What you should know
ODT (OpenDocument Text) is the word-processing format of LibreOffice and OpenOffice. It is an open ISO standard (ISO/IEC 26300), used notably by many European administrations to avoid depending on a single vendor.
Like DOCX, it is a ZIP archive of XML files: text, styles, images and metadata are described separately. Word, Google Docs and most office suites can open it.
Strengths
- Open ISO standard, independent of any vendor
- LibreOffice's native format, free on every system
- Styles, images, tables and revisions supported
- Accepted by many public administrations
Limitations to know
- Opening it in Word may shift the layout slightly
- Less widespread than DOCX in companies
- Some advanced Word features have no exact equivalent
- Few online services accept it directly
When to use it
Choose ODT if you work with LibreOffice or if a public body requires it. To exchange with Word users, DOCX avoids layout surprises; to distribute, prefer PDF.
Quality, size and compatibility
FileXvert converts ODT to PDF or DOCX on its server with LibreOffice, the software that created the format: fidelity is excellent. In the other direction, a DOCX converted to ODT keeps its styles, images and tables. The file is deleted from the server as soon as the result is returned.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Word open an ODT file?
- Yes, since Word 2007 SP2. The layout may vary slightly, though; for an important exchange with a Word user, convert to DOCX.
- Why do administrations use ODT?
- Because it is an open standard: any vendor can read and write it, which guarantees access to documents without depending on paid software.