Tips to open ODT file

Can't open the ODT file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ODT files as well as a list of programs that support ODT files.

ODT file extension

File Name OpenDocument Text Document
File Developer Oracle
File Category Text Files

The ODT file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ODT files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ODT file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ODT file?

An .ODT file is a text document of open office suites. It is commonly considered an OpenOffice document, but other packages also use this format. It is a Writer file equivalent to Microsoft Word .DOCX files. It is based on the OpenDocument XML format. The capabilities are similar to other text editing files, such as support for style, advanced formatting, auto-correct, and images. Word also supports .ODT files, although there may be formatting problems.

How to open ODT file?

An often recurring problem with OpenDocument Text Document is that ODT is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that ODT files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ODT file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Apache OpenOffice

The first step is to check if the computer has the Apache OpenOffice program installed. To do this, enter the name Apache OpenOffice into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file ODT with Apache OpenOffice. Below you will find a list of applications that support ODT files.

Step 2. Create association of Apache OpenOffice with ODT files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the ODT file still does not use the Apache OpenOffice program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the ODT file with the Apache OpenOffice application.

Step 3. Update Apache OpenOffice to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Apache OpenOffice program, it is possible that OpenDocument Text Document requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Apache Software Foundation page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ODT file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the ODT file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the ODT file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover ODT files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of ODT file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair ODT file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Oracle
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file ODT except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the ODT file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the ODT file again. However, some background programs may block the ODT file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.