formatting features (type size and style, margin settings, etc.). For example, Word 2007 stores documents in the Word document (.docx) format, retaining all of the formatting applied in the version of Word that you are using.

Overview of Converting File Formats

Applications can read, import, and save information in different file formats. You can save a document in a file format that can be read by earlier versions of the software or by other applications. When you save a document in another file format, it’s a good idea to save the document with a different name so that you’ll still have the document in your original application format as a backup.

Applications commonly provide converters for other file formats. Files can be saved so that they can be opened with earlier versions of the software, or with other software applications. If you need to move a document between one application and another for which a specific converter is not available, you can import and export the document in text format.

Common formats for saving documents in a text file format include:

• Word Document: Word file, with all of the formatting maintained.  Word 2007 saves documents as docx files (xml documents).
• Word 97 – 2003 Document: Documents may be saved as previous versions of Word files.
• Word 97 – 2003 & 6.0 / 95-rtf: Rich Text Format files – files that have the formatting of text, but are generic.
• Word Macro Enabled: Separates documents that are allowed to execute embedded macros / VBA projects.
• Word Template: Saves the basic structure of the document. This can be used as the starting point to create similar documents.
• Word Macro Enabled Template: A template that includes embedded macros / VBS projects.
• Word 97 – 2003 Template: A Word 97 – 2003 template that saves the basic structure of the document. This can be used as the starting point to create similar documents.
• Single File Web Page: A flattened web page.
• Web Page: Saves the document as an HTML file.
• Web Page Filtered: Saves an HTML file with Microsoft Office tags removed.
• Rich Text Format (RTF): Saves all formatting, such as font changes, text styles (bold, italics, etc.), and margin changes. Converts formatting to instructions that other applications can read and interpret.
• Plain Text : Saves text without formatting. Converts all section breaks, and page breaks to paragraph marks. Select this format only if the destination application cannot read any of the other available file formats. Plain-text format retains the text of a document without most of the formatting. This format is also useful for sending and receiving a document on an electronic mail system.
• Word XML Document: Saves a document as an XML file.
• Works 6.0 – 9.0: Saves a file in Microsoft Works format.