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.

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

  1. Mike
    June 4th, 2007 06:39
    1

    Most useful info. Many thanks!

  2. Sri
    June 8th, 2007 04:37
    2

    You are a life saver dude

  3. Steve
    June 22nd, 2007 18:41
    3

    Brilliant, not a clue why it’s not in the default config but I’m glad someone knows how to get it back!

  4. Dan
    June 24th, 2007 02:31
    4

    Excellent! Thanks for solving this pesky problem.

  5. Joann Nieman
    July 11th, 2007 05:39
    5

    Can you publish directions for Windows XP and Office 2007? I lost the mdi capability with Office 2007 but am still running XP. Thanks for this post. At least I know I’m not crazy.

  6. TJN
    July 15th, 2007 06:45
    6

    Free mdi viewer with office 2000
    http://www.hot.ee/mdiviewer

  7. Chiranjivee DEVKOTA
    July 21st, 2007 22:28
    7

    Its great. I was able to open the MDI files immediately.

    Thanks a lot.

  8. Ken
    July 28th, 2007 13:53
    8

    Thank loads… I can’t believe even Microsoft’s web page that describes the mdi format doesn’t include these simple instructions… Hello…

  9. Kim
    August 1st, 2007 00:45
    9

    Thanks a bunch I was able to open the file immediately . Very helpful and uaeful.

  10. Ashwin
    August 14th, 2007 23:57
    10

    Thank you very much.
    This is an excellent information.
    I was able to open .tiff files immediately.
    Thanks a lot again.

  11. Vivi
    August 26th, 2007 07:15
    11

    What a life saver! I’ve been trying to figure this out since I bought my new computer in March. It worked immediately–didn’t even have to restart. THANK YOU.

  12. Brinley
    September 3rd, 2007 20:19
    12

    Thanks for great tip. Its easy when you know how. Cheers

  13. Mark
    September 8th, 2007 05:29
    13

    Very helpful. Thank you.

  14. Manuel
    September 13th, 2007 02:18
    14

    I did the steps, and it loaded the image writer as a printer, but I still can’t open the file. I have rebooted my computer, still not luck,

  15. Eduardo
    September 13th, 2007 23:03
    15

    Muchas Gracias.

  16. admin
    September 14th, 2007 00:30
    16

    Ensure that you select everything under the “Microsoft Office Document Imaging”.

  17. Gautam
    September 29th, 2007 02:12
    17

    Thanks very usefull. Funny that Office 07 does not install this feature by default.

  18. JT
    October 9th, 2007 03:49
    18

    Thanks for the tip about OneNote - I’m glad someone RTFM ;-) - nice !

  19. Sam
    October 15th, 2007 03:58
    19

    Thank You Thank You Thank You… Thank You!

  20. Ram
    October 16th, 2007 04:10
    20

    Most useful information, Thanks.

  21. Vickie
    October 29th, 2007 10:39
    21

    Thank you so much! Very helpful!

  22. abid
    October 30th, 2007 17:20
    22

    how can we edit the document.
    i need to edit a MDI file.

  23. jb
    October 31st, 2007 05:58
    23

    This is the first place that said to select “Run all from my computer”. That was the first time I was able to get MODI to actually show up as an option for opening TIFs

  24. Eric Campos
    November 1st, 2007 17:36
    24

    Helpful, thanks for the advice friend!

  25. Ananth
    November 5th, 2007 11:55
    25

    Thanks a lot dude. very helpful.

  26. Dizzii
    November 6th, 2007 09:17
    26

    Thank you so very much for your help. The information was exactly what i needed. I wish i had found this page ages ago.

    THanks again

  27. J-Rock
    November 22nd, 2007 02:19
    27

    This info was great! You guys were a real help and I very much appreciate your work.

  28. t.lazo
    December 6th, 2007 06:02
    28

    thank you for putting this up. it has helped alot.

  29. edward
    December 8th, 2007 11:31
    29

    Thank You!

    It helps to solve a confusing problem. Cool!

