WP macros that use Word or LibreOffice to convert to .DOC or .PDF | A WPDOS 5.1 macro that uses Word to convert | A WPDOS 6.x macro that uses Word to convert | A WPDOS 5.1 macro that uses LibreOffice to convert | A WPDOS 6.x macro that uses LibreOffice to convert | Frequently-asked questions | Home page
This page is about WordPerfect macros that can be used for converting WordPerfect files into Word, RTF, or PDF format. The descriptions on this page refer to WPDOS running natively (without vDosWP or DOSBoxWP) under 32-bit Windows.
Very similar macros are installed when you install the vDosWP and DOSBoxWP systems, and if you use either of those systems, see the description of the corresponding macros provided on the pages on this site that describe those systems. If you use either of those systems, you do not need to look at this page, and you should not download anything from this page! Use the macros that are installed when you installed those other systems!
With that point settled and clarified:
If you have Microsoft Word or LibreOffice installed on your system, the methods described here will let you do the following: While editing a document in WPDOS, you can use a WPDOS macro to make a copy of the current document into Word or PDF format. (But see the detailed requirements described below.)
These macros use Windows scripts that may be used separately, without requiring or using WPDOS. See a separate page for details.
See also a separate page for standalone programs that convert WP files into Word or PDF files under any Windows version.
See also the note on a separate page about WPDOS files that contain the euro symbol. See a separate page for information on importing Microsoft Word files into WordPerfect for DOS.
For other methods of creating PDF files directly from WPDOS, see a separate page about "printing" PDF files from WPDOS. The methods on that page will produce more accurate results than the methods described on the page you are reading now, because the methods on the other page "print" a PDF file directly from WordPerfect instead of using Microsoft Word or LibreOffice to convert the file first.
All other methods described on this page require either Word or LibreOffice to be installed on your system. These are the requirements for the Microsoft Word-based macros and the LibreOffice-based macros. Read these requirements carefully!
Microsoft Word: Microsoft Word 2003 or later must be installed on your system if you want to use the macros that use Word for conversion. (Optional PDF export requires Word 2007 SP2 or Word 2010.)
LibreOffice: The script and macros should work with LibreOffice versions 3.4 or later.
Note: These macro systems are frequently updated. If you find that the latest version of Microsoft Word or LibreOffice causes your script to stop working, please replace the script with the current version.
Note: If, when opening a document converted by one of these macros, Word repeatedly displays the error message "Word cannot start the converter mswrd632.wpc" or "Cannot load Word for Windows 6.0 files", please consult this Microsoft information page. This problem is caused entirely by a security update installed by Microsoft starting in 2009; it is not caused by these scripts!
Warning: The WP macros described will work only when used with WPDOS running natively (in a "DOS Window") under 32-bit Windows. They will not work correctly with vDosWP or DOSBoxWP! If you use the vDosWP or DOSBoxWP systems, use the similarly-named macros that are installed with those systems!
The remaining parts of this page describe WPDOS macros that use Windows scripts to do the following:
Using a copy of Microsoft Word for Windows already installed on your computer, a WPDOS macro automatically exports the document open in WPDOS to Word or PDF format, with options to correct Word's choice of fonts to apply to the converted document, and with options to make other minor changes in Word's formatting. (This macro method works with Word 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, and later versions; PDF conversion requires Word 2007 SP2, 2010, or later.) This macro launches a separate (supplied) Windows script program.
Or, using a copy of the free application suite LibreOffice already installed on your computer, a WPDOS macro automatically exports the document open in WPDOS to Word or PDF format. This macro launches a separate (supplied) Windows script program,
Remember that your original WPDOS files are not changed in this process and remain on your disk with their original names!
Further details are provided in the separate sections below.
If (1) you use a Macintosh computer, and (2) you have WordPerfect for DOS files or WordPerfect for Windows files that you want to open in Microsoft Word for the Mac, see the general page on WPDOS files imported into Word.
Important warning: This macro is intended for use with WPDOS running natively (in a "DOS Window") under 32-bit Windows. It will not work correctly if used with vDosWP or DOSBoxWP! If you use the vDosWP or DOSBoxWP systems, use the similarly-named macro that is installed with those systems!
Second important warning: This macro may cause WPDOS to lock up under 32-bit Windows 7. Be careful to save your files before using the macro.
This system uses a WPDOS 5.1 macro to launch a Windows script that uses Microsoft Word to convert the WP document currently on screen into Word or PDF format. The macro requires the script, but the script can also be used as a standalone program. You must have Microsoft Word installed on your system.
In WPDOS, use Shift-F1, 6 - Location of Files to find your Keyboard/Macro Files directory.
