Differences between document files

If you would like the interoperability of documents between different programs, we recommend .rtf, or rich text format. Every system from Windows, Mac and Linux can open .rtf documents, so save as that type when sending files to friends or business colleagues. While RTF is great, it isn’t perfect. When font and layout preservation is a must, consider .pdf. Remember that .pdf can be harder to manipulate for the end user, giving it a potential downside (or upside if protecting the document is your aim.)

A list of few popular document types:

.rtf Rich text format (Generic,  opens with everything)

.docx Word 2007 (Microsoft)

.doc Word 2003 and earlier (Microsoft)

.wpd Word perfect document (Corel)

.wps Works document (Microsoft)

Note that WORKS can NOT usually open WORD documents. WORD can usually open WORKS documents.

All of the above document file types can be accessed from a modern program such as Word 2007, but as this program has a heft price tag, many people have elected to go with OpenOffice by Sun, or the free Microsoft Works that accompanies many brand new windows PCs.

We recommend saving as the standard document type for your system in most cases, but when you need to send someone a document, it doesn’t hurt to save it as something anyone can open.

Other standard formats:

.pdf is fairly standard now (a different form of “vector” graphical scan of a document, rather than editable text) and is championed by adobe.

.csv is a nice standard for text file databases and simple spread sheets
If you have any specific questions, you may hire one of our geeks to help guide you through your document issue.