Many people have old WordPerfect documents that they need to access and edit in Microsoft Word. While Word can open WordPerfect files, the formatting often gets messed up during conversion. In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process of opening a WordPerfect Version 11 document in Word, including troubleshooting any formatting issues.
Step 1: Open the WordPerfect Document in Word
The first step is simple. In Word, click “File” > “Open” and browse to select your WordPerfect .wpd document. Word will automatically try to convert and open the file.
However, you’ll likely see formatting issues like fonts, sizes, margins and more looking incorrect. This is because of differences in how WordPerfect and Word handle documents. We need to install a conversion filter to properly translate the formatting.
Step 2: Install the WordPerfect Conversion Filter
Conversion filters act as translators between programs. They take the WordPerfect coding and convert it into something Word understands.
Here are the steps to add a WordPerfect filter in Word:
- Click “File” > “Options” > “Advanced”
- Scroll down to “General” and click “File Conversion”
- Check the box for “Recover text from any file”
- Under “Conversion format”, select “WordPerfect 5-7”
- Click OK and restart Word for changes to take effect
Step 3: Reopen the Converted Word Document
The conversion filter is now active in Word. Reopen the WordPerfect document you converted previously using the “File” > “Open” menu.
The formatting should now appear correctly! The filter translated topics like fonts, sizes, page layout, margins, styles, bullets and numbering so they display properly in Word.
Now you can edit, print or share the document like any other Word file. The conversion is seamless.
Step 4 (Optional): Adjust Any Remaining Formatting Issues
In some rare cases there still may be minor formatting problems after installing the conversion filter and reopening the document.
Here are some things you can try if you see any issues:
- Adjust fonts and sizes using the Home tab
- Reset margins under Layout > Margins
- Check bullets, numbering and line spacing
- Reapply styles using the Styles pane
- View formatting marks to catch hidden problems
Spend some time visually inspecting the document in Print Preview mode. Zoom in and scan each section carefully to catch any subtle formatting differences the filter may have missed.
Step 5 (Optional): Save as a Word Document
At this point the file is opened and formatted correctly in Word but is still technically a WordPerfect file. To make it a standard Word document:
- Click “File” > “Save As”
- Change the file type to “Word Document”
- Give it a new name and click “Save”
Now you have a fully editable Word DOC file you can continue working on.
Conclusion
The steps above show how to seamlessly open and convert WordPerfect documents in Word while maintaining formatting and styles. Make sure to install the WordPerfect conversion filter first, then reopen the file for optimal translation.
Minor tweaking may sometimes be needed if you see any lingering formatting issues. But overall the process brings old WordPerfect documents into Word with ease.
Now you can access, edit and share those dusty old files without worrying about formatting headaches down the road.
