Convert SXW to Properties

Why Convert SXW to Properties?

Converting SXW to Properties allows you to extract structured key-value data from legacy StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer documents and transform it into Java Properties format. This is particularly useful when SXW documents contain configuration settings, localization strings, or parameter definitions that need to be used in Java applications.

Many organizations that used StarOffice in the early 2000s may have documented their application configurations, i18n translations, or system settings in Writer documents. Converting these to Properties files makes the data directly usable by Java applications, Spring Framework projects, and other JVM-based systems.

Properties files are the standard configuration format in the Java ecosystem, used by Spring Boot (application.properties), Maven, Gradle, and countless other tools. By converting SXW content to this format, you bridge the gap between legacy documentation and modern Java development practices.

Our converter reads the SXW archive, extracts the textual content, and organizes it into properly formatted key-value pairs with appropriate dotted key namespaces and comment sections. The output is immediately usable with Java's java.util.Properties class and Spring's @PropertySource annotation.

Key Benefits of Converting SXW to Properties:

• Java Integration: Use extracted data directly in Java applications
• Spring Compatible: Output works as Spring Boot application.properties
• i18n Ready: Create localization resource bundles from document content
• Simple Format: Easy to read, edit, and maintain
• No Dependencies: Properties files require no special libraries to parse
• Legacy Migration: Move configuration data from documents to code

Practical Examples

Example 1: Database Configuration

Input SXW file (db_config.sxw) containing:

Database Configuration

Connection Settings
Driver: org.postgresql.Driver
URL: jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/mydb
Username: app_user
Password: secure_pass123
Pool Size: 10

Output Properties file (db_config.properties):

# Database Configuration
# Connection Settings
db.driver=org.postgresql.Driver
db.url=jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/mydb
db.username=app_user
db.password=secure_pass123
db.pool.size=10

Example 2: Localization Strings

Input SXW file (messages.sxw) containing:

Application Messages

Welcome Messages
Greeting: Welcome to our application
Farewell: Thank you for using our service

Error Messages
Not Found: The requested resource was not found
Unauthorized: Please log in to continue

Output Properties file (messages.properties):

# Application Messages
# Welcome Messages
welcome.greeting=Welcome to our application
welcome.farewell=Thank you for using our service

# Error Messages
error.notFound=The requested resource was not found
error.unauthorized=Please log in to continue

Example 3: Application Settings

Input SXW file (settings.sxw) containing:

Server Settings

HTTP Configuration
Port: 8080
Context Path: /api
Max Threads: 200

Logging
Level: INFO
File: /var/log/app.log
Max Size: 100MB

Output Properties file (settings.properties):

# Server Settings
# HTTP Configuration
server.port=8080
server.context-path=/api
server.max-threads=200

# Logging
logging.level=INFO
logging.file=/var/log/app.log
logging.max-size=100MB

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is an SXW file?

A: SXW is a document format from StarOffice and OpenOffice.org Writer. Introduced in 2002, it is a ZIP archive containing XML files. It was superseded by ODT in 2005 but can still be opened by LibreOffice.

Q: What is a Properties file?

A: A Properties file is a plain-text configuration format used primarily in Java applications. It stores data as key=value pairs, one per line, with optional comments using # or ! prefixes. Java's java.util.Properties class provides built-in support for reading and writing this format.

Q: How does the converter create key names from document content?

A: The converter analyzes the document structure and content to generate appropriate key names. Headings become namespace prefixes, and key-value style content (like "Host: localhost") is parsed into proper properties entries. Descriptive text is preserved as comments.

Q: Can I use the output with Spring Boot?

A: Yes. The generated Properties file follows standard Java Properties format conventions and can be used as application.properties in Spring Boot applications. Property names use dotted notation compatible with Spring's configuration system.

Q: What encoding does the output use?

A: The output uses UTF-8 encoding for compatibility with modern Java applications. Non-ASCII characters are properly handled. For legacy Java systems that require Latin-1 encoding, non-ASCII characters can be represented using Unicode escape sequences (\uXXXX).

Q: Are document images and formatting preserved?

A: No. Properties files are plain-text key-value formats and do not support images or rich formatting. Only the textual content is extracted and organized into key-value pairs. Formatting information is discarded during conversion.

Q: Can I use the output as i18n resource bundles?

A: Yes. Properties files are the standard format for Java internationalization (i18n). If your SXW document contains localization strings, the output can serve as a message resource bundle (e.g., messages.properties, messages_en.properties).

Q: How are special characters handled?

A: Special characters that have meaning in Properties files (such as =, :, #, and !) are properly escaped in the output. Unicode characters beyond Latin-1 are supported through UTF-8 encoding or Unicode escape sequences.