Download the WP5WordConv.zip archive file. Extract the WORDCONV.WPM and place it in the Keyboard/Macro Files directory. Extract the WP2MSW.VBS file and place it in the root folder of the drive that contains WPDOS; if WPDOS is in C:\WP51, then place the file in C:\; if WPDOS is in in E:\WP51, then place the file in E:\.
In WPDOS, press Ctrl-F10, enter WORDCONV; at the prompt, choose Edit. In the Macro Editor window, scroll down to the lines that tell you to enter the drive letter. Change the line that reads:
{ASSIGN}WPDrive~~
so it reads (if your WP setup is on drive C:):
{ASSIGN}WPDrive~C~
Press F7 to close the macro.
Open a WordPerfect file in WPDOS. Press Alt-F10, WORDCONV, and follow the prompts. A Word-format file will be created with the same name as the current WPDOS file, but with a new .DOC extension added to the existing name.
You may use this macro to convert the current WPDOS document to PDF format, if you have Word 2007 SP2 or later. To change the behavior of the macro, again press Ctrl-F10, enter WORDCONV; at the prompt, choose Edit. In the Macro Editor window, scroll down to the line that reads:
{ASSIGN}MakePDF~No~
and change it so that it reads:
{ASSIGN}MakePDF~Yes~
Press F7 to close the macro editor.
For instructions on modifying the script so it corrects Word's choice of fonts in the exported files, open the WP2MSW.VBS script in Windows Notepad or a similar text editor, and modify the script as explained in the instructions included in the script itself.
For instructions on using the WP2MSW.VBS script as a separate Windows application (not launched from a WP macro), see a description on another page.
Important warning: This macro is intended for use with WPDOS running natively (in a "DOS Window") under 32-bit Windows. It will not work correctly if used with vDosWP or DOSBoxWP! If you use the vDosWP or DOSBoxWP systems, use the similarly-named macro that is installed with those systems!
Second important warning: This macro may cause WPDOS to lock up under 32-bit Windows 7. Be careful to save your files before using the macro.
This system uses a WPDOS 6.x macro to launch a Windows script that uses Microsoft Word to convert the WP document currently on screen into Word or PDF format. The macro requires the script, but the script can also be used as a standalone program. You must have Microsoft Word installed on your system.
In WPDOS, use Shift-F1, 5 - Location of Files, then Macro/Keyboard/Button Bar, and 1 - Personal Path, to find your personal macro directory.
Download the WP6WordConv.zip archive file. Extract the WORDCONV.WPM and the WP2MSW.VBS file and place both files in your personal macro directory.
To use the macro, open a WordPerfect file in WPDOS. Press Alt-F10, then enter WORDCONV and follow the prompts. A Word-format file will be created with the same name as the current WPDOS file, but with a new .DOC extension added to the existing name.
PDF, Long Filename, and other options. If you want to use the macro to create PDF output (Word 2007 SP2 or later required), or if you want the option to specify the name of the exported file, or if you want to use the option that uses the Document Descriptive Summary (Long Name) as the output filename, then press Ctrl-F10, enter WORDCONV, and choose Edit. This will open the macro file in the editing screen and you can set the options described in the macro itself.
For instructions on modifying the script so it corrects Word's choice of fonts in the exported files, open the WP2MSW.VBS script in Windows Notepad or a similar text editor, and modify the script as explained in the instructions included in the script itself.
For instructions on using the WP2MSW.VBS script as a separate Windows application (not launched from a WP macro), see a description on another page.
Important warning: This macro is intended for use with WPDOS running natively (in a "DOS Window") under 32-bit Windows. It will not work correctly if used with vDosWP or DOSBoxWP! If you use the vDosWP or DOSBoxWP systems, use the similarly-named macro that is installed with those systems!
Second important warning: This macro may cause WPDOS to lock up under 32-bit Windows 7. Be careful to save your files before using the macro.
This system uses a WPDOS 5.1 macro to launch a Windows script that uses LibreOffice to convert the WP document currently on screen into Word or PDF format. The macro requires the script, but the script can also be used as a standalone program. You must have a recent version of LibreOffice installed on your system. (The script was updated 9 December 2012 to work correctly with recent versions of LibreOffice.)
In WPDOS, use Shift-F1, 6 - Location of Files to find your Keyboard/Macro Files directory.
Download the WP5LibrConv.zip archive file. Extract the LIBRCONV.WPM and place it in the Keyboard/Macro Files directory. Extract the WP-LO.VBS file and place it in the root folder of the drive that contains WPDOS; if WPDOS is in C:\WP51, then place the file in C:\; if WPDOS is in in E:\WP51, then place the file in E:\.
