Fig. 1 - WordConvs Main Wind

• to transport documents from one Word Processor to another
• to change the documents settings so you can get better results, as not always the conversion give the required results
• to standardize your documents reformatting them as the conversion step can be skipped.
• to process easily and quickly a big number of documents in one step.

WordConvs uses Microsoft Word and its converters¹ to convert from and to the available input and output formats. It allows also the use of an external converter program, like OdfConverterTest.exe², which allows to convert Open Office documents (.odt) to MS Word documents, or any other you have and you prefer to use. This option can be useful if a conversion program doesn't have batch capability or doesn't allow to scan subdirectories or/and to process hidden files and folders, as WordConvs gives these functionalities. It can be useful also if there is not an included mechanism to test the completeness of the conversion, as some converters in case of errors in input file truncate the conversion without any kind of indication of the fact. In case of processing of a large number of file this can be dangerous as you believe that the results are good while you can have as result some truncated document (only partially converted). To test, also if not in a secure way, this case, a program has been inserted which count the words, lines, and characters of the input document. As Microsoft Word has internally the possibility to count them in the output document, it is possible to compare these counters. Naturally the input file counters are only a row approximation as only managing the formatting of the input document it is possible to have a good count. The WC.EXE³ program included in the setup, is a general program (valid for document written by every word processor) but with a variable level of accuracy of the result, depending on the format of the document. For this reason the possibility to set the threshold of percent difference that give rise to a warning message, has been inserted, as well as the possibility to choose which of the 3 counters (word, lines, characters) to use (they can be used alone or in whichever mix). If a more accurate program is available to you, you can use it by setting its filename in the reserved space on the configuration dialog, as well as the 3 possible strings forming the input line command together with input and output file names set by WordConvs.

The functions implemented allows:

• the choice of files or directories to be processed
• the selection of input and output format
• the selection of document settings to be changed
• the setting of new parameters values
• the configuration of  the program, which includes:
  • the use of a new log file for each run
  • the debug function which activate the display of Word windows displaying each program activity
  • the exclusion of document conversion (when input and output format are the same)
  • the use of an external conversion program
  • preprocessing of input file for checking its correctness (available only for WordStar input files)
  • the processing of a single file
  • the scan of subdirectories when multiple file processing is selected
  • the optional scan of hidden directories when multiple file processing is selected
  • the optional scan of hidden files when multiple file processing is selected
  • the optional checking of word count (with an external program)
  • the optional checking of line count (with an external program)
  • the optional checking of char count or not (with an external program)
  • the inclusion of source file extension in the destination file name
  • the option to add page numbers
  • adjustable portrait and landscape parameters
  • the removal of empty sections
  • the removal of Carriage Return characters at end of sessions
  • the selection of measurement unit
  • the word count alarm threshold (as percent difference on input and output file values)
  • the line count alarm
  • the char count alarm

NOTE: When using WordConvs to convert a large number of files take care that the operation is rather slow. To convert ten thousand files on a Pentium V 2.4 GHz. with 512 MB of memory took about 8 hours. One solution in this case is letting the computer make the job during the night hours as WordConvs never stops in case of errors, there is no blocking message and when the job is finished it is possible to control the results on the 3 log files produced: ConvLog.txt, ErrorLog.txt, WarnsLog.txt.

Fig. 2 - Configuration Dialog

You can choose which parameters to modify in the converted document (all the unselected parameters remain unchanged).

Fig. 3 - Parameters Set Dialog

Three dialogs (page, paragraph and font setup), very similar to that used by MsWord allow to set the values of the parameters. These values are used only if the corresponding checkboxes in the Parameters Set dialog are checked.

Fig. 4 - Page Setup

Distribution

The program is distributed in shareware. You can try it for free with some limitations,  still having the possibility to test all the program functionalities. The limitations are:

• In batch conversion (multiple file processing) mode, formatting functions are disabled and only documents smaller then 50 kb can be processed.

• In Single File Conversion mode, the conversion function is disabled and and only documents smaller then 25 kb can be processed and the output file name is always TEST.DOC, independently form input file name.

You can get it from the Download page and to register it from the Registration page from which different order forms are selectable to place an order.

Distributions Chronology

° To save files in PDF format you need to download the file SaveAsPDFandXPS.exe from Microsoft site

¹ To load or update the converters of Microsoft Word follow this link.
    for the documentation about them follow this link

² OdfConverterTest.exe is available from sourceforge site.

³ Word Count (freeware)
   TawbaWare software, August 1999