Free online SXW to ODT converter

What the SXW format is

SXW is the native word-processing format used by StarOffice Writer and OpenOffice.org Writer 1.x, before ODT became the standard OpenDocument text format. It is an XML-based package that can contain text, styles, tables, images, page settings, and other document data.

SXW files commonly remain in older archives, backups, email attachments, and documents created with early OpenOffice.org releases. Current LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice versions can generally open them, although legacy formatting and embedded content may require review.

What the ODT format is

ODT means OpenDocument Text. It is the editable word-processing format used by LibreOffice Writer, Apache OpenOffice, and other applications that support the OpenDocument standard, which is also published as an ISO standard.

ODT is better supported by current software than SXW and preserves document structure such as paragraph styles, headings, tables, images, headers, footers, footnotes, and page settings. It is not a fixed-layout format, so it remains suitable for editing and long-term document storage.

How to convert SXW to ODT with LibreOffice

1. Open LibreOffice Writer.
2. Choose File → Open and select the .sxw file. Change the file filter to All files if the file does not appear in the picker.
3. Inspect the document for missing fonts, changed page breaks, damaged tables, misplaced images, headers, footers, and footnotes.
4. Choose File → Save As.
5. Select ODF Text Document (.odt) as the file type, choose a destination, and select Save.
6. If LibreOffice asks whether to retain the old format, choose Use ODT Format.

Keep the original SXW file until the ODT has been checked. Close and reopen the converted file, then inspect representative pages and any complex content before replacing the original.

Command-line conversion

LibreOffice can convert an SXW file without opening its graphical interface. Create the output directory first, then run:

libreoffice --headless --convert-to odt --outdir converted input.sxw

If the executable is named differently on the system, use:

soffice --headless --convert-to odt --outdir converted input.sxw

The command writes input.odt to the converted directory. For multiple files, run the command for each source file or use a shell loop appropriate to the operating system. Headless conversion is useful for repetitive processing, but documents requiring precise layout still need visual inspection.

Converting without installing software

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing desktop software: upload the SXW file, select ODT as the output format, start the conversion, and download the result. Do not upload confidential, personal, or regulated documents unless the service’s retention and handling terms meet your requirements.

Quality and compatibility considerations

Plain text, paragraph formatting, common styles, and simple tables usually transfer successfully. Problems are more likely with obsolete fonts, custom numbering, complex tables, frames, fields, printer-specific page settings, embedded OLE objects, linked content, and extensions from early StarOffice or OpenOffice.org versions.

Fonts are not reliably embedded in SXW or ODT files. If the required typefaces are unavailable, line wrapping, pagination, and table dimensions may change; install the original fonts before conversion when exact page layout matters.

Legacy macros and embedded objects may be disabled, altered, or unsupported by current office suites for security and compatibility reasons. Saving as ODT does not guarantee that every SXW feature remains functional, so test macros, links, forms, and embedded objects separately.