In WPDOS, press Ctrl-F10, enter LIBRCONV; at the prompt, choose Edit. In the Macro Editor window, scroll down to the lines that tell you to enter the drive letter. Change the line that reads:
{ASSIGN}WPDrive~~
so it reads (if your WP setup is on drive C:):
{ASSIGN}WPDrive~C~
Press F7 to close the macro.
Open a WordPerfect file in WPDOS. Press Alt-F10, LIBRCONV, and follow the prompts. A Word-format file will be created with the same name as the current WPDOS file, but with a new .DOC extension added to the existing name.
You may use this macro to convert the current WPDOS document to PDF format, if you have Word 2007 SP2 or later. To change the behavior of the macro, again press Ctrl-F10, enter LIBRCONV; at the prompt, choose Edit. In the Macro Editor window, scroll down to the line that reads:
{ASSIGN}MakePDF~No~
and change it so that it reads:
{ASSIGN}MakePDF~Yes~
Press F7 to close the macro editor.
For instructions on using the WP-LO.VBS script as a separate Windows application (not launched from a WP macro), see a description on another page.
Important warning: This macro is intended for use with WPDOS running natively (in a "DOS Window") under 32-bit Windows. It will not work correctly if used with vDosWP or DOSBoxWP! If you use the vDosWP or DOSBoxWP systems, use the similarly-named macro that is installed with those systems!
Second important warning: This macro may cause WPDOS to lock up under 32-bit Windows 7. Be careful to save your files before using the macro.
This system uses a WPDOS 6.x macro to launch a Windows script that uses LibreOffice to convert the WP document currently on screen into Word or PDF format. The macro requires the script, but the script can also be used as a standalone program. You must have a recent version of LibreOffice installed on your system. (The script was updated 9 December 2012 to work correctly with recent versions of LibreOffice.)
In WPDOS, use Shift-F1, 5 - Location of Files, then Macro/Keyboard/Button Bar, and 1 - Personal Path, to find your personal macro directory.
Download the WP6LibrConv.zip archive file. Extract the LIBRCONV.WPM and the WP-LO.VBS file and place both files in your personal macro directory.
To use the macro, open a WordPerfect file in WPDOS. Press Alt-F10, then enter LIBRCONV and follow the prompts. A Word-format file will be created with the same name as the current WPDOS file, but with a new .DOC extension added to the existing name.
PDF, Long Filename, and other options. If you want to use the macro to create PDF output (Word 2007 SP2 or later required), or if you want the option to specify the name of the exported file, or if you want to use the option that uses the Document Descriptive Summary (Long Name) as the output filename, then press Ctrl-F10, enter LIBRCONV, and choose Edit. This will open the macro file in the editing screen and you can set the options described in the macro itself.
For instructions on using the WP-LO.VBS script as a separate Windows application (not launched from a WP macro), see a description on another page.
Q. I was stupid enough to download and use your macros and scripts, and the results aren't as good as I wanted. You have destroyed my files! The fonts are all wrong! The formatting is wrong! Everything is a total disaster! Word uses fonts with weird names like Shruti or Uighur instead of the fonts I carefully chose in WordPerfect! I lost all the work I did over the last fifteen years! This is all your fault!
A. Breathe deeply, make an effort to stay calm, and read the following sentences very slowly until you are absolutely sure that you understand them - and I mean really understand them. First, your original WordPerfect files have not been changed at all. They are still on your disk, exactly where they have always been, with exactly the same content and format that they have always had, and exactly the same names. You are complaining about the mistakes that Microsoft Word, and only Microsoft Word, made when creating copies of your original files in a different format. Remember, it was Microsoft Word and only Microsoft Word that decided which fonts to use in the exported files that it created! My script includes features that let you fix the problems caused by Word, by specifying in the script the fonts that Word should use when converting your file. But you will need to calm yourself and read the instructions in the script file before you can use these features. Also, please complain to Microsoft about the bugs and limitations of its file converters. It does you no good to complain to me.Q. You said I could use your macro to convert WP files to PDF format using Microsoft Word, but when I do, a message pops up in Windows saying that I can't do that! I want my money back!
A. First, I don't think you paid me any money, so I can't pay it back. Next, did you read the clear and carefully spelled-out instructions that explain that you must have Word 2007 SP2 or later if you want to use these methods to create PDF files? This page (the page you are reading now) explains that crucial point many, many times. You presumably have Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, or a copy of Word 2007 that you have not updated to SP2 - although, if you have Word 2007, Windows can update Word 2007 automatically for you so that you can create PDF files.