Convert TXT to SXW

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TXT vs SXW Format Comparison

Aspect	TXT (Source Format)	SXW (Target Format)
Format Overview	TXT Plain Text Universal plain text format without any formatting. Readable by any text editor on any platform. Universal Plain Text	SXW StarOffice/OpenOffice.org Writer Legacy XML-based document format used by StarOffice and early OpenOffice.org Writer. Predecessor to the modern ODF standard. Legacy Format Open Source
Technical Specifications	Structure: Unstructured plain text Encoding: UTF-8/ASCII Format: Plain text Compression: None Extensions: .txt	Structure: ZIP archive with XML Encoding: UTF-8 Format: XML content + styles Compression: ZIP compression Extensions: .sxw
Syntax Examples	TXT syntax: No special syntax Just plain text content Line by line	SXW internal XML: <office:body> <text:p text:style-name="P1"> Content text here </text:p> </office:body>
Content Support	Text content and paragraphs Basic formatting (where supported) Headings and sections Lists and enumerations Links and references	Rich text with fonts and styles Tables, images, and frames Headers, footers, and page styles Paragraph and character formatting Embedded objects and macros Document metadata and properties
Advantages	Universal compatibility Simple and readable No special software needed	Open XML-based format Rich document formatting Supports images and tables Template and style support Foundation for ODF standard
Disadvantages	Limited formatting options No rich content support	Deprecated by ODF (.odt) Limited modern tool support Requires legacy OpenOffice versions
Common Uses	General text documents Document exchange	Legacy document archives Migration to modern formats Backward compatibility needs
Best For	Simple text storage Cross-platform sharing	Preserving older OpenOffice documents Systems requiring SXW compatibility Transitioning legacy workflows
Version History	Introduced: 1960s (ASCII) Current Version: Unicode standard Status: Universal standard Maintained by: Unicode Consortium	Introduced: 1999 (StarOffice 5.2) Current Version: SXW (final) Status: Deprecated (replaced by ODT) Maintained by: Sun Microsystems (historical)
Software Support	Primary: Any text editor Alternative: Notepad, VS Code, Vim Other: All platforms Libraries: All languages	Primary: OpenOffice.org Writer Alternative: LibreOffice (import) Other: Pandoc, Calligra Words Libraries: python-docx (limited), odfpy

Why Convert TXT to SXW?

Converting TXT to SXW enables compatibility with legacy StarOffice and early OpenOffice.org environments that rely on the SXW document format. While SXW has been superseded by the ODF standard (.odt), many organizations still maintain archives of SXW documents and workflows that expect this format.

The SXW format provides rich document capabilities including styled text, tables, images, headers, footers, and page formatting -- all features unavailable in plain text. By converting your TXT files to SXW, you transform raw text into editable word processor documents that can be further enhanced with fonts, layouts, and embedded media.

SXW was a pioneering open-source document format developed by Sun Microsystems for StarOffice. It laid the groundwork for what eventually became the OASIS Open Document Format (ODF). Understanding and supporting SXW remains important for archival purposes and for organizations migrating legacy document collections to modern formats.

Our converter handles the SXW conversion through Pandoc's ODT pipeline, producing documents that can be opened in LibreOffice, OpenOffice.org, and other compatible applications. From SXW, you can easily re-save to modern formats like ODT or DOCX if needed for current workflows.

Key Benefits of Converting TXT to SXW:

Legacy Compatibility: Support older StarOffice and OpenOffice.org environments
Rich Formatting: Add styles, fonts, and layout options to plain text
Open Format: XML-based, open-source document format
Migration Path: Step toward converting legacy documents to modern ODF
Archive Support: Maintain compatibility with SXW document archives
Editable Output: Full word processor editing in compatible applications
Template Support: Apply document templates and styles after conversion

Practical Examples

Example 1: Office Memo

Input TXT file (memo.txt):

MEMORANDUM
To: All Staff
From: Management
Date: March 2026
Subject: Office Policy Update

Please review the updated office policies
effective immediately.

Output SXW file (memo.sxw):

Converted to SXW format:
- Text content preserved as paragraphs
- Editable in OpenOffice/LibreOffice Writer
- Ready for font and style customization
- Headers and footers can be added
- Page layout configurable

Example 2: Legacy Document Migration

Input TXT file (legacy_doc.txt):

Product Specification v1.0
1. Hardware Requirements
   - CPU: Pentium III 500MHz
   - RAM: 128MB minimum
   - Disk: 2GB free space
2. Software Requirements
   - StarOffice 5.2 or later

Output SXW file (legacy_doc.sxw):

Converted to SXW format:
- Compatible with StarOffice 5.2+
- Document structure preserved
- Lists formatted as paragraphs
- Can be opened in LibreOffice for editing
- Re-save as ODT for modern compatibility

Example 3: Meeting Minutes

Input TXT file (minutes.txt):

Board Meeting Minutes
Date: January 15, 2026
Attendees: A. Smith, B. Jones, C. Lee

Agenda Item 1: Budget Review
Decision: Approved Q1 budget allocation.

Agenda Item 2: New Hires
Decision: Three positions approved.

Output SXW file (minutes.sxw):

Converted to SXW format:
- Professional document layout
- Text organized into paragraphs
- Ready for formatting and printing
- Can add company letterhead
- Archive in SXW for legacy systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the SXW file format?

A: SXW is the native document format of StarOffice and early OpenOffice.org Writer (versions 1.x). It is a ZIP archive containing XML files that describe the document's content, styles, and metadata. SXW was the predecessor to the ODF (.odt) format.

Q: Can I open SXW files in LibreOffice?

A: Yes! LibreOffice Writer fully supports opening SXW files through its import filters. You can open, edit, and re-save SXW documents. LibreOffice will typically suggest saving in the modern ODF (.odt) format when you save changes.

Q: Is SXW the same as ODT?

A: No, but they are closely related. SXW was the precursor to ODT. Both are ZIP-based XML formats, but ODT follows the OASIS Open Document Format standard (ISO/IEC 26300), while SXW uses an older, proprietary XML schema from Sun Microsystems.

Q: Why would I need SXW format today?

A: SXW is primarily needed for compatibility with legacy systems, archived document collections, and older OpenOffice installations. Some organizations still maintain SXW-based workflows or need to produce documents compatible with older systems.

Q: Can I convert SXW to modern formats later?

A: Yes! Open the SXW file in LibreOffice and save as ODT, DOCX, or PDF. Our platform also supports converting SXW to many other formats including HTML, Markdown, and EPUB.

Q: What happened to StarOffice?

A: StarOffice was developed by Star Division, acquired by Sun Microsystems in 1999, which open-sourced it as OpenOffice.org. After Oracle acquired Sun, the community forked it to create LibreOffice. StarOffice was discontinued in 2011.

Q: Does Microsoft Word support SXW?

A: Microsoft Word does not natively open SXW files. You would need to convert SXW to DOCX or ODT first, or use LibreOffice as an intermediary. Our converter can help bridge this gap by producing SXW from your text files.

Q: Are there file size limitations?

A: Our converter handles text files of typical sizes. Since SXW uses ZIP compression, the output file may actually be smaller than the raw text for large documents. The format itself has no practical size limit for text-based documents.