Opening .MDI files

[sdisick]

How do you open .MDI Files on the mac??? Do I need Office 2008? If so what steps do I need to take.

I am trying to figure out what an .MDI is at all actually. Is it the MS version of a .PDF? Why not stick with the open source standard??

 

[CyberTaz]

This is a Microsoft Document Imaging file type and is a graphics file - of
sorts, but it's a proprietary MS goody. I'm honestly not sure whether Mac
programs can open one or not - I've never tried. If there is one which can
it would have to be a graphics editor (such as Photoshop or Photoshop
Elements) or a viewer (possibly Apple's Preview, etc.) - although I don't
believe Adobe Reader or even Acrobat will recognize that file type even on a
PC. I'm rather sure a .mdi can't be Inserted into a Word doc on a Mac - Word
2003 even crashes & burns if you try on a Windows box.
--
HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac


What you'd be best off doing [if possible] is have someone open the file on
a PC in the MS Doc Imaging program & do a Save AS in TIFF format. The Tiff
file should be usable on either PC or Mac.

 

[sdisick]

Thanks for getting back so quickly. I have tried opening the file in preview unsuccessfully. I have to say I'm not impressed when MS products can't deal with things that MS products created. Hopefully they can just create pdfs in the future.

 

[Phillip Jones]

Graphics Converter might! if so then save in PNG or JPG format. to use

This is a Microsoft Document Imaging file type and is a graphics file - of
sorts, but it's a proprietary MS goody. I'm honestly not sure whether Mac
programs can open one or not - I've never tried. If there is one which can
it would have to be a graphics editor (such as Photoshop or Photoshop
Elements) or a viewer (possibly Apple's Preview, etc.) - although I don't
believe Adobe Reader or even Acrobat will recognize that file type even on a
PC. I'm rather sure a .mdi can't be Inserted into a Word doc on a Mac - Word
2003 even crashes & burns if you try on a Windows box.

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[CyberTaz]

I understand your frustration, but keep in mind that .mdi is a format
developed for a proprietary application and for a specific purpose. If you
keep things in perspective it isn't really that much different than Word not
being able to open an Excel file or Excel not being able to open a
PowerPoint file... or Photoshop not being able to open an Illustrator file.
The only problem is that someone is attempting to use the file for a purpose
that isn't intended

 

[Badger]

I have the same problem. I use MDI's all the time in Windows, but I just switched to a Mac, installed Office 2008, and I can't open them... Kind of a pain.

 

[Tony_D]

Bump - anyone find a solution yet?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Tony -

I don't know what type of "solution" you're hoping for, but if you want a
Mac application to open .mdi files I'd suggest you not hold your breath

The .mdi format is a proprietary MS format that *was* used only by the MS
Document Imaging utility supplied with certain editions of Office 2003. Not
only is that format not supported by other Windows apps, but the program
itself has been abandoned by MS. It isn't included in Office 2007, nor is
there any real equivalent. Even its "replacement" - Windows Fax & Scan -
supplied with Windows Vista can't open .mdi files. In fact it can't open
*any* files other than those scans & faxes it acquires.

The only option I know of is to find a PC with the MSDI app, open the .mdi
files there & Save As .tif, then bring the .tif files back to the Mac.

BTW - Resurrecting dead threads is generally not a productive means of
getting an answer... If for no other reason potential respondents have no
idea what may have been covered in the other posts at the time. The only
reason I even looked at it is because I participated in the original dialog.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[anthony.aaron.jackson.jr]

Hi Tony -

I don't know what type of "solution" you're hoping for, but if you want a
Mac application to open .mdi files I'd suggest you not hold your breath

The .mdi format is a proprietary MS format that *was* used only by the MS
Document Imaging utility supplied with certain editions of Office 2003. Not
only is that format not supported by other Windows apps, but the program
itself has been abandoned by MS. It isn't included in Office 2007, nor is
there any real equivalent. Even its "replacement" - Windows Fax & Scan -
supplied with Windows Vista can't open .mdi files. In fact it can't open
*any* files other than those scans & faxes it acquires.

The only option I know of is to find a PC with the MSDI app, open the .mdi
files there & Save As .tif, then bring the .tif files back to the Mac.

BTW - Resurrecting dead threads is generally not a productive means of
getting an answer... If for no other reason potential respondents have no
idea what may have been covered in the other posts at the time. The only
reason I even looked at it is because I participated in the original dialog.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Hi Tony,

There is a free download called MDI2PDF Convertor, which will covert the .mdi extension into a PDF file on a computer running a Windows based operating system. Here is the link http://www.mydigitallife.info/open-and-convert-mdi-extension-files-with-free-mdi2pdf-convertor/.

Regards,
Anthony A. Jackson, Jr.