What is .docx?

[donnabr]

Didn't know where this would go. I teach some online writing courses, and I require students send work via the Blackboard system. That system only supports MSWord and rich text formats. I make them do MSWord, because I embed comments in the document.

So, at least six or seven students have sent me files with a .docx extension. When my software tries to translate it, it says it's an XML application file. I know what XML files are, but HOW could that be related to Word?

I'd appreciate any knowledge of how to instruct students when they're saving files so they aren't unopenable by me.

Thanx.

[renegade600]

see if this helps.

word 2007 uses xml see this for more info

[donnabr]

Thanks for the info. I'm worried that viewing by opening the file in the browser may not allow me to use the comments function and save so they can see it later.

I'm assuming like other iterations of Word, there's a "Save file as type:" drop down menu when they save in Word 2007, so I can ask them to save in an earlier version. Yes?

[Pi rules]

Yes. Also, if you open Word, click the Menu button, click Word Options, and click "Save," you can change the "Save files in this format" to Word 97-2003 Document (.doc). Or, when you save a file, click the Menu Button and "Save As" and choose Word 97-2003 Document.