How to Open an ODF File in Microsoft Office
Monday, 08 February 2010

If you have a requirement where you need to be able to open ODF (OpenDocument) files in Microsoft Office, then you need to download the Sun ODF Plugin for Microsoft Office 3.1.

By default, the ODF file format is native to OpenOffice, an open-source office suite. If you use Word, yet have to work with ODF files, you can with a plugin.

There are still many people out there who use programs like Sun’s OpenOffice suite and are perfectly happy with it.  However, these same people often fail to realize that while they can open .doc files with no problem, Word users cannot open their .odf files. 

Sun offers a plugin for opening .odf files with the Microsoft Office Suite. 

The installation is three parts:

Part 1:  Register with Sun and download the Sun Downloader

To start the process, go to the Sun.com plugin page and click Download Now.

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You will then be asked to login.

If you already have an account with Sun, login.  Otherwise, click Register and supply the necessary information.  Unfortunately, there is no way to bypass this step.

Once you have registered or logged in, you will be shown a page with the size and name of the file you will eventually download.  


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Once your file has downloaded, proceed to the next step.

 

Part 2: Unpack the Windows Installer File

Your install file is now in whatever directory you selected in the previous step.

Open the file and a window should appear thanking you for downloading the plugin and explaining the files you just downloaded still must be unpacked.  Click Next.

 

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You are then asked to choose a place for these files to be unpacked.  The suggested place is a new folder on your computer.  This is a good idea so you will remember to delete these files later.  After you have chosen a place for these files, click Unpack.

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Part 3:  Final Installation via Windows Installer

After the files unpack, the Windows Installer will automatically open the Installation Wizard to finish the process.  You will see a screen welcoming you to the wizard.  Click Next.

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Agree to the license agreement on the next page by selecting “I accept the terms of the license agreement” and click Next.

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The next window asks where you want to install the plugin.  The default selection is to install to program files.  This is a pretty good choice, unless you have a designated folder for office plugins somewhere else.  Click Next.


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There is one last installation window that simply asks if you want to review or change any of the settings you just selected.  When you are ready, click Install.

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Finally, a window will appear telling you the plugin was installed successfully. Resist the urge for a happy dance, and instead try to open the .odf file that prompted this adventure.  It should automatically launch in your version of Word.

 

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This plugin will work with all versions of Microsoft Office made after 2000. 

It will open OpenOffice files not only with Word, but also with PowerPoint and Excel.

 

 

 
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