LegacyFileConverter is a 32-bit Windows application that make it easy to run the old Word for Word file converters in modern Windows systems. It uses the 1995-era Word for Word for DOS program, briefly released by Adobe in its Adobe File Utilities package, now packaged in a compiled AutoIt script. This package only converts files in formats in use before 1995; do not try to use it with modern formats like DOCX, ODT, Word 2007, etc.
You may download the LegacyFileConverter installer here.
The program is a compiled AutoIt script, and your antivirus software will probably warn you against using it. It also contains a copy of the open-source DocTo utility that converts RTF to PDF (and other formats), and also triggers many anti-virus applications. If you don't trust my software, don't use my software. Please do not waste your extremely valuable time writing me an e-mail asking whether or not the software is safe.
For a version of this software that runs under current versions of macOS, see a separate page.
I do not know who owns the copyright to this software, which has not been available since 1997. If the copyright holder asks me to remove this application from my site, I will instantly do so! The original vendor was Mastersoft; Mastersoft was reportedly acquired by Frame in 1995; Frame was acquired by Adobe later the same year, and Adobe then released the versions of Word for Word included in the Adobe File Utilties. I have seen a report saying that Adobe sold the product to Inso in 1997, but that Inso (which had its own competitive product, Outside In) did not want to market the Word for Word product, so it was never distributed again. Inso later became Stellent, which was later acquired by Oracle. The Word for Word technology had reportedly been licensed by Inso to Sun Microsystems (later acquired by Oracle) which used it in 2002 in the commercial version of its StarOffice 6.0 office suite; it was also used in other products that used the same technology. I do not know if the technology has been in use since. (The Austrian vendor MasterSoft Software Solutions has no connection with the original Mastersoft.)
To use the program, simply drop an old document file on it (or its shortcut) and it will try to create a Word-compatible file with the same name as the original file, but with the additional extension ".doc".
By default, the program converts document files to RTF format (but gives the file the extension "doc" so that it can be easily opened and saved in Word and other applicaitons). By default, it attempts to detect the format of the file dropped on it. If it fails to detect the correct format, you can specify a format code from a list provided in a PDF file installed with the application.
If you run the program without dropping a file on it (or specifying a file on the command line) it will offer to open the Word for Word application in the vDosPlus emulator so that you can use its menus for converting one or more files. A user manual for the Word for Word application is installed with the program.
If you change the name of the application so that it includes the string "PNG" (as in, for example, LegacyFileConverter-png") it will automatically convert old graphic files to PNG format. If you change the name to include "XLS", it will automatically convert old spreadsheet files to Microsoft Excel format. If you change the name to include "DBF", it will automatically convert old database files to dBaseIV format.
Before the program tries to convert a file it displays a dialog box with the format codes that it will use for the input file and the output file, and the extension that it will add to the converted file. These should be correct by default, but if they are not, you can change the input and output format codes using the PDF file listing the Word for Word codes. If you change the output-file extension, make sure that the extension you choose is consistent with the output format that you specify.
Command-line usage (also applies to shortcuts to the application): You can run the program from the Windows command prompt, using these options:
LegacyFileConverter.exe d:\path\to\filename.ext
The command-line above automatically converts the specified filename to RTF (with a .doc extension). You may add any or all of these options.
To specify the input format if Word for Word fails to detect it automatically (replace CODE with a code from the Word for Word format code list):
/input=CODE
To specify the output format used by Word for Word (replace CODE with a code from the Word for Word format code list):
/output=CODE
To specify the extension of the converted file (replace EXT with a file extension used by Windows):
/ext=EXT
To run the program without displaying dialog boxes or messages (any already-existing converted file will be overwritten without warning!):
/silent
To use the Word for Word feature that embeds unrecognized codes in the document (see the Word for Word user manual installed with the application):
/embed
To create a PDF from a word-processing document file, using the included DocTo utility (this option only works with documents, not graphics, spreadsheets, or database files, and requires that Microsoft Word be installed on your computer):
The following table lists the format codes used by the Word for Word software.. You may use these when specifying input and output formats. These codes are also listed in a PDF file installed with the application.
