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Different programs store the same kind of information in different formats, the format is indicated by the extension to the file name, which is usually 3 characters. For e.g. a text file may be stored in a .docx or a .odt or a .txt format, a music file may be in a .wav or a .mp3 or a .ogg format. Some formats are ‘open’ while others are ‘closed’. An [https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format open format] is a "''file format for storing digital data, defined by a published specification usually maintained by a standards organization, and which can be used and implemented by anyone<nowiki/>, whereas a non-open or closed format may not be possible to be implemented by anyone other than the vendor"''. Open formats should be preferred for OER, since they share the underlying rationale of being used/usable by anyone. Hence, you may want to convert your file from a closed format to an open format.  

Different programs store the same kind of information in different formats, the format is indicated by the extension to the file name, which is usually 3 characters (but in some cases can be 2 or 4 characters also). For e.g. a text file may be stored in a .docx or a .odt or a .txt format, a music file may be in a .wav or a .mp3 or a .ogg format. Y''<nowiki/>''ou may have a need to convert a file from one format to another, to use it. A video that plays on your computer may not play on your DVD player, or a music clip that plays on your computer may not play on your mobile phone.

Another pragmatic reason, you may have a need to convert a file from one format to another, to use it. A video that plays on your computer may not play on your DVD player, or a music clip that plays on your computer may not play on your mobile phone.

In this chapter, you will learn about open and closed file formats, how to publish your OER in open formats, and convert a document to an open format.  

In this chapter, you will learn how to publish your OER in open formats, and convert the OER into an open format.

Some formats are ‘open’ while others are ‘closed’. An [https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format open format] is a "''file format for storing digital data, defined by a published specification usually maintained by a standards organization, and which can be used and implemented by anyone, whereas a non-open or closed format may not be possible to be implemented by anyone other than the vendor"''. Open formats should be preferred for OER, since they share the underlying rationale of being used/usable by anyone. Hence, you may want to convert your file from a closed format to an open format.

 

Usually FOSS applications save files in open formats. Usually proprietary applications save in closed formats. You may be able to open the closed format created by a proprietary application, in an equivalent FOSS application and 'save as' an open format.  

Open and closed formats for the different OER you have learnt is provided in table below

Open and closed formats for the different OER you have learnt is provided in table below

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

=== Converting text files (LibreOffice) ===

=== Converting text files (LibreOffice) ===

The formats that LibreOffice saves files conform to the ‘Open Document Format’ for text (.odt or open document text), spreadsheet (.ods or open document spreadsheet), and presentation (.odp or open document presentation). You can convert a document which is in another format into these formats by simply opening the document in LibreOffice and then using <u>File → Save As</u> to save in these open formats. You can, for instance, open a Word document in a docx format, in LibreOffice Writer and then 'save as' odt. You can thus use LibreOffice to convert files in text formats.  

The formats that LibreOffice saves files conform to the ‘Open Document Format’ for text (odt or open document text), spreadsheet (ods or open document spreadsheet), and presentation (odp or open document presentation). You can convert a document which is in another format into these formats by simply opening the document in LibreOffice and then using <u>File → Save As</u> to save in these open formats. You can, for instance, open a Word document in a docx format, in LibreOffice Writer and then 'save as' odt. Similarly Calc lets you save a 'xls' file as a 'ods' file and Impress lets you save a 'ppt file as a 'odp' file. You can thus use LibreOffice to convert files in text formats.  

You can also save a LibreOffice file as a web page (html format). A file saved as a web page can be opened by a web browser.   

You can also save a LibreOffice file as a web page (html format). A file saved as a web page can be opened by a web browser.   

You can also save a LibreOffice file as a pdf. The pdf format has two advantages, printing it will give the same hard copy as the soft copy. Secondly, it can be read on all systems, since the fonts are stored with the file. This is particularly useful in case where certain fonts, not available on all computers are used (such as non-UNICODE fonts); saving and sharing in PDF format will allow it to be read by others in their computers.

You can also save a LibreOffice file as a pdf. The pdf format has two advantages, printing it will give the same hard copy as the soft copy. Secondly, it can be read on all systems, since the fonts are stored with the file. This is particularly useful in case where certain fonts, not available on all computers are used (such as non-UNICODE fonts); saving and sharing in PDF format will allow it to be read by others in their computers.

All these format changes can be done in the LibreOffice [https://libreoffice.org/discover/writer/ Writer], [https://libreoffice.org/discover/calc Calc] and [https://libreoffice.org/discover/calc/ Impress] applications, for text, spreadsheet and presentation documents.  

All these format changes can be done in the LibreOffice [https://libreoffice.org/discover/writer/ Writer], [https://libreoffice.org/discover/calc Calc] and [https://libreoffice.org/discover/calc/ Impress] applications, for text, spreadsheet and presentation documents respectively.  

=== Converting image files (GIMP) ===

=== Converting image files (GIMP) ===