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Mass converting .doc to .docx

Copper Contributor

Hi All,

 

I have well over 1000 .doc files that I need to convert to .docx files for viewing and editing from IPads. The .doc files cannot be edited and need to be converted .docx files to allow editing via IPad pen through OneDrive etc ..

 

Background

I have done a lot of research and there doesn’t seem to be any free tools to allow me to do this. Just to be clear I do not need to rename the files to docx, I need to fully convert them xml format that docx uses. I have used quite a few tools from Microsoft and different VB and PowerShell scrips.

 

While most of these appear to change the file to .docx and even removes the source .doc file, the new .docx files are left in a compatibility state. Meaning I need to open the file and choose “Convert” then save. With 1000's of .doc files this is not feasible.

 

Technology .

.doc files appear to be from Office 2007 and 2003 versions of Office.

I'm running Windows 10 Pro 1803 with Office 365 E3 I have used various tools and scripts from my laptop, Windows 2008 R2, 2012R2 and Server 2016R2

 

Summary

Any assistance would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Many thanks,

Vinny Curley

13 Replies
best response confirmed by support null (Copper Contributor)
Solution

Have you already tried this one: http://www.multidoc-converter.com/en/index.html ?

 

Hi Salvatore,

 

Thank you kindly for your prompt response.

I did not find this application while researching so thank you.

From what the site says, it should do what I need it to do.

However, It will not install. I have attached the error. I've tried on some new different flavours of Windows. I'll contact their support and see what the issue is.  I'll report back as soon as I can.

Again, thank you very much for replying.

 

Vinny

 

 

Hi Salvatore,

 

Thanks to your link I was able to find a free app that works perfect. The conversion creates a full .docx file that requires no convert option and also delete the source .doc files.

 

Its a full version to test for 30 days. A pop comes up ever few minutes to stop scripting but it's fine for my use as I only need to convert a bunch of .doc's.

 

https://filehippo.com/download_total-doc-converter

 

I'm marking your reply as the best response as I found this on the same Google search page as your sugestion.

 

Many thanks,

 

Vinny

 

 

@Salvatore BiscariThis response is still relevant today.  It helped me.  Wanted to jot the note so that other would be aware that this is still a good solution for doc file conversions.

@Salvatore Biscari 

 

Yes, this did work, but it did not create a thumbnail of the docx file viewable in windows explorer.  I still had to open the file and save as a docx to get the thumbnail image of the file.  :(

 

Do you know of a converter that will create the thumbnail?  Thanks.

 

Joanne

@Salvatore Biscari It worked really well. Thank you!

This worked perfectly. Thank you for sharing this Salvatore.
thanks. anyone aware of an application that'll scan subfolders for a specified file type and save converted to the same folder strcuture as the source?

Hi,

 

Thanks to your link I was able to find a free app that works perfect. The conversion creates a full .docx file that requires no convert option and also delete the source .doc files.

 

Its a full version to test for 30 days. A pop comes up ever few minutes to stop scripting but it's fine for my use as I only need to convert a bunch of .doc's.

 

https://www.gnitcm.net/download_total-doc-converter/

 

I'm marking your reply as the best response as I found this on the same Google search page as your suggestion.

 

Regards,

Syede

 

Any idea why the new .docx files created with http://www.multidoc-converter.com/en/index.html  still open in Compatibility Mode in Word?

That app doesn't seem to work properly. It converts the files, however when I go to open 1 of those in Word, it says that there's lost text in the document or a similar error message & I only end up displaying a blank document. I'm using Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2302 Build 16.0.16130.20186) 64-bit & my files are just fine, so I know it's not related to Word or my files but rather that converter app you pointed out. Also that has an annoying dialog box that tells about their other solutions that pops up every single time I exit the program. Doesn't seem to be a way to turn that off, so another reason to avoid using it. (like shareware to me in that sense) I think maybe there's a better solution out there, although it may not be free. I don't have as many .doc formatted files, but there's more than I can handle by manually converting them 1 by 1. Will look into this & post a reply if I find a better solution...

That will probably do what you're looking to do, however when I went to the developer's site, they said it's $49.99. Seems a little expensive just to convert from .doc to .docx format, but if that's what you want, go for it. I'm going to look for another (hopefully free) solution for my conversion needs...
Okay I Googled your issue – seems this is a good solution (& it won't cost you a penny):

https://www.gmayor.com/document_batch_processes.htm

There's a lot of information about what these files do & all on their page, so you'll have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of page to download the files. You'll have to put them in the Word Startup folder, so if you don't see it, try this:

In Word, press Alt+F11 to open the macro editor, VBE.
In the VBE window, press Ctrl+G to go to the Immediate window.
In the Immediate window, type: ?Application.StartupPath
Press Enter.

I borrowed that from here: https://wordaddins.com/support/how-to-find-the-word-startup-folder/

Hope that helps...
1 best response

Accepted Solutions
best response confirmed by support null (Copper Contributor)