Batch Converting Folders of OpenDocument Text (.odt) Files to PDF Using Win2PDF

In last week’s post, we announced details on the latest Win2PDF support of various Word Processing formats like Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), OpenDocument Text (.odt), and Rich Text Format (.rtf).

While MS-Office files have always been an important format for documents, there is an increasing need to support OpenDocument (ODF) files as well, mostly due to its increasing adoption within government and international organizations.  The reason for this is simple:  they’re open and not dependent on changes imposed by a single company.

Microsoft Office Documents (.doc) were originally binary files used by Microsoft as a proprietary format.  Microsoft adapted the format to an standards-based format based on Open Office XML in 2007, and this became the (.docx) format.  Today, both (.doc) and (.docx) formats are maintained by Microsoft.  The OpenDocument format, on the other hand, is an open format that is documented and maintained by an independent non-profit consortium known as OASIS.  

[If you’re interested in more details, here’s Microsoft’s list of differences between (.docx) and (.odt) files].

For these reasons and more, Win2PDF now supports more conversion options with .odt files. 

You can now read .odt files in the Win2PDF Desktop App, and batch convert folders of .odt files into the following formats:

If you want to convert individual files instead of batch converting folders of documents, you can either use the “export to ODT” feature or the “convertto” command line with the source or destination set to an .odt file.

Whether you’re looking to share these documents with others by email or the web, or simply preserve their formatting in another format, Win2PDF can help you batch convert folders of .odt documents to PDF quickly and easily.  If your organization is using OpenDocument Formats and there’s something else you’d like to see in terms of conversion, let us know.  We’re always interested in making the conversion process between different file formats easier and more flexible.

New Win2PDF Features for Converting Word (.docx), Open Document Text (.odt), and Rich Text Format (.rtf) to PDF

Win2PDF has always been able to convert Microsoft Word (.docx), Open Document Text (.odt), and Rich Text Format (.rtf) files by printing from the programs that can view/print these types of documents. With the most recent 10.0.144 release, however, it is now possible to natively view and export in the Win2PDF Desktop App, do batch conversions, use command line options, and use the watch folder with these standard word processing documents. This native support does not depend on any external programs such as Microsoft Word, and requires Win2PDF Pro.

Here’s a summary of the new capabilities:

  • Open .doc, .docx, .rtf, .odt, and .txt files in the Win2PDF Desktop App

When you open the Win2PDF Desktop App, you can now open .doc, .docx, .odt, .rtf, and .txt files. This allows you to export these files to PDF, searchable PDF, image files, or other formats.

  • Export to .docx, .odt, and .rtf from the Win2PDF Desktop App (Win2PDF Pro feature only)

  • Batch convert .docx, .odt, .rtf, and .xps files in the Win2PDF Desktop App (Win2PDF Pro feature only)

The Win2PDF Desktop App’s batch conversion feature now supports the additional input formats:

.docx, .doc, .rtf, .odt, .txt

And supports the following output formats

.docx, .rtf, .odt, .xps
  • New Command Line Options for .docx, .odt, .rtf, and .txt  (Win2PDF Pro feature only)

DOCX2PDF

DOC2PDF

RTF2PDF

ODT2PDF

TXT2PDF

  • Enhanced ‘convertto’ command line option for other formats

There are new input and output formats in the convertto command.

This allows for more unusual combinations such as “TXT to JPG” or “DOCX to PNG”.

  • Use Win2PDF Watch Folder to dynamically convert .docx, .odt, .rtf, and .xps files that are added to a folder. (Win2PDF Pro TSE feature only)

The current version of Win2PDF can be installed from the Win2PDF download page, and this update is available at no charge for registered Win2PDF 7 and higher version users. If you have the standard Win2PDF and want to use the new Pro only features, you can upgrade to Win2PDF Pro.

Win2PDF 10.0.144 is now available

The latest release of Win2PDF (10.0.144) is now available on the Win2PDF Download site.

The biggest additions to this release are specific to the Win2PDF Pro version of the software, which now supports the ability to batch convert standard word processing documents (Microsoft Word, Open Document Text, and Rich Text Format) to PDF.

Here’s a summary of changes in this new version:

This Win2PDF 10 update is a free upgrade for all Win2PDF 7 and Win2PDF 10 users. If you have an existing Win2PDF standard edition license and wish to use any of the new Win2PDF Pro features, you can purchase a Win2PDF Pro Upgrade.

We’ll be posting more specific information on some of these features next week, with more details on changes to the interface and how these new features can be used. In the meantime, if you would like to evaluate one of the new Win2PDF Pro features (PDF watermark, PDF security, batch-convert, auto-rename, or watch folder), contact us for a free 30 day trial of Win2PDF Pro.