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Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ncar!umigw!umbio!jherr
From: jherr@umbio.MIAMI.EDU (Jack Herrington)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Word 3.0 file format?
Message-ID: <405@umbio.MIAMI.EDU>
Date: 31 Aug 88 18:28:02 GMT
References: <830@gmdzi.UUCP>
Lines: 32

in article <830@gmdzi.UUCP>, yvw@gmdzi.UUCP (Yvo Van Wezemael) says:
> 
> I'm looking for a description of the file format of common used
> Wordporcessors, especially for Word 3.0. 
> (Reason: due to some missing print capabilities in 4D I want to
> generate files that can be printed/edited with `normal'
> word-processors). Any hints are very welcome, also of other packages
> (Fullwrite, MacWrite, etc.). 
>

Word 3.0 in particular has a file format named 'RTF' which allows you to
describe the text of the document as well as all of the tabs, formatting,
styles, margines, boxing, etc.  that is used in word.  It is a relatively easy
format to understand, all you have to do is take a document you fully
understand and 'save as' with a file format of Interchange Format (RTF).  Then
read through the file.

The file is seperated into two parts normally, the font definition comes
first, then the text.  The text also has the style section at the beginning.
Then the paragraph definition (the defualt) then all of the text.

Microsoft will send you documentation on it if you like.  The only problem is
the file will not be bundled so it will not double-click boot, you must 'open'
it after entering word.  Where it will then translate it and open it up.

Good luck, I use it ocassionaly for database formatting (similiar to your
problem).

-Jack Herrington
 No affiliation with MicroSoft.
 "If you'll be my Dixie Chicken, I'll be your tenessee lamb, and we can
  walk together, down in Dixieland..."  -Little Feat