Old Document Converter
WordPerfect, Works, Lotus 1-2-3, ClarisWorks, StarOffice and more to PDF or Office
Drop a WPD, WPS, WK1, LWP, SAM, CWK, SXW, 123 or other old office file
Single File • Max 500MB
Convert to
Use the Identify Unknown File tool first. It reads the file's bytes and sends you to the right converter.
Your file is transferred over an encrypted connection, used only for this conversion, and automatically deleted within 3 hours.
Supported formats
28 formats. Extensions in grey are aliases of the same format.
| Extension | Format | Converts to |
|---|---|---|
| .wpd.wp .wp5 .wp6 .wpt | WordPerfect DocumentReveal-codes formatting is mapped to styles; fonts are substituted. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .wps | Microsoft Works Word ProcessorWorks 3-9 supported. Embedded clip art may be dropped. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .wri | Windows Write DocumentWindows 3.x Write files. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .lwp | Lotus Word Pro DocumentLotus SmartSuite word processor. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .sam | Ami Pro DocumentAmi Pro 2-3 text format. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .sxw.sdw .stw | StarOffice / OpenOffice.org 1.x WriterPredecessor of ODT. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .cwk.cws | ClarisWorks / AppleWorks DocumentWord-processing, drawing and spreadsheet documents are supported. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .mcw.mw .mwii | MacWrite / MacWrite II DocumentClassic Mac OS word processor. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .hwp | Hangul Word Processor DocumentHWP 3.x and 5.x are supported. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .abw.zabw | AbiWord DocumentXML-based; converts cleanly. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .doc | Word 6/95/97-2003 or Word for DOS DocumentVery old Word for DOS (1-5) and Word 2.0 for Windows files are also recognised. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .pages | Apple Pages DocumentPages '05-'09 and newer bundles (zipped) are supported. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .602 | T602 DocumentCzech DOS-era word processor. | pdfdocxodtrtftxthtml |
| .rtf | Rich Text FormatStill readable, but old RTF 1.x quirks are handled. | pdfdocxodttxthtml |
| .wk1.wks .wk2 | Lotus 1-2-3 Worksheet (Release 2)Formulas are recalculated on import; macros are dropped. | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .wk3.wk4 | Lotus 1-2-3 Worksheet (Release 3/4)Multi-sheet workbooks are preserved. | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .123 | Lotus 1-2-3 Workbook (97/Millennium) | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .wq1.wq2 .wb1 .wb2 .wb3 .qpw | Quattro Pro for DOS Spreadsheet | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .xlw.xls | Excel 4/5 Workbook | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .sxc.sdc .stc | StarOffice / OpenOffice.org 1.x Calc | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .dbf | dBASE Database TableOpens as a single sheet; memo (.dbt) fields are not included. | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .numbers | Apple Numbers Spreadsheet | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .dif | Data Interchange Format | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .slk.sylk | SYLK Spreadsheet | xlsxpdfodscsv |
| .sxi.sdd .sti | StarOffice / OpenOffice.org 1.x Impress | pdfpptxodp |
| .key | Apple Keynote PresentationKeynote 1-5 and newer bundles are supported; transitions are dropped. | pdfpptxodp |
| .ppt | PowerPoint 4/95/97-2003 Presentation | pdfpptxodp |
| .shw | Corel Presentations Show | pdfpptxodp |
What is the Old Document Converter?
Word processors and spreadsheets from the 1980s and 1990s each had their own binary format, and when the company folded or the product was discontinued, the files became unreadable. WordPerfect, Microsoft Works, Lotus 1-2-3, Word Pro, Ami Pro, ClarisWorks, MacWrite, Quattro Pro and StarOffice were all market leaders once; today Word and Excel open none of them. This converter uses the Document Liberation Project filters inside LibreOffice, a decade-long reverse-engineering effort, to read those formats faithfully and write modern PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX or OpenDocument files. Text, headings, tables, embedded images and page layout survive; fonts are substituted with modern equivalents, and each format lists what may be lost.
Key Features & Benefits
40+ office formats
Word processors, spreadsheets and presentations from Corel, Microsoft, Lotus, Claris, Apple, Sun, Borland and more.
Structure preserved
Headings, lists, tables, footnotes, headers and footers, and embedded images are mapped to their modern equivalents.
Smart target list
Only sensible outputs are offered: spreadsheets go to XLSX or CSV, documents to DOCX or PDF, slides to PPTX.
Honest limitations
Macros, mail-merge fields, Works clip art and program-specific effects are dropped, and we tell you so up front.
How to Use the the Old Document Converter
Upload the old document
Drag in a .wpd, .wps, .wk1, .123, .lwp, .sam, .cwk, .sxw or any other supported file. The format is detected and described before you convert.
Choose the output
PDF preserves the look best. Pick DOCX, XLSX or PPTX if you need to edit; ODT/ODS for LibreOffice; TXT or CSV for raw content.
Convert
Click Convert. Large or complex documents can take up to a minute while LibreOffice renders them.
Download and check
Open the result and compare it with your memory of the original. Fidelity notes for each format are listed in the table below.
Practical Use Cases
Theses and manuscripts
Recover WordPerfect 5.1 or Ami Pro drafts written before the web and turn them into editable Word files.
Family records
Open letters, recipes and family trees typed in Works or ClarisWorks on a first home computer.
Old accounts
Bring Lotus 1-2-3 or Quattro Pro ledgers into Excel with formulas intact.
Legal and archival
Produce a PDF from the original file for records, without paying for legacy software licences.
FAQs
Which old document formats can I convert?
WordPerfect (.wpd, .wp5, .wp6), Microsoft Works (.wps, .wks, .wdb), Windows Write (.wri), Lotus Word Pro (.lwp), Ami Pro (.sam), StarOffice/OpenOffice.org 1.x (.sxw, .sxc, .sxi, .sdw), ClarisWorks/AppleWorks (.cwk), MacWrite (.mcw), Hangul (.hwp), AbiWord (.abw), T602, Word for DOS and Word 2.0, Apple Pages/Numbers/Keynote (all versions), Lotus 1-2-3 (.wk1, .wk3, .wk4, .123), Quattro Pro (.wq1, .wb1-3, .qpw), Excel 4/5, dBASE (.dbf), DIF, SYLK, Corel Presentations (.shw) and PowerPoint 4/95.
Will the formatting look exactly the same?
Close, but not pixel-identical. Fonts from the 1990s are replaced with metric-compatible modern fonts, which can shift line breaks. Choose PDF to lock in the rendered layout, or DOCX if you plan to edit anyway.
The file has an OLE/Compound Document signature but conversion fails. Why?
Publisher, Visio, Works and Word 97 all share the same container. If the file's extension is wrong, use the Identify tool first, or try the Publisher & Drawing converter.
Are my documents kept on your servers?
No. Files are used only for the conversion you requested and are deleted automatically within three hours.