Convert old Word (.doc) files to standard (.docx) files

Use this free converter to change one, several, hundreds or even a batch containing thousands of files.

System Requirements:    
    Requires Microsoft Office 2011.
    Home and Student Edition does not have Automator Actions.
    This utility does not work with Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition.

What does this converter do?
You choose one (.doc) file, several (.doc) files, or an entire folder filled with (.doc) files and the converter will save a copy of each Word file in standard open XML file format, better known as the "new" (actually more than 5 years old now) Word (.docx) format. This converter works with regular Word documents that do not contain macros.

How do I get this converter?
You make an Automator Workflow and then save it as an application. Here are steps to follow to make the workflow:
  1. Open the Automator application (Double-click the Automator.app in the Applications folder)
  2. When the program opens, a dialog displays "Choose a template for your workflow" with "workflow"selected by default. "Workflow" is what we want, so all you have to do is click the Choose button.
  3. In the list of Actions in the left column, in the Library category choose Files and Folders.
  4. Drag the action, "Ask for Finder Items" to the empty pane on the right. It might take a couple tries before this works. Drag slowly.
  5. In the "Ask for Finder Items" action, click the check box for Allow Multiple Selection
  6. In the list of Actions, in the left column, click the Library heading.
  7. Drag "Convert Format of Word Documents" to the pane on the right. Position the action underneath "Ask for Finder Items." Accept the default settings (Format should be Word Document).
The Automator workflow should look like this:
Screen shot of converter workflow
Now save the Automator action twice: once as an automator workflow that you can open and edit in the Automator application, and also as an application itself, which you can run from withiin Microsoft Word. To save this workflow as an Automator Workflow:
  1. In Automator, choose File > Save As.
  2. In the Save As field, give the action a name, such as Doc converter.workflow
  3. Use the default file format, "workflow" and then click the Save button.
Next, save this Automator Action as application:
  1. In Automator, choose File > Save As.
  2. In the Save As field, give the action a name, such as Doc converter.app
  3. Change the file format to "Application" and then navigate to Documents > Microsoft User Data > Word Script Menu Items folder,  then click the Save button.
All done!

How do I use the converter application?
In Word 2011, click on the Script menu button (it looks like a scroll and is immediately to the left of Help in menu bar). You'll find your Automator application listed on the menu. Choose it! Here's what happens when you choose the Automator workflow in Microsoft Word:
  1. The Choose a Finder Item dialog opens. Select a (.doc) file, several (.doc) files, or a folder that contains (.doc) files and then click the Choose button. Tips: Hold the Command key down to pick multiple files in the Choose a Finder Item dialog. Command-A selects all files in a folder.
  2. The application opens each file in Word, and then saves the file using (.docx) format.
Click here for more Automator Actions.