how to convert files

There are dozens of file formats for word processing documents, database files, graphics, spreadsheets and so on. If a file was created in one application and you want to use it in another, you can either import the file or use a conversion program.

Converting Text Files
Most word processing programs provide an Import function, which provides built-in conversion for various document formats. Simply select Import from the File or Import menu and choose the document type you want to input.

If your word processor does not import the document type you need, you can usually use the ASCII file format as a common denominator; however, you will need the word processing program that created the original document.

If both word processing programs import and export ASCII files, convert your original document into an ASCII file using the source word processor. Look for Export in the File or Export menu. Select ASCII file or Text File. After creating an ASCII file of the source document, use the destination word processor and import that file using the Import option, again for an ASCII file or Text File. Note that all format commands (bold, italics, headers, footers, etc.) will generally be lost between conversion.

Converting Database Files
Most database programs provide an Import function, which provides built-in conversion for various record formats. Simply select Import from the File or Import menu and choose the database type you want to input.

If your database program does not import the file type you need, you can usually use the ASCII file format as a common denominator; however, you will need the database program that created the original file.

If both database programs import and export ASCII files, convert your original file into an ASCII file using the source database program. Look for Export in the File or Export menu. Select ASCII file or Text File. There are generally two types of ASCII files that can be created: comma delimited and SDF.

Comma delimited separates each field with a comma and puts quotes around text fields, for example:

   "Harry Bacon","123 Main","El Paso","TX"
   "Mary Katz",4 W. 3rd St.","New York","NY"

The SDF, or standard data format, creates contiguous fixed fields:

   Harry Bacon     123 Main         El Paso     TX
   Mary Katz       4 W. 3rd St.     New York    NY

Each field in a comma delimited or SDF format follows in the order of its original placement. In your destination database program, create a new database file with the same structure as the original, using the same order as the original. Then import the ASCII file into that structure. You can always modify the structure after you have imported the data into it.

Converting Images and Drawings
Most paint, drawing, word processing, desktop publishing and presentation graphics programs provide an Import function, which provides built-in conversion for various image and drawing formats. Simply select Import from the File or Import menu and choose the graphics file type you want to input.

If your program does not import the file type you need, you can convert one image or drawing format into another using an independent graphics conversion program.

Note that image formats, or bitmapped graphics (raster graphics) formats, such as PCX, BMP, TIFF, GIF, etc. cannot be converted into drawing formats, or vector graphics formats, such as WMF, DXF, DRW, CGM, etc., but vector formats can be turned into bitmapped images (for more on bitmaps and vectors, see graphics and graphics formats).

Windows programs can usually import BMP and WMF files, which are the standard Windows graphics formats. BMP is a bitmapped graphics format (image) and WMF is a vector graphics format (drawing).