.SDW File Extension

MrSID World File

Developer	LizardTech
Popularity	Average rating 3.1 / 5. Vote count: 14
Category	GIS Files
Format	.SDW
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an SDW file?

.SDW file extension is primarily associated with documents created by StarOffice Writer, a component of the StarOffice suite, an early and influential office suite that predates the more widely known OpenOffice.org and LibreOffice.

The .SDW format was used for text documents, similar to how .DOC is used by Microsoft Word or .ODT by LibreOffice Writer.

The format was particularly noted for its role in the early days of office suite software, especially in the open-source and Linux communities.

More Information.

StarOffice began as a proprietary office suite before it was acquired by Sun Microsystems, which later released much of its code as open source, leading to the creation of OpenOffice.org.

The initial purpose of the .SDW file format was to provide a document format for StarWriter users, offering a range of features for document creation, formatting, and editing, akin to what was offered by other word processors like Microsoft Word.

With the evolution of office suites and the shift towards more open, standardized formats like .ODT (OpenDocument Text), the use of .SDW has declined.

During its time, it was an important format for users of StarOffice and early versions of OpenOffice.org.

Origin Of This File.

The .SDW file format originated from StarDivision’s StarOffice suite. StarOffice was one of the first office suites to offer a viable alternative to Microsoft Office, providing a range of tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.

The .SDW files were specifically from StarWriter, the word processing component of StarOffice.

File Structure Technical Specification.

.SDW files are structured to contain rich text format data, which includes text, page formatting, and images.

The format is binary and proprietary, meaning that the full specifications were controlled by the software developer.

While not as universally compatible or as openly documented as some other formats, .SDW files were fully supported within the StarOffice suite and early versions of OpenOffice.org.

How to Convert the File?

To convert .SDW files to more modern formats:

Using LibreOffice/OpenOffice:

Open the .SDW file in LibreOffice or OpenOffice.
Use the ‘Save As’ option to save the document in a different format (.ODT, .DOCX, etc.).

Online Conversion Tools:

Use online services that convert .SDW files to more current formats. Note that while convenient, uploading documents to online services may raise privacy concerns.

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantages:

Integration: .SDW files were seamlessly integrated with the StarOffice suite, providing a robust environment for document creation and management.
Features: The format supported a wide range of word processing features, including text formatting, tables, images, and more.

Disadvantages:

Compatibility: As a proprietary format, .SDW files may not be as easily accessible or editable in software outside the StarOffice or early OpenOffice.org suite.
Obsolescence: With the development of more open and widely adopted formats like .ODT, the relevance and support for .SDW has diminished over time.

How to Open SDW?

Open In Windows

LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice:

These open-source office suites can open .SDW files as they are descendants of StarOffice.
Download and install LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice.
Open the suite, select ‘Open File,’ and choose your .SDW file.

Online Conversion Tools:

Use online file conversion services to convert the .SDW file into a more commonly used format like .DOCX or .ODT.

Open In Linux

LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice:

Both are commonly included in various Linux distributions or can be installed via package managers.
After installation, use the ‘Open File’ option in either suite to access the .SDW file.

Open In MAC

LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice:

Install one of these suites from their official websites.
Open the application, and then open the .SDW file through the file menu.

Open In Android

Direct support for .SDW files on Android is not common:

Convert the File:

Use an online conversion tool to convert the .SDW file to a more compatible format like .DOCX or .PDF.
Open the converted file with an app that supports that format, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

Open In IOS

Direct support for .SDW files on iOS devices are also not common. Similar to Android:

Convert the File:

Convert the .SDW file to a more universally compatible format using an online conversion tool.
Open the converted file in an app like Microsoft Word or Pages.