Alternative to Microsoft Word Please

NE5 said:

Hello,

can someone suggest a good (free) alternative to Microsoft Word please.

I can't open a document I've been sent by email.

My version is word 2007, I only use word and excell (very occasionally), this is the first time I've had a failure like this.

Thanks.

Libre Office

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NE5 said:

Hello,

can someone suggest a good (free) alternative to Microsoft Word please.

I can't open a document I've been sent by email.

My version is word 2007, I only use word and excell (very occasionally), this is the first time I've had a failure like this.

Thanks.

FreeOffice
FreeOffice: The best free alternative to Microsoft Office

I don't understand why you can't open the document. Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021 all use the same .docx file format. Also, Word XP and 2003 can be updated to read/write .docx files by installing the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack.

NE5,

I've seen several members say that LibreOffice is a better choice than OpenOffice.
about LibreOffice [Bree #2] - TenForums
LibreOffice vs OpenOffice [RickC #30] - TenForums

I don't understand your current problem either.
- I suggest you ask the source for another copy of the file in case the present one is corrupt.
- I have just re-tested a Word 2021 file being opened in Office 2007 without experiencing any problems.
- The only problems I have had were with

- - Access 2016 databases being opened in Access 2007, &
- - Access 2007 databases being re-opened in Access 2007 after Access 2016 had altered graphical elements [Forms, as I recall].

All the best,
Denis

Try3 said:

NE5,

I've seen several members say that LibreOffice is a better choice than OpenOffice.
about LibreOffice [Bree #2] - TenForums
LibreOffice vs OpenOffice [RickC #30] - TenForums

I don't understand your current problem either.
- I suggest you ask the source for another copy of the file in case the present one is corrupt.
- I have just re-tested a Word 2021 file being opened in Office 2007 without experiencing any problems.
- The only problems I have had were with

- - Access 2016 databases being opened in Access 2007, &
- - Access 2007 databases being re-opened in Access 2007 after Access 2016 had altered graphical elements [Forms, as I recall].

All the best,
Denis

If you stick with the basics (like 99% of its users probably do) then there shouldn't be a problem between any version of Word that supports .docx files. It is only the new features that have been added for each version of Word would there be a problem.

Since the OP only said they cared about Word and Excel then a replacement for them is all that matters.

It would be different if the OP worked with Microsoft Office macros. Then he would need to stick with Microsoft Office. It would be even more problematic for Microsoft Access. Again one would probably not be able to find a non-Microsoft replacement. I have sometimes had problems trying to import old Access databases. Sometimes that process failed.

MisterEd said:

I don't understand why you can't open the document. Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021 all use the same .docx file format.

The file may simply be corrupted

Victek said:

The file may simply be corrupted

99% certain this is the issue. 2007 should be able to open any word file even if some incompatibilities.

It will warn you that some things may not display correctly. I doubt any word alternative will fare better

Paultx said:

I want to know if there is a free Word alternative that is not part of a suite. That is, I want to install (or not, if it's portable) a program to deal with DOC and DOCX files only (I don't need presentation, spreadsheet and other stuff software installed).

Take a look at Atlantis Word Processor. The lite version is free and the full version is free for 30 days.

Atlantis Word Processor. Atlantis Word Processor Lite