Will my old file lose its pictures if I upgrade?
No. Upgrading the file to the new format will keep all your text, pictures, and tables exactly how they were.
DOC: Legacy Word Document
The classic document format.
Word ProcessingWordDOCLegacy
Explore the history of proprietary document formats and the legacy of the original Microsoft Word structure.
LEGACY FORMAT
OUTDATED
Understanding the .doc File.
The .doc file is the old way Microsoft Word saved text documents. For many years, it was the only file people used in offices. Today, it has been replaced, but millions of these old files still exist on old hard drives and in business archives.
Quick Facts
Created By
Microsoft
Best Years
1983 to 2007
Current Status
Replaced
New Format
.docx
What is inside a .doc file?
A .doc file is not just a text file. It is a locked box that holds many different things. Here is what you will find inside one:
Formatted Text
It remembers if your text was bold, red, or very large.
Pictures
It can hold photos, charts, and clip art right inside the text.
Tables
It holds lines, boxes, and rows to keep information neat.
Macros (Code)
It can hold mini computer programs that run when you open the file.
The History of the .doc File
1983
The Beginning
Microsoft Word was born. Early versions used the .doc name, but the files were very simple and mostly just text.
1997
The Golden Age
Word 97 came out. This version of the .doc format became the most popular way to share files in the world. Every business used it.
2007
The Replacement
Microsoft released Word 2007. They introduced a much better format called .docx. This marked the end of new .doc files.
Why is the new format better?
The old format saves data as raw computer code. The new format saves data as text and zips it up into a small folder. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | Old: .doc | New: .docx |
|---|---|---|
| File Size | Large and heavy. | Very small. It zips data tightly. |
| Breaking (Corruption) | Breaks easily. One error can ruin the whole file. | Very safe. You can usually fix errors easily. |
| Reading the code | Secret code. Hard for other software to read. | Open code. Any software can read it easily. |
| Security | Low. Can hide viruses. | High. Blocks bad code. |
Why are they still around today?
- Old Companies: Some businesses refuse to buy new software. They still run computers from 20 years ago.
- Legal Archives: Law offices have millions of old contracts saved as .doc files. They keep them just in case.
- Habit: Some older workers manually type .doc when saving a file because they are used to it.
WARNING
The Danger of Old .doc Files
You must be very careful when someone emails you a .doc file today.
Because this old format is not safe, bad people use it to hide computer viruses. They hide bad code inside the file. When you open the document, the bad code runs and can steal your passwords or break your computer.
Rule: Do not open a .doc file from a stranger. Always ask them to send a PDF or a .docx file
instead.
How to open a .doc file right now
If you find an old file and need to read it, you do not need old software. Most modern tools will translate it for you instantly.
Microsoft Word
Modern Word opens them perfectly. It will say "Compatibility Mode" at the top.
Google Docs
Drag the file into your Google Drive. Double-click it. It opens for free in your browser.
Mac Pages
If you use an Apple computer, the free Pages app will open the file and let you read it.
How to upgrade your file to the modern format
If you have a .doc file, you should save it as the new format. This makes the file smaller and safer forever. Here is how to do it in Microsoft Word:
1
Open the File
Double-click your old .doc file to open it in Microsoft Word.
2
Click "Save As"
Go to the top menu. Click File, then click Save As.
3
Change the Type
Look for a box that says "Save as type". Click it and choose Word Document (*.docx).
Click Save
Hit the save button. You now have a safe, modern version of your document.
How did people share .doc files in the past?
Before fast internet, moving a file from one computer to another was hard work. Here is how people shared .doc files back then:
Floppy Disks
People saved files onto square plastic disks and physically handed them to each other. One disk could only hold a few documents.
Slow Email
When email started, you could attach a .doc file. But if the file was too big, it would take hours to send.
CD-ROMs
For very large reports, people burned the files onto shiny CDs and mailed them in envelopes through the post office.
Why did every business use this format?
In the 1990s and 2000s, almost every office in the world used .doc files. Here is why:
-
Perfect Printing What you saw on the screen was exactly what printed on the paper. This was a big deal back then.
-
Everyone Had It If you sent a .doc file, you knew the other person could open it because everyone bought Microsoft Office.
Why does the Save button look like that?
Look at the "Save" icon in almost any program today. It is a picture of a floppy disk. This is because, during the golden age of the .doc format, saving a file literally meant copying it to a physical floppy disk. Even though floppy disks are gone, the picture stayed.
Did the .doc file have any enemies?
