Convert SXW to MD
Max file size 100mb.
SXW vs MD Format Comparison
| Aspect | SXW (Source Format) | MD (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
SXW
StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer Document
SXW is a legacy document format used by StarOffice and early versions of OpenOffice.org Writer. It is a ZIP archive containing XML files (content.xml, styles.xml, meta.xml) that define the document structure, formatting, and metadata. SXW was the predecessor to the modern ODT (OpenDocument Text) format and can still be opened by LibreOffice and OpenOffice. Legacy Document ZIP/XML Archive |
MD
Markdown File
MD is the standard file extension for Markdown documents. Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber that uses simple syntax for formatting text. MD files are used extensively for README files, documentation, wikis, blogs, and note-taking applications. The format is human-readable and easily converts to HTML and other formats. Markup Language Documentation |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: ZIP archive containing XML files
Creator: StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer MIME Type: application/vnd.sun.xml.writer Internal Files: content.xml, styles.xml, meta.xml Extension: .sxw |
Structure: Plain text with formatting symbols
Encoding: UTF-8 Specification: CommonMark, GFM MIME Type: text/markdown Extension: .md |
| Syntax Examples |
SXW stores content in XML within a ZIP archive: <office:body>
<text:p text:style-name="Heading">
Getting Started
</text:p>
<text:p>Follow these steps to
set up the project.</text:p>
</office:body>
|
MD uses hash marks and simple syntax: # Getting Started Follow these steps to set up the project. ## Prerequisites - Node.js 18+ - npm or yarn |
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| Version History |
Introduced: 2002 with StarOffice 6.0 / OpenOffice.org 1.0
Based On: OpenOffice.org XML format Superseded By: ODT (ODF 1.0, 2005) Status: Legacy format, still readable by LibreOffice |
Introduced: 2004 by John Gruber
CommonMark: 2014 (standardization effort) GFM: GitHub Flavored Markdown Status: Industry standard, widespread adoption |
| Software Support |
LibreOffice: Full read/write support
OpenOffice: Native format (legacy versions) Pandoc: Reads SXW as ODT variant Calligra: Import support |
Platforms: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Reddit
Editors: VS Code, Typora, Obsidian, iA Writer Converters: Pandoc, markdown-it, marked.js Renderers: All modern web browsers (via HTML) |
Why Convert SXW to MD?
Converting SXW to MD transforms legacy StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer documents into the most widely used lightweight markup format. MD (Markdown) files are the standard for software documentation, README files, and web content across platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and countless static site generators.
SXW files require office suite software to open and edit, while MD files can be created and modified with any text editor. This conversion eliminates dependency on legacy software and makes your document content immediately accessible in the modern development ecosystem.
The MD format is ideal for version control. Unlike SXW's binary ZIP format, MD files produce clean, meaningful diffs in Git. This makes it possible to track every change to your documentation alongside your source code, enabling proper code review workflows for documentation changes.
Our converter parses the SXW archive structure, extracts the document content from content.xml, and generates clean MD markup with proper headings, lists, emphasis, links, and tables. The output is compatible with both CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown specifications.
Key Benefits of Converting SXW to MD:
- GitHub Ready: Use directly as README.md or documentation in any repository
- Version Control: Track changes with meaningful diffs in Git
- Universal Editing: Edit with any text editor, no office suite required
- Web Publishing: Convert to HTML with static site generators
- Format Flexibility: Use Pandoc to convert MD to PDF, DOCX, EPUB
- Legacy Migration: Modernize old StarOffice documents for current workflows
Practical Examples
Example 1: Software README
Input SXW file (readme.sxw) containing:
ConvertMe - File Conversion Tool About A web-based file conversion service supporting multiple formats. Features Text document conversion Image format conversion Audio file conversion
Output MD file (readme.md):
# ConvertMe - File Conversion Tool ## About A web-based file conversion service supporting multiple formats. ## Features - Text document conversion - Image format conversion - Audio file conversion
Example 2: Meeting Notes
Input SXW file (meeting.sxw) containing:
Sprint Planning Meeting Date: March 10, 2026 Attendees: Team Alpha Tasks Implement user authentication Design database schema Write unit tests for API endpoints
Output MD file (meeting.md):
# Sprint Planning Meeting **Date:** March 10, 2026 **Attendees:** Team Alpha ## Tasks - Implement user authentication - Design database schema - Write unit tests for API endpoints
Example 3: Configuration Guide
Input SXW file (config_guide.sxw) containing:
Environment Configuration Development Set DEBUG=True in settings.py Use SQLite for local database Run on port 8000 Production Set DEBUG=False Use PostgreSQL with SSL Configure nginx reverse proxy
Output MD file (config_guide.md):
# Environment Configuration ## Development - Set `DEBUG=True` in settings.py - Use SQLite for local database - Run on port 8000 ## Production - Set `DEBUG=False` - Use PostgreSQL with SSL - Configure nginx reverse proxy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between MD and Markdown?
A: MD and Markdown refer to the same format. "MD" is the file extension (.md) commonly used for Markdown files, while "Markdown" is the full name of the markup language. Both are identical in syntax and functionality.
Q: What is an SXW file?
A: SXW is a legacy document format from StarOffice and OpenOffice.org Writer. Introduced in 2002, it is a ZIP archive containing XML files. The format was superseded by ODT when the ODF 1.0 standard was adopted in 2005, but it can still be read by LibreOffice.
Q: Can I use the .md file on GitHub?
A: Yes. GitHub automatically renders .md files as formatted HTML. The output is compatible with GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), supporting tables, task lists, code blocks, and all standard Markdown features.
Q: Are document styles preserved in MD?
A: Markdown supports basic formatting: headings, bold, italic, lists, links, and code blocks. Advanced styling from SXW such as custom fonts, colors, and page layout is not preserved since Markdown is a lightweight format focused on content structure rather than visual presentation.
Q: How are SXW tables converted to MD?
A: Tables are converted to GitHub Flavored Markdown pipe table syntax with header rows and column alignments. Simple tables convert accurately, while tables with merged cells or complex formatting may be simplified.
Q: What happens to images in the SXW document?
A: Images are referenced using Markdown image syntax (). The image files need to be extracted separately from the SXW archive and placed alongside the MD file for the references to display correctly.
Q: Can I convert the MD file to other formats?
A: Yes. MD is an excellent intermediate format. Tools like Pandoc can convert MD to HTML, PDF, DOCX, EPUB, LaTeX, and many other formats. This makes SXW-to-MD conversion a great first step in a multi-format publishing pipeline.
Q: Which Markdown specification does the output follow?
A: The output follows the CommonMark specification with GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM) extensions. This ensures compatibility with GitHub, GitLab, VS Code, and all major Markdown tools and platforms.