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Can I edit .docx files without a Microsoft 365 subscription and if not are there any alternatives (lemm.ee)

submitted 10 months ago by FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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TLDR: can I edit docx files on word without a subscription and if not what are some apps that can allow me to do so

Like the title says I need the ability to edit .docx for college (sadly other file formats aren’t accepted AFAIK) and my Microsoft 365 subscription is expiring and will not be renewed thanks to you lovely people getting me on the Proton family of software and obsidian for note taking.

However i created a .docx file today and and got a popup in word saying my Microsoft subscription is expiring soon (in march I believe) and that I would lose many feature.

This scary message wasn’t very helpful as to what features id lose (probably a lot of them I don’t even use) but the internet has not been helpful in telling me if I can still view and edit all my docx files that I have been collecting and creating over the years and have migrated to my proton drive

If I won’t be able to access docx files in word what are some apps that can open them from my proton drive (this is a hard requirement for me).

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[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

You don't use complex formats you say... just don't forget that LibreOffice thinks bullets points are "complex formats":

What OS are you using?

[–] Kid_Thunder@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

How does that work if you save the docx in OOXML Strict instead of OOXML Transient? I'm not sure about the current 365 rollout but OOXML was developed by MS due to the EU nearly 20 years ago to support interoperability but their default saving format was always OOXML Transient which is OOXML + MS Proprietary format. OOXML Strict should be an option and save the docx in OOXML only format.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Frankly, the anti-trust regulators should've required MS office to save to OpenDocument by default instead of any version of OOXML, strict or otherwise, nearly 20 years ago.

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

It works even worse.

[–] FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Also didn't see your bottom question at first but I'm on windows and edit documents both on my home laptop and one I bring to my classes which is why being able to play nice with proton drive is a must for me.

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So why not simply use MS Office? Way less hassle to deal with. Licenses are available for cheap on eBay or pirated form reputable sources.

[–] FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I was planning on using MS Office originally when writing the posts but 1) I didn't know if it was going to work after my subscription expired, and 2) I wanted to see what else is out there

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago

Seriously, download MAS and choose Ohook. Enjoy your permanently serialized and activated MS Office. :)

[–] FlihpFlorp@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Ah I see good to know. For me formatting issues aren't a super big deal and sounds like it's outweighed with its reputation here. I guess if it does become an issue I can simply hop over to open office but I'll cross that bridge when I get there

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

LibreOffice and OnlyOffice will certainly be better than OpenOffice.