Antiword

Antiword is a free Microsoft Word reader. It can convert .doc files into plain text, postscript, or XML. The most popular use of this is to read Microsoft Word documents from the command line on Homer or in Pine on Homer.

Using the Software
To view a MS WORD document, at the system prompt on Homer type:

% antiword myfile.doc | less

% antiword myfile.doc > myfile.txt

where "myfile.txt" is the converted plain text file.

You can also read ".doc" attachments directly in Pine on Homer, as follows:

o Create or modify a file named ".mailcap" in your home directory ( note that files that begin with a "." are invisible to the "ls" command unless you add the flag "-a", that is "ls -a"). Add the line:

application/msword; antiword %s; copiousoutput

to that file. You do this only once.

o From then on, to view any MS WORD ".doc" attachment in Pine, which look something like this:

[ Part 2, Application/MSWORD 30KB. ]
[ Not Shown. Use the "V" command to view or save this part. ]

just press "v", select the WORD document, press "v" again, and "y" to view it

Technical Support
Help is available from UW Information Technology. Send a question to help@u.washington.edu if you need help with this software.

(software installed September 2005)