Microsoft today released its standalone, drag and drop MS Word Open XML file converter for Office 2004 for Mac. Helping users transition to the new Office Open XML file format, the company said that the standalone, drag and drop converter was developed as a provisional solution until the final, integrated converter is available. The new converter provides read-only access to Office Open XML files and converts Word documents to a Rich Text Format (.rtf) while offering both individual and batch file conversion.

The beta release expires on December 31, 2007 and may have problems with converting graphics, color fills/shading in tables, documents with bibliography/citations or large photos, WordArt, layout/formatting, Unicode characters, large pictures, SMB network volumes, picture bullets, and fonts.

Microsoft, however, said that PowerPoint and Excel updates to the converter -- which will be available via AutoUpdate --are due for release this summer. The final Office 2004 for Mac converter will be the only suite-wide Office Open XML converter tool, the company claims, and will be a fully integrated solution providing both read and write functionality. The utility is expected to ship 6-8 weeks after the release of Office 2008 for Mac.