# Microsoft Word documents

The options ‘Import Microsoft Word Document’ and ‘Export Microsoft Word Document’ in the File menu allow you to edit Word documents without loss of content or formatting.

Lossless conversion requires version 2003 or later of Microsoft Word. Earlier versions (2000 and XP) can be used to import Unicode text from binary Word documents, but all formatting is lost.

It is also possible to create XML-based Microsoft Word documents from scratch. To create a new Word document, select ‘New’ from the File menu and choose the WordprocessingML template. Select ‘Export Microsoft Word Document’ to save the document in binary (*.doc) format.

If you wish to launch XML Copy Editor from Microsoft Word, see Microsoft Word integration in the Appendix.