I mean, if you have access to a computer -- which I assume you do, since you're typing? (though that could be a phone I guess) -- open it in OpenOffice and save it as .doc or whatever.

Alternatively, if you're on Linux or on Windows with a Postscript/PDF print driver, you can go to file-print in the document (In OpenOffice), choose "Print to File," and then print it to a PDF file, which you then put on your stick and take to the printer and print.

The first one is easier. The second one is harder but more likely to preserve the formatting correctly. I'm not going into much detail on option 2 because (a) it's late and I'm in a rush (sorry!) and (b) I don't know what OS you're on, and the method would change completely depending on that.

thanks for the help, my "slaptop" has Microsoft preloaded
but the microsoft Office products were "only on trial" & quickly timed out,
and theres that key caper now

I haven't done a lot of work that needed microsoft office products & $Aus 700-
was never going to fly with me

You don't happen to be a student, I guess? You can get pretty good prices on MS Office if you are.

Anyway, otherwise -- is this going to be something that comes up a lot? If so, I'd go ahead and buy a good PDF printer for Windows. It shouldn't run you more than $30-$40. There are also free ones I think, which you can try first if you desire.

Here's a free one:

http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

Here's another free one (I think):

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Google PDF printer and you'll find more if needed.

Anyway, once you get one installed, it will show up just like a printer from any program, and if you print to it, instead of printing, it will create a PDF of your document in the location you specify. So "print" from openoffice to that, put the PDF on your stick, and take it down to the printer.

yes I was thinking along the lines of getting a printer and just connecting it direct to my slatop. thats a Lenovo SL500 about 3 years old

I also just tried the rename caper opened OpenOffice, opened the folder/file
renamed it and it a "new" folder in word appear'd. I took tha over to my "desktop" and then tried to open it & went past the key request OK but it stillfailed to open with
"The office Open XML file ...... cannot be opened because there are problems with the content" it may be anything, i have use various font choices etc with the work done

Yeah. I would try the PDF solution I suggest above. Go to one of those two websites; download and install the software. Open your document in OpenOffice, choose Print; choose the Software "printer" corresponding to the software you installed, and "print." It will create a PDF file you can then put on your USB stick.

You can avoid this problem in the future by setting Open Office to default save things in .docx format. It's pretty easy, and if you google it you can find instructions.

For your problem, if I'm understanding you correctly you don't have Open Office on your laptop. Why don't you just download Open Office? Then you can open the .odt file, choose "save as," and then save it as a .doc. Simple. I can't imagine going the pdf route if that's an option. I think you're doing it wrong with the whole new folder, etc. Just open the file in Open Office, choose "save as," and make sure you click on the dropdown box and pick .doc.

i've tried the renaming the file caper but can't crack it,.... yet
I like the idea of the "PDF Printer" & will give that a go
& i'm also thinking of buying a cheap printer and just printing the stuff myself.
this is all a good challenge & thanks for the help.
Forum is far more effective at "nutting these things out" than some ringing character in a call centre thats subcontract'd support services

It's not renaming the file per se as much as it is changing the file extension. On the OpenOffice save screen, you have the space in which to type the file name. Underneath, there should be a dropdown menu that is likely set on .odt. That menu contains the different file types for which you can save your document. Pretty straightforward.

hoorah, see what a dumbell i am,
@2nd whiteline, that as the explanation i needed
thank you indeed

amazing what this new fangled stuff can do, i never imagined this when i was a lad playin' with my clockwork meccano set

If you have OpenOffice, you can directly export as PDF.

You can also install a PDF Printer (bioPDF is my favorite). It will show up as a printer but will print a PDF instead of a hard copy.

Also, in OpenOffice, you can go File-->Save As and change the file extenstion from .odt to .doc, although this may mess up your formatting.

thanks abgemacht
yes I finally managed changing the file ending to .doc after following 2ndwhiteline's
idiot proof advice and I have just attached a file with . doc ending & containing the assignment as a two thirds complete draft; to an email and sent it to my course
co ordinator.


I always had faith that our little webdip community had plenty of people would help me solve the problem reasonably quickly and this incident means that I can now classify this webdip site & it's online community as an Academic Support Resource.
A logical follow on from that is that now my visiting this site is no longer axiomatically just for pleasure, it could be necessary for my educational needs. I like where i am going with this.