What programs can open the file of the ODT format

Some newer laptops have an alternative to Microsoft Office Word. By typing in it, a person receives a document in the ODT extension, which is not always readable by other text software. As a result, the addressee, who does not have such an application, has a problem opening the file. Read on to learn how to get around it.

General description of the extension

The ODT format belongs to the OpenOffice, LibreOffice and StarOffice programs, developed by OASIS as a free product for distribution, in contrast to the paid Microsoft Office suite. They can create open Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, presentations, etc. Initially, these applications were intended for the Linux platform, but were later adapted for Windows. ODT stands for “Open Text Document”, the first letter of the abbreviation indicates the free program that it belongs to. The problem of integrating this type of file into Word is solved by downloading a special plug-in, but this does not always lead to the desired result.

Programs to open ODT files on your computer

Documents in ODT format are read by several programs, here’s how to open them:

• OpenOffice Writer.
• LibreOffice Writer.
• Universal Viewer.
• Windows Office.
• Microsoft Word.

Let’s start with the very first application, OpenOffice Writer:

1. Download it for free from the official website: select the version for Windows and the appropriate bit depth, install the distribution kit.
   
2. Run the program. Its interface is very similar to Word, so it’s easy to figure it out. Click “File” – “Open” and select the desired document.
   
3. You can also click on the document – the system itself recognizes how to open the file, because the program is already available.

LibreOffice Writer can read and edit ODT files too:

1. Download it from the developer’s site and install.
   
2. Open the program window and click Open File.
   
3. Select the document you want.

You cannot edit text in Universal Viewer, but you can view it. For this:

1. Download and install the program.
2. Open it and click File – Open.
   

Unfortunately, the formatting will be completely broken, and headers and highlighted areas will disappear. There is also a Windows Office program (not to be confused with the famous Microsoft Office), developed relatively recently, free and capable of opening almost any text format. To use it, you just need to take a few simple steps:

1. Download the program and install.
2. Press Ctrl + O.
3. Select a file.
   

The package will also contain analogues of Excel and PowerPoint – you can also work with them as with familiar programs, the interface almost completely repeats the design of its predecessors. In Word, starting from version 2003 and later, you can also open files in the ODT format, but this is no longer so easy. First you have to download a special plug-in, or install the Windows update packages, where the adaptation components were released that integrate ODT files into Word. In the second case, it is enough to go to the Microsoft website, type in the “Search”: SP2, download the packages and install them.

To install the Sun ODF Plugin, you need to do the following:

1. Open the official website of the Sun company.
2. Choose a plugin that matches your version of Word.
3. Click Register Now and fill out the registration form.
4. Agree to the terms of use of the product.
5. Download Sun ODF Plugin and start installation.
   
6. Check that all files are saved in the Program Files directory.
   

Now you can open ODT files through Word in the same way as documents with .doc and .docx extensions.

How to open an ODT file on a smartphone

For iPhone and Android, there are also applications that allow you to read and edit files in ODT format:

1. OpenDocument Reader – is able not only to demonstrate the content of the document, but also to make adjustments, create new text files, as well as sound written.
   
2. Open Office Viewer – has almost the same feature set as the previous one, but also reads pdf files and many other text formats.
   
3. DOC to ODT Converter is a program that can convert DOC file to ODT and vice versa.
   

All these apps are free for Android, and shareware for iPhone.

Online services for working with files in the ODT format

If you rarely have to deal with ODT documents and do not want to install additional programs for a single occasion, online viewers, editors and converters will come to the rescue. The most popular ones are:

1. Built-in text file editor in Yandex Browser. If you are using this Internet surfer, then just drag the document into the address bar to open it. If desired, you can call the toolbox and correct the text.
2. Google Docs is a popular resource with a Word-like interface. There will be a folder icon on the start page: click on it and click “Upload”, and then select the file. To work with this editor, you must be registered with Google services.
   
3. Zoho Docs is an analogue of the previous one, the most popular in the English-speaking environment. Before starting work, you will have to create an account or use an existing one on Google or Microsoft. Then click Docs and Upload to select the file.
   

What else can cause problems with the file

Also, when trying to open an ODT file, you may encounter the following problems:

1. Incompatibility of the plug-in for Word with the pirated version of Windows – in this case, the document format either remains unrecognized, or the content turns into a set of characters.
2. The file was damaged during download and cannot be viewed by any of the suggested methods.

In the first case, it is enough to change the viewer to gain access to the text, and in the second, you will have to give up attempts to open the document.