HowToDisplay

.doc files - Microsoft Word document files

Suppose you are unable to view a file properly. You discover the type of the file is .doc or "Microsoft Word document".

How do you display a .doc file properly?

1. Method 1: Download and use the Microsoft Word Viewer

   1. If appropriate, read about and download the appropriate version of the Microsoft Word Viewer software for free:

      • "Microsoft Word 97/2000 Viewer (Windows 95/98/NT/2000)", or
      • "Word 97/2000 Viewer (Word 2000) (Windows 3.x)", or
      • "Word 97/2000 Viewer (Word 97) (Windows 3.x)"
   2. Install the Microsoft Word Viewer software.
   3. Use the Microsoft Word Viewer software to open and to display .doc files.

2. Method 2: Use OpenOffice.org software to view a converted copy

   If (for example)

   • you are not able, allowed, or willing to use Method 1, and
   • you can access the World Wide Web,

   then you might prefer to use Method 2 to try to convert the .doc file and to view the results:

   1. If appropriate, use a "Download" link at OpenOffice.org to download (a "stable" version of) the OpenOffice.org software suite for free.
   2. Install the OpenOffice.org software.
   3. Use the OpenOffice.org software to open and to display .doc files.
   4. You might also use the OpenOffice.org software to make or to edit .doc files.

This page was updated on July 28, 2004.

Copyright © 1998-2003 by Barry G. Wong. All rights reserved.