File sizes in .docx and .doc (compatibility mode)

[Jayawanth]

..doc - 2462 KB
..docx - 897 KB

Why are they so different?
Both contains Links to pictures and they are not stored as part of the
document.

I am forced to use the .doc version since in .docx version, Edit.Links
dialog does not preserve focus on the current picture and hence it is
impossible to edit the file links for images to update or change it.

Jayawanth

 

[Aeneas]

The file format for .docx or .docm documents and .dotx and .dotm templates is
no longer binary but rather a *zipped* package consisting of multiple XML
files in text format and folders for each document or template

The key to the impressive size difference is the fact that the document or
template is zipped or compressed when saved as .docx, .docm, .dotx or .dotm.

To see what a file really looks like, *copy* one to another folder;
right-click it and change the extension to .zip. Then unzip it. You see
numerous files and folders which can easily be read by double-clicking them,
which opens them in Internet Explorer by default.

This new file format has facilitated the implementation of powerful new
features like document themes, Quick Style Sets, building blocks, content
controls, SmartArt, vastly improved charting, XML data store, improved
recoverability, improved security, etc.