|
Automatic
Recognition |
AUTO |
|
Ami Pro 1.x -
3.1 |
AMI |
|
Ami Pro
Graphics SDW |
SDW |
|
ASCII (Smart),
PC |
SAS |
|
ASCII (Smart),
PC - CP 850 |
SAS850 |
|
ASCII (Smart),
MAC |
SASM |
|
ASCII (Smart),
UNIX |
SASX |
|
ASCII (Smart),
Windows |
SASW |
|
ASCII
(Standard), PC |
ASC |
|
ASCII
(Standard), PC - CP 850 |
ASC850 |
|
ASCII
(Standard), MAC |
ASCM |
|
ASCII
(Standard), UNIX |
ASCX |
|
ASCII
(Standard), Windows |
ASCW |
|
ASCII
(Stripped), PC |
STA |
|
ASCII
(Stripped), PC - CP 850 |
STA850 |
|
ASCII
(Stripped), MAC |
STAM |
|
ASCII
(Stripped), UNIX |
STAX |
|
ASCII
(Stripped), Windows |
STAW |
|
ASCII (Comma
Delimited), PC |
CSV |
|
ASCII (Comma
Delimited), WIN |
CSVA |
|
ASCII (Comma
Delimited), MAC |
CSVM |
|
ASCII (Comma
Delimited), UNIX |
CSVX |
|
ASCII
(Comma/Quote Delim), PC |
QSV |
|
ASCII
(Comma/Quote Delim), WIN |
QSVA |
|
ASCII
(Comma/Quote Delim), MAC |
QSVM |
|
ASCII
(Comma/Quote Delim), UNIX |
QSVX |
|
ASCII (Tab
Delimited), PC |
TSV |
|
ASCII (Tab
Delimited), WIN |
TSVA |
|
ASCII (Tab
Delimited), MAC |
TSVM |
|
ASCII (Tab
Delimited), UNIX |
TSVX |
|
AutoCAD
(DXF,DXB) |
DXF |
|
AutoCAD (DXF) |
DXF |
|
CEOwrite 3.0 |
CEO |
|
Claris Works
3.0 |
CLWKS |
|
Communications
Format |
COM |
|
CompuServe GIF |
GIF |
|
Computer
Graphics Metafile (CGM) |
CGM |
|
CorelDraw
Preview |
COR |
|
CTOS DEF |
DEF |
|
CTOS DEF (Word
Processor) |
DEFW |
|
DBase IV 1.0 |
DB4 |
|
DBase III, III+ |
DB3 |
|
DCA/FFT - Final
Form Text |
FFT |
|
DCA/RFT -
Revisable Form Text |
RFT |
|
DCA/RFT -
DisplayWrite 5 |
RFT2 |
|
Digital DX |
DX |
|
Digital
WPS-PLUS |
WPL |
|
DisplayWrite 5 |
DW5 |
|
DisplayWrite
2,3,4 |
DW |
|
EBCDIC |
EBC |
|
Enable 1.1,
2.0, 2.15 |
EN |
|
Encapsulated
PostScript Preview |
EPS |
|
Encapsulated
PostScript Bitmap |
EPS |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 4.0 - 5.0 |
MIF4 |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 4.0 - 5.0 Win |
MIF4W |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 4.0 - 5.0 Mac |
MIF4M |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 4.0 - 5.0 Unix |
MIF4X |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 3.0 |
MIF |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 3.0 Win |
MIFW |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 3.0 Mac |
