i can't open docx files

Question

Level 1

13 points

i can't open docx files

I have always been able to open downloaded Word doc files (from Safari) on my MacBook, which is running Mac OS X 10.6.8. But the last several documents I have tried to download - including various versions of Word docs, like Word 2003-2007 and .docx, are not readable after I download them. When I try to open it, a new copy called a ".cpgz" is opened. This also happens with excel spreadsheets. I do have both programs, Word and Excel, installed on my computer, and can read these files when opened from another location - except when it passes throught downloads. So I can open docs from "My Documents", for instance, but if I move a file from "Downloads" to my desktop, it still will not open. Help! Super-frustrating.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 19, 2014 2:54 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 19, 2014 2:57 PM in response to Bro. Paul

Try to install open office that might fix it 🙂

Reply

Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,259 points

May 19, 2014 2:59 PM in response to Bro. Paul

Have you tried opening Word, then using the File Open from Word to select and open these files?

If you select one of these files, then press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. What extensions is shown in the Name panel? If you then look in the Open With panel is Word the selected default application?

Reply

Answer 3

May 19, 2014 3:03 PM in response to Kappy

Open office is a free word processer annd i"ve had your problem before and it worked

Reply

Answer 4

May 20, 2014 5:38 AM in response to Bro. Paul

It sounds like you are using Office 2004. Docx format was introduced in Office 2008.

Download the MS XML converter from here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6782 and it will convert the files so you can open them in your older version of Office.

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 28, 2016 7:52 AM in response to Kappy

Hey,

I tried everything above and my Microsoft Word 2011 (14.3.9) still closes automatically when I try to open .docx files. It used to work. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mike

Reply