  30. Pho
    December 12th, 2007 05:15
    30

    Great, Was wondering why i couldnt find that after i U/G to 2007

    Thanks for the tips ^.~

  31. Vishnu Babu
    December 12th, 2007 18:28
    31

    Thanks, Info was really helpful.

  32. AP
    December 17th, 2007 23:18
    32

    Wow.. that was great. I wish Microsoft’s website had such clear instructions. Excellent work!

  33. Vernon
    December 18th, 2007 10:01
    33

    This information was perfect. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

    I hope to be able to publish such useful information in the future as well.

    Thanks,
    Vernon
    http://www.ourloudfamily.com

  34. Hassan
    December 31st, 2007 20:59
    34

    Many many thanks it solv my problem. I jast opened one note that was it :) thanks one more time

  35. Thinus
    January 4th, 2008 21:47
    35

    Thank you for posting this. This is a much better explanation as what MS gave.

  36. JS
    January 6th, 2008 14:23
    36

    Why can’t MS do the little things right? Why could they not think that we’d want to keep our old files? Half the time I get an MS “upgrade” I feel like I’m going backwards.

    Thank you for filling in the gaps.

  37. Ryan
    January 9th, 2008 01:53
    37

    Thank you so much, I’m glad someone is smarter than the microsoft programers!

  38. Dee
    January 14th, 2008 22:45
    38

    Thank you so much! I upgraded to MS Office 2007 between semesters only to find I was unable to grade the multi page tif’s in ‘07! What a lifesaver you have been!

    An onloine instructor

  39. Jim
    January 20th, 2008 05:11
    39

    After I installed the Microsoft Document Image Writer, I still couldn’t open my .MDI files. I finally figured out that I had to right click on the file, select “open with”, and then browse to find the application (because it didn’t show up in the programs list). In Windows XP and using Office 2003, the progam file is located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MODI\11.0\. I found that location by opening the program from the Start, All Programs, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Tools menu, and then right clicking on the Microsoft Document Imaging program.

  40. Ed Hunter
    January 23rd, 2008 00:50
    40

    Thanks x1000! Good thing your page showed up at the top of my google search. This fixed my issue where my TIFs were being opened with image viewer when I need them opened with MS Document Imaging.

  41. Patrick Murphy
    January 24th, 2008 03:05
    41

    If worse comes to worse, remember you can always pine the info from opening a MDI file in notepad and cutting and pasting the info in a readable format.

  42. mike
    February 3rd, 2008 08:04
    42

    im on vista and office 2007 and that didn’t work. any ideas why? i restarted..still no luck.

  43. john
    February 5th, 2008 04:29
    43

    Well that worked like a charm. I’m running XP Pro with Office 2007. Why Microsoft cannot be as forthcoming with an easy answer I’ll never know.

    Thanks.

  44. Rikaz
    February 9th, 2008 13:13
    44

    Thanks you so much for your step by step explanation,I had this problem for last two months and now I have been able to overcome it with your guidance.Thanks again.

    Rikaz from Srilanka.

  45. aouani
    February 14th, 2008 02:09
    45

    thanks you are really you best

  46. Carlo
    February 15th, 2008 00:16
    46

    Dude, you are a genius! Thank you so much!

  47. Pkzip
    February 22nd, 2008 13:57
    47

    Not available in Office XP, contrary to Microsoft`s claims. Any download location would be appreciated.

  48. KJ
    February 24th, 2008 08:12
    48

    Thanks a lot for posting this, it was really helpful!

  49. dayloft
    February 28th, 2008 01:35
    49

    Thank you,thank you,thank you!!!!!!!!!Great tips!It works!!

  50. Palmetto
    February 28th, 2008 04:47
    50

    Anybody know why MODI crashes whenever I click any selection on the Menu bar? I don’t have any problem opening .TIF files, but whatever I click I get “Microsoft Document Imaging has encountered a problem…” Sending the error report doesn’t get any results.

    Thanks.

  51. Seabra
    March 2nd, 2008 01:50
    51

    Thank you so much for this. Worked perfectly both in my computer with XP and Office 2007 Enterprise and my girlfriend’s Vista with the same office.

    Thank you!

  52. FieNd
    March 19th, 2008 23:14
    52

    Thanks!!!

