# Open word documents on Macintosh **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638 "2005-03-21T22:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/1 "2005-03-21T22:25:10Z")
We have a new apple imac g5. We could open attachments during the one month trial run of MS Word. Now that has expired and we can no longer open attachments. I know that MS has utilities to open MS word documents on Windows machines. Is there some utility I can open that will let me open word documents and excel spreadsheets or am I screwed unless I buy the Microsoft product? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/2 "2005-03-21T22:44:47Z")
[OpenOffice](http://www.openoffice.org/) is a free suite which should do everything you need, unless you’re using the fanciest features of the MS programs. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/3 "2005-03-22T00:11:36Z")
Your iMac should come with AppleWorks, which ought to be able to open and save Word files and Excel spreadsheets. Similarly, TextEdit (also included) will open Word documents. Not sure if it’ll save in Word format or not, but you can definitely save as a platform-neutral PDF. ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/4 "2005-03-22T00:45:19Z")
I assume you’re running 10.3.8? Some docs., (“exe.” for example), will not open in Mac’s Mail program; move it to your desktop where you shouldn’t have any problem opening them. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/5 "2005-03-22T00:49:08Z")
Yep, 10.3.8. Strangely enough, when I choose Appleworks to open the .doc file it says something along the lines of “Cannot translate the file.” Textedit works, but it comes out with some strange characters at the start and end of the document. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-word-documents-on-macintosh/295638/6 "2005-03-22T17:04:49Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Your iMac should come with AppleWorks, which ought to be able to open and save Word files and Excel spreadsheets. > > Similarly, TextEdit (also included) will open Word documents. Not sure if it’ll save in Word format or not, but you can definitely save as a platform-neutral PDF. You can open it it TextEdit, select “plain text” from the format menu, then move it to Applleworks and re-format. I’m sure there’s a simpler way, but this has worked for me. I also have an older version of “Office for Mac” in my Classic applications. I find it a little cumbersome to switch back an forth, esp. if I’m just reviewing a doc. But if I need it its there.