Convert SXW to PDF — Open Legacy OpenOffice Writer Files as PDF

Have old .sxw files from StarOffice or OpenOffice.org 1.x that you can't open anymore? Total Doc Converter reads SXW documents and converts them to PDF — preserving text, formatting, and page layout. SXW is a defunct format that even modern LibreOffice handles inconsistently, so converting to PDF is the safest way to preserve your documents. Our SXW to PDF converter:

• Converts .sxw files (StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer 1.x) to PDF
• Processes one file or an entire folder in a single batch
• Preserves text, formatting, images, and page layout
• Adds PDF encryption, user permissions, and digital signatures
• Works 100% offline — no files uploaded anywhere
• Provides command-line interface for automation
• Includes a 30-day free trial with no limitations

Download Total Doc Converter and start converting your legacy SXW files to PDF today.

 

SXW vs PDF: What Is the Difference?

SXW (.sxw) was the native document format for StarOffice Writer and OpenOffice.org 1.x (2000–2005). It is a ZIP archive containing XML files that describe the document structure. When OpenOffice.org 2.0 was released in 2005, the project switched to the ODF standard (.odt), and SXW became obsolete. Today, very few applications open .sxw files correctly — even LibreOffice sometimes misrenders fonts, styles, or page breaks from old SXW documents.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout format that looks identical on every screen, printer, and operating system. It is the universal standard for sharing finished documents. PDFs can carry encryption, digital signatures, and access restrictions — features that SXW does not support.

When you convert SXW to PDF, the document's visual layout is frozen: text, images, and formatting are locked in place. The result is a file that opens on any device without requiring StarOffice, OpenOffice, or any specific application.

How to Convert SXW to PDF

• Step 1. Launch Total Doc Converter. The left panel shows a folder tree for quick navigation.
• Step 2. Browse to the folder that contains your .sxw files. The file list in the center displays all supported documents, including SXW, ODT, DOC, DOCX, and more.
• Step 3. Check the files you want to convert. Use Check All to select every file in the folder for batch conversion.
• Step 4. Click PDF in the format toolbar at the top of the window.
• Step 5. In the conversion wizard, configure PDF settings: page size, margins, headers/footers, encryption, and user permissions. Choose a destination folder for the output files.
• Step 6. Press Start. The converter processes all selected files and saves PDF output to your chosen folder.

Each .sxw file becomes a separate PDF. Original SXW files remain untouched. You can also merge multiple SXW files into a single PDF — useful for combining chapters or related documents into one file.

Command-Line Conversion

Total Doc Converter includes a command-line interface for converting SXW files without the GUI. Example:

DocConverter.exe C:\Archive\memo.sxw C:\Output\memo.pdf -c PDF

You can wrap this command in a .bat file or a scheduled task to automate recurring conversions. This is useful for migrating entire archives of legacy StarOffice documents — point the script at a folder tree and let it process every .sxw file automatically.

Why Use Total Doc Converter?

Reliable SXW parsing. Total Doc Converter reads .sxw files using its own built-in parser. Unlike LibreOffice, which sometimes misrenders old SXW documents, our converter focuses on accurate text and layout extraction for clean PDF output.

Batch processing. Select hundreds of .sxw files and convert them all to PDF in a single run. Each document becomes a separate PDF, or merge them into one. No need to open files individually in a word processor.

PDF security features. Set owner and user passwords, restrict printing, copying, and editing. Add digital signatures with certificates. These options apply to every file in the batch automatically.

No StarOffice or OpenOffice required. Total Doc Converter is a standalone Windows application. You do not need StarOffice, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice installed to convert .sxw files.

Privacy. All conversion happens locally on your PC. No cloud uploads, no third-party servers. This matters when converting old business correspondence, contracts, or internal memos from legacy archives.

20+ output formats. Besides PDF, convert SXW files to DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, ODT, JPEG, TIFF, and more — all from the same program. Total Doc Converter also reads 20+ other document input formats.

Online Converters vs Desktop Converter

Feature	Online Tools	Total Doc Converter
File size limit	5–50 MB typical	No limit
Batch conversion	One file at a time	Unlimited
Privacy	Files uploaded to cloud	100% offline
SXW format support	Rare or broken	Full support
PDF encryption	Rarely available	Passwords, permissions, signatures
Automation	Manual only	Built-in command line
Pricing	Subscription or per-file	One-time $49.90

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