The 1995-era Word for Word file-conversion utilities were briefly released by Adobe in its Adobe File Utilities package, for DOS, Windows 3.x, Mac OS ("classic"), and Unix versions. I have packaged the DOS and classic Mac versions in applications for modern macOS. These applications only convert files in formats in use before 1995; do not try to use them with modern formats like DOCX, ODT, Word 2007, etc.
You may download the Legacy File Converters disk image here.
The disk image contains two applications, WordForWordDOS and WordForWordMac. You should drag one or both to your desktop or any other convenient folder. Also drag to your desktop or any other folder the PDF files beneath the application that you decide to use.
Each application is described below; you can use either or both, and they should produce similar results. Both are notarized by Apple for use on macOS.
These converters require macOS 13.0 or later.
For version that runs under current Windows, see a separate page.
This is the DOS version of Word for Word, running in the DOSBox-X emulator. When you run the application for the first time it creates (or finds) a folder named DOSBoxDisk in your user folder, and, if it hasn't already done so, copies into the Word for Word program files (in a folder named WFW) and creates two folders named INFILES and OUTFILES. It then opens Word for Word. You may need to navigate around the folder list before the files that you placed in the INFILES list appear there.
Navigate the menus to explore the options and experiment with the results. You are on your own, because I can't help you with details.
You can also copy files into the INFILES folder by dropping them on the application icon (use only files with DOS-style 8.3 filenames).
This is the classic Mac OS version of Word for Word, running under System 7.6.1 in the BasiliskII emulator. Drop a file on the application's icon, and the application will copy it to the desktop of the emulated System 7.6.1 and open Word for Word in the emulator. Experiment for best results. When the software produces a converted file, drop the converted file on the "Copy to Host" icon, and it should be copied to your macOS desktop. You may shut down the emulator from its Apple menu or by clicking on the Shutdown icon on the emulated desktop.
Navigate the menus to explore the options and experiment with the results. You are on your own, because I can't help you with details.
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 these applications 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.)
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 (em thirty-six [at] columbia [dot] edu, but with two initials and two numerals before the [at] sign, not spelled out as shown here).