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Convert your text documents  

Regardless of PC operating system or software, users can convert incoming and outgoing text documents using "Save as," "Export as," or "Download as" text document formatting feature. 

The most universally compatible text document formats are provided below:

Example: Microsoft Office: Word

Save a text document file in a different file format

When you create and save a document, Word automatically saves the document in the Open XML Format. However, you can save the document in another file format or change the default file format.

Do any of the following: 

Save a file in the Open XML Format (the default file format for Office 2008 for Mac and Office for Mac 2011)

1. Create a file, or open the file that you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save As box, type a name for the file.
4. On the Format pop-up menu, make sure Word Document (.docx) is selected. 
5. Click Save.

Save a file in the Office 2004 for Mac file format

IMPORTANT   Some items that were created by using new features in Office for Mac 2011 might behave differently when the document is saved in the file format that is used by Office 2004 for Mac or earlier. Use the Compatibility Report to avoid using new Office features that might behave differently with earlier versions of Office.

1. Create a file, or open the file that you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save As box, type a name for the file.
4. On the Format pop-up menu, click Word 97-2004 Document (.doc). 
   NOTE   If you open and then save a copy of a file that was created in Office 2004 for Mac or earlier, the application automatically saves the file in the correct file format.
5. Click Save.

Save a file as PDF

You can save your document as PDF, a PostScript-based electronic file format developed by Adobe Systems, to preserve document formatting and make the document readable but not editable. You need to use Adobe Reader to view documents after you save them in this file format.

NOTE   PDF files created from Word 2011 are limited to printable content. In other words, if the content does not appear in print, it will not appear in the PDF.

1. Create a file, or open the file that you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save As box, type a name for the file.
4. On the Format pop-up menu, click PDF. 
5. Click Save.

Save a file as a Web page

You can save a file as a Web page, which converts the file into a file format that's readable by Web browsers. However, the results of the conversion depend on the kind of content in your file. Office for Mac converts the file's formatting to the closest equivalent Web formatting. Therefore, the Web page might look very different from the original file. For example, many text effects, such as animated, embossed, or outlined text, become plain or shaded text.

NOTE   We recommend that you preview the file in a Web browser to make sure that the results are what you want. To do this, on the File menu, click Web Page Preview.

1. Create a file, or open the file that you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save as Web Page.
3. In the Save As box, type a name for the file.
4. Click Save.

Save a file as plain text

You can save a document as plain text so that the document can be opened by a number of text editing programs. However, saving a document in plain text does not reliably preserve the formatting, layout, or other features of the document.

1. Create a file, or open the file that you want to save.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save As box, type a name for the file.
4. On the Format pop-up menu, click Plain Text (.txt). 
5. Click Save.

Change the default file format that files are saved in

You can change the file format that Office for Mac always saves documents in. For example, if you usually share documents with other people who use an earlier version of Office for Mac, you might want to always save documents in the file format that is used in that version.

1. Open any file or create a new file.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. Click Options, and then on the Save Word files as pop-up menu, click the file format that you want.
   TIP   If you want to change the default file format to work with Office 2004 for Mac or earlier, click Word 97-2004 Document (.doc)

Other conversion resources

Online-Convert.com will enable you to convert text documents into the following formats: