Carmen's Completely Ninja Conversion Trick for Word 2007 ".docx" Files
Being that it is 2009, and Microsoft released Office 2007 over two years ago, you'd think the world would have widely adopted the latest version of Office. But Microsoft products, if they're not a total disaster, prove to be very robust for years to come (which is why it was less than 6 months ago that Microsoft ended its support for Windows 3.x). And so Office 2003 is perfectly capable of getting the job done. The new features offered in the latest version are seldom compelling enough to warrant an upgrade. Everything simply works as it should.

Unless you receive a file made with Office 2007.

Office 2007 adds XML to its files, and indicates this by adding an "x" to the file extension. So, Word files are now "(filename).docx". Why is this a problem? Because previous versions of Word won't open the file. So, you're working late on a project, and the client sends you the latest copy, but they're in Office 2007 and you're in Office 2003. What to do?

Solution 1 (makes the most sense, but puts too much of the onus on the client): Have the client save the file down a version.

Solution 2 (too much work when you're under the gun): Download a converter app, or an alternate word processor (OpenOffice.org's free word processor will open native .docx files).

Solution 3 is Carmen's creeping-up-the-wall-past-the-guards solution for when you need the content of that ".docx" file right now, and you don't have time for any of the above solutions. Pay close attention as we run through the (quite unorthodox) solution. (tested on Mac only)

1. Change the extension of the file from ".docx" to ".zip". Override any howls of protest from the computer.
2. Double-click the newly named .zip file.
3. Double-click the newly created folder from said .zip file. Inside will be an array of files and folders. Look for a folder called "word". Inside "word" will be a file named "document.xml".
4. In your Safari web browser, go to "File -> Open File…" and select "document.xml". Your document is now accessible! Mind you, it won't have any formatting applied, but at least it will give you access to the contents of the file.

Look for more survival tips on this blog as we get them.