How to Open MDI (Microsoft Document Imaging) Format with Office 2007

When using Microsoft Office 2003 System Suite, you may see a printer named Microsoft Office Document Image Writer in your list of printers. In a situation such as when you don’t have access to a printer, but must print out some transient documents such as booking confirmation for concert, flight or train tickets, or receipt for online purchase, or you simply want to keep a soft copy of the documents in unmodifiable format so that the file can later be printed elsewhere, you can make sure of MS Office Document Image Writer by printing to this virtual printer which will subsequently create a file with .MDI extension.

MDI is a proprietary file format of Microsoft for storing raster images of scanned documents together with optional annotations or metadata, and can only be produced or read by certain Microsoft software, such as Microsoft Office Document Imaging (MODI) module included in Microsoft Office 2003 and later. However, when you upgrade to Windows Vista and Office 2007, or bring the MDI files via USB flash drive or email to another computer with only Office 2007, you will encounter an error of “Windows cannot open this file”, and subsequently ask you to either let Windows to go online to look it up automatically, or manually select from a list of programs that are installed on computer.

The problem happens because “Microsoft Document Image Writer” feature is not installed by default when you run Office 2007 setup. So in order to open and view or print the MDI files with Office 2007 installed, try one of the following workaround or resolution.

Firstly, you can insert the file or drag and drop the MDI file into a OneNote page to view it instantly.

Second is a permanent solution, by installing Microsoft Document Imaging Writer and its corresponding support for the file format.

  1. Go to Control Panel, select “Uninstall a program” link under Programs section.”
  2. High Microsoft Office 2007 (it may show Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Small Business, Home and Student, etc).
  3. Click on “Change” located on the navigation link near the top of the window.
  4. Select “Add or Remove Features”, then click “Continue”.
  5. Expand “Office Tools” section.
  6. Click on the drop down list for “Microsoft Office Document Imaging” and select “Run all from My Computer”.
  7. Click “Continue”.
  8. Click “Close” when installation done.

A new virtual printer “Microsoft Office Document Imaging Writer” is created and allows you to print to MDI format (a TIFF variant). And from now onwards you should be able to open any MDI files by simply double click on them. If you still can’t, try to restart your computer.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 2:47 am and is filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

93 Responses to “How to Open MDI (Microsoft Document Imaging) Format with Office 2007”

Pages: [4] 3 2 1 » Show All

  1. Fonzarello
    October 11th, 2008 04:36
    93

    This only installs the viewer, you still cannot print to TIF with MODI.

  2. Jessica
    October 9th, 2008 22:59
    92

    you are my saving grace!!! I have been writing a course project for school and like an above comment months of frustration settled in less than 2 minutes thank you so much!!

  3. Rajiv
    October 9th, 2008 00:38
    91

    Thanks a lot. This was of great help

  4. pandora
    October 7th, 2008 17:56
    90

    thank u so much for the article. its very helpful.

  5. Azam
    September 29th, 2008 11:04
    89

    Thanks a bunch. Now I know what the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer function is.

  6. PNG
    September 16th, 2008 21:57
    88

    Thank u

  7. yoyoyo
    September 16th, 2008 03:43
    87

    This really saved me…. thanks!

  8. Timz
    September 15th, 2008 17:58
    86

    Thanks. This has helped me a whole lot.

  9. Ilya
    September 13th, 2008 22:01
    85

    Thanks, Saved Me

  10. Alex
    September 9th, 2008 21:28
    84

    Thank you for this page. It helped a lot.

  11. stanly
    September 5th, 2008 14:44
    83

    WTF

  12. Maria N.
    September 5th, 2008 02:28
    82

    Thanks for your help. I transfered all my mdi files from my old computer running with windows xp and office 2003 to a new computer with windows vista and office 2007, and i could not open any mdi files. I followed your detailed steps in the permanent solution section, and the problem has been fixed. Thank you very much.

  13. Esta
    August 31st, 2008 13:37
    81

    Hey Thanks!!!
    2 months of frustration solved inside 2 minutes. I wish Microsoft would add your second alternative to their knowledge base. You’re a lifesaver.

    Esta

  14. SAIKAT
    August 28th, 2008 22:18
    80

    THNX A LOT BUDDY…IT WORKD RIGHTAWAY

  15. Robert Loof
    August 27th, 2008 19:13
    79

    Thanks a lot for the tip. Quick and easy.
    Robert L

  16. Samarth
    August 19th, 2008 18:19
    78

    Thanks for this. Accurate and simple.
    Samarth

  17. Matt
    August 6th, 2008 21:12
    77

    Hey thanks for this little tutorial! It relieved quite a bit of frustration this morning.

  18. Robert
    July 26th, 2008 10:46
    76

    I could not get this to work. When I clicked on “Change,” no option for “Add or Remove Features” came up. What am I doing wrong?

    Robert

Pages: [4] 3 2 1 » Show All

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