Convert AsciiDoc to SXW

Why Convert AsciiDoc to SXW?

Converting AsciiDoc to SXW format is necessary when you need to produce documents compatible with legacy OpenOffice.org Writer 1.x installations or StarOffice 6/7 systems. While the SXW format has been superseded by the ODF standard (.odt), many organizations, particularly government agencies and institutions that adopted OpenOffice early, still maintain archives and workflows that rely on the SXW format. Converting AsciiDoc documentation to SXW ensures accessibility in these legacy environments.

The SXW format was introduced with OpenOffice.org 1.0 in 2001 and served as Sun Microsystems' answer to the proprietary Microsoft DOC format. SXW files are ZIP archives containing XML files for content, styles, metadata, and settings -- a design that directly influenced the later OASIS Open Document Format (ODF) standard. While simpler than ODF, SXW provides full word processing capabilities including rich text formatting, styles, tables, images, and document structure.

AsciiDoc's structured markup maps well to SXW's XML-based content model. Headings become styled heading paragraphs, lists are preserved as proper list structures, tables are converted to formatted word processor tables, and text formatting (bold, italic, monospace) is translated to character styles. This conversion produces properly formatted SXW documents that look professional when opened in OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice, which continues to support the legacy SXW format.

For document archival and migration projects, AsciiDoc to SXW conversion provides a bridge between modern documentation workflows and legacy document management systems. Organizations transitioning from older OpenOffice installations can generate SXW-compatible documents from current AsciiDoc sources, ensuring continuity during migration periods. LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice both maintain backward compatibility with SXW, making it a viable interim format.

Key Benefits of Converting AsciiDoc to SXW:

• Legacy Compatibility: Works with OpenOffice.org 1.x and StarOffice 6/7
• Archive Access: Produces documents readable by legacy document systems
• XML-Based: Clean internal structure similar to modern ODF
• Compressed: ZIP-based format keeps file sizes manageable
• Full Formatting: Rich text, styles, tables, and images supported
• LibreOffice Support: Modern LibreOffice opens and edits SXW files
• Migration Bridge: Facilitates transition from legacy to modern systems

Practical Examples

Example 1: Legacy System Document Generation

Input AsciiDoc file (policy.adoc):

= IT Security Policy
:author: Security Department
:revision: 3.2

== Password Requirements

All users must follow these rules:

. Minimum 12 characters in length
. Include uppercase and lowercase letters
. Include at least one number
. Include at least one special character
. Change passwords every 90 days

WARNING: Never share your password
with anyone, including IT staff.

Output SXW file (policy.sxw):

OpenOffice.org Writer document with:
- Formatted title "IT Security Policy"
- Author and revision metadata
- Styled section headings
- Numbered list with password rules
- Warning text with emphasis
- Compatible with OpenOffice 1.x
- Opens in LibreOffice Writer

Example 2: Technical Specification Archive

Input AsciiDoc file (spec.adoc):

= Network Infrastructure Specification

== Server Configuration

|===
| Server | Role | IP Address | OS

| srv-web-01 | Web Server | 10.0.1.10 | CentOS 7
| srv-app-01 | App Server | 10.0.1.20 | CentOS 7
| srv-db-01 | Database | 10.0.1.30 | CentOS 7
|===

== Firewall Rules

* Port 80 (HTTP) -- public access
* Port 443 (HTTPS) -- public access
* Port 22 (SSH) -- internal only
* Port 5432 (PostgreSQL) -- app servers only

Output SXW file (spec.sxw):

Formatted specification document with:
- Professional heading structure
- Server configuration table with borders
- Firewall rules as bulleted list
- Proper document metadata
- Compatible with legacy DMS systems
- Archivable in OpenOffice format
- Editable in any OpenOffice version

Example 3: Training Material Conversion

Input AsciiDoc file (training.adoc):

= Employee Onboarding Guide
:version: 2024

== First Day Checklist

* [ ] Receive employee badge
* [ ] Complete HR paperwork
* [ ] Set up workstation
* [ ] Attend orientation session

== Key Contacts

|===
| Department | Contact | Extension

| IT Support | [email protected] | 1234
| HR | [email protected] | 5678
| Facilities | [email protected] | 9012
|===

TIP: Bookmark the internal wiki for
quick access to company resources.

Output SXW file (training.sxw):

Training document with:
- Clear title and version info
- Formatted checklist items
- Contact table with aligned columns
- Tip callout as styled paragraph
- Printable from OpenOffice Writer
- Distributable to legacy workstations
- Editable for department customization

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is SXW format?

A: SXW is the native document format of OpenOffice.org Writer 1.x, introduced in 2001. It is a ZIP archive containing XML files that describe document content, styles, and metadata. SXW was developed by Sun Microsystems as part of the OpenOffice.org suite and was the predecessor to the OASIS Open Document Format (ODF). While now considered legacy, it remains compatible with LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice.

Q: Why would I need SXW format today?

A: SXW format is needed in specific legacy scenarios: accessing document archives created with early OpenOffice.org versions, integrating with older document management systems that store files in SXW format, working with organizations running StarOffice 6/7 or OpenOffice 1.x, and maintaining compatibility with legacy workflows during migration projects. It is also useful for producing documents compatible with very old computer systems.

Q: What is the difference between SXW and ODT?

A: SXW and ODT are both XML-in-ZIP document formats, but ODT is the standardized evolution. SXW was OpenOffice.org's proprietary format (2001-2005), while ODT is an OASIS/ISO international standard (ODF, since 2005). ODT has a more refined XML schema, better interoperability, and broader software support. Modern LibreOffice defaults to ODT but still reads and writes SXW files for backward compatibility.

Q: Can modern software open SXW files?

A: Yes. LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice Writer both fully support reading and editing SXW files. LibreOffice may display a compatibility notice but opens the file normally. Microsoft Word has limited import support for SXW. Google Docs does not support SXW directly but can open the document if first converted to a supported format. For best results, use LibreOffice for SXW files.

Q: Will AsciiDoc formatting be preserved in SXW?

A: Yes, the conversion maps AsciiDoc formatting to SXW styles. Headings become styled heading paragraphs, bold and italic text use character styles, lists are converted to proper list structures, and tables are created with borders and formatting. AsciiDoc-specific features like admonitions are converted to styled paragraphs with appropriate visual treatment. Code blocks use monospace fonts.

Q: Should I use SXW or ODT for new documents?

A: Use ODT for all new documents unless you have a specific requirement for SXW compatibility. ODT is an international standard (ISO/IEC 26300), has broader software support, a more refined specification, and is the default format for LibreOffice. SXW should only be chosen when targeting legacy systems that specifically require the older format. Our converter also supports AsciiDoc to ODT conversion.

Q: How is the SXW file structured internally?

A: An SXW file is a ZIP archive containing: content.xml (document text and structure), styles.xml (formatting styles), meta.xml (document metadata like author, title, dates), settings.xml (application settings), and META-INF/manifest.xml (archive contents listing). This structure is similar to ODT and was the design inspiration for the OASIS ODF standard.

Q: Can I convert SXW back to AsciiDoc?

A: Yes, our converter supports SXW to AsciiDoc conversion. The reverse process extracts the XML content from the SXW archive, parses the document structure and styles, and generates AsciiDoc markup with appropriate headings, formatting, lists, and tables. This is useful for migrating legacy OpenOffice documents into a modern documentation-as-code workflow where AsciiDoc source can be maintained in version control.