Microsoft Word was not the only tool. Before .doc won the war, it had to fight other file formats.
Loser
WordPerfect (.wpd)
This was the biggest rival in the early 1990s. Lawyers loved it because it was very clean. But Microsoft made Word easier to use with pictures, and WordPerfect lost.
Loser
Lotus Word Pro (.lwp)
Another old format that tried to beat Microsoft. It was good for teams working together, but it was too slow and confusing for normal people.
The picture crash problem
Old .doc files were terrible at handling large photos.
Because the old format did not zip or shrink things, adding just two or three large photos from a digital camera would make the file size massive. When a file got too big, old computers would freeze, crash, and delete hours of hard work.
This is why modern .docx files are zipped! They compress pictures automatically so they do not crash
your computer.
Hidden secrets inside the file
A .doc file tracks everything you do, even if you delete it. This hidden data is called "metadata." It has caused many embarrassing problems for companies.
Author Names
The file records the name of the computer that created it. If you copy a friend's homework, the file still has their name hidden inside.
Deleted Text
If you write a secret, delete it, and save the .doc file, hackers can sometimes read the deleted words by looking at the raw code.
Reading them on mobile phones
Past
Early cell phones could not open .doc files at all. The files were too heavy and complex. If someone emailed you a document, you had to wait until you got to a real computer.
Today
Modern iPhones and Androids have special built-in translators. They can instantly open, read, and even fix old .doc files with a simple tap on the screen.
How to rescue a broken .doc file
Because old files break easily, you might find one that says "Error: Cannot Open." Do not panic. Try this rescue trick to save your words:
Step 1
Open a blank document in Microsoft Word.
Step 2
Go to the top menu, click Insert, then look for Text from File.
Step 3
Select your broken .doc file.
Result: Word will ignore the broken parts (like images or tables) and pull out all the plain text so
you don't lose your writing!
How to store them for the future
If you manage records for a school or business, it is a bad idea to keep files as .doc forever. Software changes, and one day they might be unreadable.
The Wrong Way
Leaving them on old hard drives or USB sticks. The hardware will die, or future computers will refuse to open the outdated code.
The Right Way (PDF/A)
Convert important documents into PDF/A. This is a special type of PDF made specifically for museums and archives. It guarantees the file will open perfectly 100 years from now.
Will the .doc file ever completely die?
Yes, but it will take a very long time.
While no one makes new .doc files today, there are billions of them sleeping on old servers and backup tapes. It will take decades before they are all deleted or converted. Until then, modern computers will keep the ability to translate them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn a .doc file into a PDF?
Yes. Open the file in Word or Google Docs, click "Print", and choose "Save as PDF". This is the best way to share the file with others safely.
Do I have to pay to read these files?
No. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can upload the file to Google Drive or use a free program called LibreOffice to read it at no cost.
Why is the new format called .docx?
The "x" stands for XML. XML is a modern computer language that organizes text better and makes the file size much smaller.
More in this series
Master more skills with other tutorials from the Word Processing series.
Data Engineering
- DB: Generic Database File: The universal data container.
- SQLite: Portable Database: A database in a single file.
- SQL: Structured Query Language: The language of data.
- CSV: Comma-Separated Values: The universal data exchange format.
Spreadsheets
- NUMBERS: Apple Numbers Spreadsheet: Visual data storytelling.
- XLSM: Macro-Enabled Spreadsheet: Excel with automation power.
- ODS: OpenDocument Spreadsheet: The open spreadsheet standard.
- XLS: Legacy Excel Spreadsheet: The foundation of digital spreadsheets.
- XLSX: Modern Excel Spreadsheet: The data powerhouse.
Presentations
- ODP: OpenDocument Presentation: The open standard for slides.
- PPT: Legacy Presentation: The classic slide deck format.
- PPTX: Modern Presentation: The gold standard for slide decks.
Word Processing
- WPS: WPS Office Document: The lightweight contender.
- PAGES: Apple Pages Document: The designer's word processor.
- ODT: OpenDocument Text: The open text standard.
- DOC: Legacy Word Document: The classic document format.
- DOCX: Modern Word Document: The standard for office documents.
- RTF: Rich Text Format: The universal translator.
Digital Publishing
- TEX: LaTeX Document: The mathematician's choice.
- PDF: Portable Document Format: The digital paper standard.
Software Engineering
- TSX: TypeScript XML: The modern web component.
Markdown & Text
- MD: Markdown: The programmer's writer.
- TXT: Plain Text: The simplest file in the world.