Microsoft Office Open XML Converter 0.1.1: Continued problems, alternatives

[Published Tuesday, June 19th]

Late last week, the Microsoft MacBU issued an update to the Office Open XML Converter 0.1.1, which converts Office Open XML files (used by Office 2007 for Windows and the forthcoming Office 2008 for Mac OS X) to a format that is compatible with Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac and Microsoft Office v. X for Mac. The update fixes an issue with beta expiration functionality. The issue causes the converter application to become unusable well ahead of its intended expiration date. However, it apparently does not resolve many of the significant issues discussed in our initial coverage of the software release.

MacFixIt reader continue to report failed conversions. Charles Frean writes:

"I downloaded the latest 0.1.1 (Beta) version of the MS Office Open XML Converter and it installed perfectly. However, I then converted a 22 page file and the converter turned it into a 709 page file - one line of the original on each page of the converted file. I have not tried it on any other docx files (yet)."

Several users have reported better success with some of the alternatives for converting Office Open XML files, including:

• MacLink Plus
• docXConverter
• NeoOffice

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• Misadventures in Microsoftery: The Oops of OOXML
• Microsoft releases OOXML Word 2007/2008-to-RTF converter for Mac OS X; no Excel, PowerPoint or macro support yet
• MacLinkPlus Deluxe 16 released: Office 2007 translators
• Keeping Visual Basic macros in Office for Mac OS X: Microsoft says macros will survive translation
• Office 2004 with Open XML converters may be the most cross-platform compatible edition -- even after Office 2008 ships
• Working with Office 2007 documents under Mac OS X: Extracting text from .docx files, more

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