  53. Cis
    March 23rd, 2008 04:39
    53

    It may occur that your tiff files are not opened, sinc the upgrade to office 2007. In that case, check http://www.itexperience.net/2008/03/21/restore-tiff-filetype-association-after-migration-to-office-2007/ for the solution for this problem

  54. cazz
    March 27th, 2008 06:29
    54

    Thanks, article was very informational and steps were straight forward to follow!

  55. Anupam
    April 6th, 2008 09:47
    55

    Excellent!!!

    Thanks for the article which has helped me to open the MDI files again, after installing Office 2007.

  56. Otonye Braide
    April 7th, 2008 23:00
    56

    Thank you so much!!! It worked like a charm.

  57. DiM
    April 9th, 2008 21:57
    57

    Thank you so much for this!!! I try to find it 2 day, and finally found. Now all work perfectly.

    Thanks again.

  58. muddassir
    April 25th, 2008 04:04
    58

    Thanks for the 2nd steps mentioned. I was trying hard to open a .MDI file and the method u mentioned by again installing it from office worked for me

  59. Andy E
    April 29th, 2008 19:08
    59

    Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  60. Gary Tompkins
    May 8th, 2008 10:57
    60

    I tried your tip .In tools it said (with a red x over it,) not avaiable. I have MS office 2007 enterprise edition. Are there any downloads available?
    Thanks,
    Gary

  61. Dustin Sherrill
    May 12th, 2008 23:19
    61

    Thanks for the article. I also found out today that I could open MDI files with ‘Windows Picture and Fax Viewer’. So all I had to do was right-click select ‘open with’ then choose ‘Windows Picture and Fax Viewer’.

  62. Suresh
    May 17th, 2008 14:48
    62

    Thanks a lot! saved so much of efforts and tension.

  63. P S K
    May 18th, 2008 19:19
    63

    Great info, thanks a lot!!
    - the official Office website was useless

  64. Peter
    May 19th, 2008 16:40
    64

    Exactly wanted I wanted to know - and it worked! Thanks

  65. Jica
    May 20th, 2008 21:10
    65

    Worked great! Thanks for the tip

  66. Bala
    June 4th, 2008 14:03
    66

    Thank you very much.

    It was really very helpful & informative

    May your assistance help us in future.

  67. Sridhar
    June 9th, 2008 19:18
    67

    opening mdi file in onenote was very useful thank you so much :)

  68. Lilly Griggs
    June 11th, 2008 15:02
    68

    Thanks so much for this helpful information!

  69. Marcelo
    June 18th, 2008 02:32
    69

    Ho guy, Solution for my problem. Very cool tip!!!

  70. Huss
    June 19th, 2008 20:53
    70

    thanks for the help! nice tip!!!

  71. Leroy
    June 21st, 2008 00:43
    71

    It worked!

  72. RUFUS
    June 21st, 2008 02:03
    72

    HELLO WALL! Would one of you more IT oriented folks send this to the person in charge of the Office website.

    They need to see what REAL, simple, to the point, works exactly the way it says, help should look like! THANK YOU!!!

  73. Jeff
    June 26th, 2008 04:28
    73

    Thank you so much! This is greatly appreciated.

  74. Paula
    July 7th, 2008 11:34
    74

    Sweet! Exactly the help I was looking for.

  75. Diwakar
    July 16th, 2008 01:51
    75

    Awesome Info, thanks a lot. I some times think, Simple solution but yet tough to understand and find.

    Thanks for the Info,

  76. 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

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

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

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

    Thanks for this. Accurate and simple.
    Samarth

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

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

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

    THNX A LOT BUDDY…IT WORKD RIGHTAWAY

  81. 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

  82. 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.

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

    WTF

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

    Thank you for this page. It helped a lot.

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

    Thanks, Saved Me

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

    Thanks. This has helped me a whole lot.

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

    This really saved me…. thanks!

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

    Thank u

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

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

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

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

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

    Thanks a lot. This was of great help

  92. 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!!

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

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

  94. edm
    October 12th, 2008 08:54
    94

    Thank you so much! And it does let me print to MODI!

