Convert from .WPD (Word 2003 11.8106.8107 SP2)

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I received a >WPD file by e-mail, and I am unable to open it. Word starts an Accesstek converter but it just hangs.

Then I ran the Microsoft Web search from the file associations dialog box. On the first page of results, I found links to several sites which suggested that the problem was with file associations, and offering to scan my registry. No thanks. I also found this: http://www.file-extensions.org/wpd-file-extension. BEWARE! The instructions “How to convert file with extension WPD: Use WordPerfect Converter to convert WPD to DOC – free download – click here.” on that page download a small program which in turn downloads a program that the Avast virus scanner identifies as containing a Trojan.

Any better ideas? I’m particularly distressed that Microsoft has NO useful advice, and evidently led me to a Trojan with its own search.

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I’d ask the person who sent the document to save it as a Word document or RTF file and resend it.

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All converters are not installed with the typical Word installation. They are on the CD and available online but they are not all installed unless you pick a complete installation. You can go to Control Panel/Add Remove and select Word. You can than see what has been installed and what has not been installed. You can choose to install all the converters.

Fred

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One other wrinkle: Microsoft has been discontinuing or disabling older conversion filters (due to security issues), so the latest pack might not be able to handler older WordPefect files.

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Follow-up: the problem apparently wasn’t what any of us thought, because Word did open a different .WPD file sent to me by the same person, with no problem and no special effort needed.

The .WPD file that would not open was generated by the legal reference service Westlaw. The file only contained a citation from Florida state law — which is in the public domain, duh, otherwise how would it be enforceable 🙂 But Westlaw’s file apparently was locked so as to be accessible only to paid subscribers. The file opened a dialog box saying that an Access Realtek converter (something I’d never encountered before) was converting it. That converter hung. Bad functionality — should have instead posted a message indicating that the file was locked.

I read the same section of Florida law on the Florida state Web site.

But also note the other lesson of this exercise: the Microsoft Web Search for software solutions can turn up pages that contain links to Trojans which claim to be useful and functional software. Microsoft evidently doesn’t do a virus check.

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