MIFM |
|
FrameMaker
(MIF) 3.0 Unix |
MIFX |
|
Framework IV |
FW4 |
|
Framework III
1.0, 1.1 |
FW3 |
|
HP AdvanceWrite
Plus |
AWP |
|
HP PCL |
HPPCL |
|
HP Graphics
Language (HPGL) |
HPGL |
|
HTML Level 3 |
HTML3 |
|
HTML Level 2 |
HTML2 |
|
HTML Level 1 |
HTML1 |
|
HTML Level 3 –
Netscape |
HTML3N |
|
HTML Level 2 –
Netscape |
HTML2N |
|
HTML Level 1 –
Netscape |
HTML1N |
|
IBM Writing
Assistant 1.0 |
WA |
|
IGES |
IGES |
|
Interleaf 6.0 |
ILF6 |
|
Interleaf 5.2 |
ILF6 |
|
Interleaf 5.2 -
6.0 |
ILF5 |
|
Interleaf
Publisher 1.1 |
INTL |
|
JPEG |
JPEG |
|
Legacy 1.x, 2.0 |
LEG |
|
Lotus 123 4.0 -
5.0 |
123v4 |
|
Lotus 123 3.0 |
123v3 |
|
Lotus 123 1A,
2.0, 2.1 |
123 |
|
Lotus Freelance |
PRE |
|
Lotus
Manuscript 2.0, 2.1 |
MS2 |
|
Lotus PIC |
LPIC |
|
Macintosh
QuickDraw (PICT) |
PICT |
|
Macintosh Paint |
MPAINT |
|
MacWrite Pro
1.0 |
MCWPRO |
|
MacWrite II,
1.0 - 1.1 |
MCW2 |
|
MacWrite 4.5 -
5.0 |
MCW |
|
Mass 11,
Version 8.5 - 9.0 |
MASS |
|
Mass 11,
Version 8.0 - 8.33 |
MASS |
|
Micrografx
Designer (DRW) |
MGX |
|
MS Access 2.0 |
ACC2 |
|
MS Excel 5.0 -
7.0 |
XL5 |
|
MS Excel 4.0 |
XL4 |
|
MS Excel 3.0 |
XL3 |
|
MS Excel 2.1 |
XL |
|
MS Excel Mac
4.0 |
XLM4 |
|
MS Excel Mac
3.0 |
XLM3 |
|
MS FoxPro for
Windows 2.5 |
FOXW |
|
MS RTF |
RTF |
|
MS RTF (WinWord
6) |
RTFW6 |
|
MS RTF (MacWord
6) |
RTFM6 |
|
MS RTF (ANSI
Char Set) |
RTF |
|
MS RTF
(Codepage 850) |
RTFINT |
|
MS RTF (MAC
Char Set) |
RTFM |
|
MS RTF (PC Char
Set) |
RTFPC |
|
MS Word for
Windows 6.0 - 7.0 |
MSWW6 |
|
MS Word for
Windows 2.0 |
MSWW2 |
|
MS Word for
Windows 1.x |
MSWW |
|
MS Word for DOS
6.0 |
MS6 |
|
MS Word for DOS
5.0, 5.5 |
MS5 |
|
MS Word for DOS
4.0 |
MS4 |
|
MS Word for DOS
3.0, 3.1 |
MSW |
|
MS Word for DOS
5.x (Mail Merge) |
MSWM |
|
MS Word for Mac
6.0 |
MWM6 |
|
MS Word for Mac
5.0, 5.1 |
MWM5 |
|
MS Word for Mac
4.0 |
MWM4 |
|
MS Word for Mac
3.0 |
MWM3 |
|
MS Works for
Windows 3.0 |
MSWK |
|
MS Write for
Windows 3.x |
MWW |
|
MultiMate 4 |
MM4 |
|
MultiMate
Advantage II |
MA2 |
|
MultiMate
Advantage I |
MMA |
|
MultiMate 3.3 |
MM |
|
Navy DIF (GSA) |
GSA |
|
Navy DIF
(WordPerfect) |
DIF |
|
OfficePower 7 |
OP7 |
|
OfficePower 6 |
OP6 |
|
OfficeWriter
6.0 - 6.2 |
OW6 |
|
OfficeWriter
5.0 |
OW5 |
|
OfficeWriter
4.0 |
OW4 |
|
OS/2 Bitmap |
OS2B |
|
OS/2 Metafile |
OS2M |
|
Paradox 3.5,
4.0 |
PDX |
|
PC Paintbrush
(DCX) |
DCX |
|
PC Paintbrush
(PCX) |
PCX |
|
PeachText 5000
2.12 |
PT |
|
PFS:First
Choice 3.0 |
FC3 |
|
PFS:First
Choice 2.0 |
FC2 |
|
PFS:First
Choice 1.0 |
FC |
|
First Choice
3.0 Data Base |
FC3DB |
|
PFS:WRITE Ver C |
PFS |
|
Professional
Write 2.0 - 2.2 |
PW2 |
|
Professional
Write 1.0 |
PPW |
|
Professional
Write Plus |
PWP |
|
Portable
Network Graphics (PNG) |
PNG |
|
PostScript |
PS |
|
Q&A 4.0 |
QA4 |
|
Q&A Write 1.x,
Q&A 3.0 |
QA3 |
|
Quattro Pro DOS |
QPD |
|
Quattro Pro
Windows |
QPW |
|
Rapid File 1.2 |
RF1 |
|
Rapid File 1.0 |
RF |
|
RGIP |
RGIP |
|
Samna Word IV &
IV+ 1.0, 2.0 |
SW4 |
|
Signature 1.0 |
SIG |
|
Sun Raster
Graphics |
RAS |
|
Tagged Image
File Format (TIFF) |
TIFF |
|
Total Word 1.2,
1.3 |
TW |
|
Volkswriter 3,4 |
VW3 |
|
Volkswriter
Deluxe 2.2 |
VW |
|
Uniplex V7 - V8 |
V7 |
|
Uniplex OnGO |
ONGO |
|
Wang PC,
Version 3 |
WANG |
|
Windows Bitmap
(BMP) |
BMP |
|
Windows
Clipboard (CLP) |
WINCLP |
|
Windows
Metafile (WMF) |
WMF |
|
Windows ICON |
ICON |
|
Windows Paint
2.x |
WPAINT2 |
|
Windows RLE |
WRLE |
|
WiziWord |
WIZI |
|
WiziDraw |
WIZID |
|
WordPerfect for
Windows 6.1 |
WPW61 |
|
WordPerfect for
Windows 6.0 |
WPW6 |
|
WordPerfect for
Windows 5.x |
WPW51 |
|
WordPerfect 6.0 |
WP6 |
|
WordPerfect 5.1 |
WP51 |
|
WordPerfect 5.0 |
WP5 |
|
WordPerfect 4.2 |
W42 |
|
WordPerfect 4.1 |
WP4 |
|
WordPerfect
Graphics 2 (WPG) |
WPG2 |
|
WordPerfect
Graphics 1 (WPG) |
WPG |
|
WordPerfect Mac
3.1 - 3.5 |
WPM31 |
|
WordPerfect Mac
3.0 |
WPM3 |
|
WordPerfect Mac
2.1 |
WPM21 |
|
WordPerfect Mac
2.0 |
WPM2 |
|
WordPerfect Mac
1.0 |
WPM1 |
|
WordPerfect 5.1
(Mail Merge) |
WPMM |
|
WordStar 7.0 |
WS7 |
|
WordStar 6.0 |
WS6 |
|
WordStar 5.5 |
WS55 |
|
WordStar 5.0 |
WS5 |
|
WordStar 4.0 |
WS4 |
|
WordStar 3.45 |
WS3 |
|
WordStar 3.3,
3.31 |
WS |
|
WordStar for
Windows |
WSW |
|
WordStar 2000,
Rel 3.5 |
WS2R35 |
|
WordStar 2000,
Rel 3.0 |
WS2R3 |
|
WriteNow 3.0 |
WNOW3 |
|
XEROX - XIF
5.0, 6.0 |
XIF |
|
XIF Graphics
(Interpress) |
XIFG |
|
Xwindows PixMap
XPM |
XPM |
|
XyWrite for
Windows |
XYW |
|
XyWrite IV |
XY4 |
|
XyWrite III
Plus |
XYP |
|
XyWrite III |
XY3 |
Edward Mendelson (edward [dot] mendelson [at] columbia [dot] edu)