  95. Shawn
    October 15th, 2008 07:10
    95

    Wow! That actually worked! Thanks!

  96. Jim
    October 17th, 2008 05:36
    96

    This is absolutely fantastic!

    I ran into a problem initially, so here’s my story: You must choose “Run all from my computer.” I chose “Run from my computer” first time, and it didn’t work.

  97. Juzer Mohammedhusain
    October 19th, 2008 21:57
    97

    Thanks for this very simple and accurate explanation. It helped me with regard to my zakaat and khumus payments that i had paid earlier, but whose figures were missing. Thanks again

  98. EduM
    October 22nd, 2008 01:21
    98

    Muito obrigado!!!
    Havia instalado o Office 2007 e nao conseguia abrir os .MDI

  99. EduM
    October 22nd, 2008 01:23
    99

    Wrong language! hehe
    Anyway, thanks for the tutorial!
    I had updated my Offic to 2007 and since then I wasn’t able to open my MDI files!

    nice work!

  100. Magnus Wilson
    October 23rd, 2008 23:24
    100

    Thank you very much! it most certainly worked! im not a newbie when it comes to computers, but little things like this that seem complicated, yet are so easy to fix make me feel illiterate.

  101. SJ
    October 26th, 2008 14:36
    101

    Thanks a Lot! Not only did it help… it has provided with a explorative option with the all new MS Office 2007.

    Keep on the good work!

  102. arul
    November 7th, 2008 20:27
    102

    it was very useful. thanks !

  103. Elyse
    November 10th, 2008 01:19
    103

    THANKS!!! I finally found this website and your advice perfectly fixed my problem!

  104. Amit
    November 11th, 2008 15:44
    104

    Thanks for sharing…
    Really useful

  105. Shreekant
    November 12th, 2008 11:13
    105

    Hey thanks for that useful tip :) Keep up the good work to make the Internet a better place !

  106. agnes
    November 18th, 2008 16:12
    106

    it helped! thanks a lot!!!

  107. Lib
    November 19th, 2008 18:47
    107

    Thanks this was amazing help, at least I dont have to phone clients and ask them to send stuff in different formats!

  108. jhon
    November 25th, 2008 11:32
    108

    Thanks! It works great! When I upgraded to office 2007 I could not see this file until I reach this site!

  109. felique
    November 25th, 2008 22:56
    109

    excelente comentario me saco de una…
    yo buscanndo el visor jaja lo logre hacer con onenote

  110. Debbie
    November 26th, 2008 07:48
    110

    we have just received an email with a mdi file but we have office 2003 but wont let me open an mdi file can some one come up with an idea.

  111. LebanonOz
    November 27th, 2008 19:14
    111

    For Debbie and others who have Office 2003 but the .mdi files do not open automatically…

    Double-click the .mdi file
    At the “Windows can not open this file” prompt
    Click “Select the program from a list”
    Click OK
    In the “Open With” window
    Click the Browse button

    It will default to the “drive_letter”:\Program Files folder
    Double-Click Common Files
    Double-Click Microsoft Shared
    Double-Click MODI
    Double-Click 11.0
    Double-Click MSPVIEW.EXE

    You will be back in the “Open With” window
    Make sure the “Always use the selected program…” box is checked

    Click OK

    .MDI files will now open with MS Office Document Imaging anytime you double-click one.

  112. Bobby
    November 28th, 2008 01:07
    112

    Thank’s it’s really help

  113. Marty
    November 29th, 2008 05:00
    113

    This worked! Thanks so much LebanonOz!
    For Debbie and others who have Office 2003 but the .mdi files do not open automatically…

    Double-click the .mdi file
    At the “Windows can not open this file” prompt
    Click “Select the program from a list”
    Click OK
    In the “Open With” window
    Click the Browse button

    It will default to the “drive_letter”:\Program Files folder
    Double-Click Common Files
    Double-Click Microsoft Shared
    Double-Click MODI
    Double-Click 11.0
    Double-Click MSPVIEW.EXE

    You will be back in the “Open With” window
    Make sure the “Always use the selected program…” box is checked

    Click OK

    .MDI files will now open with MS Office Document Imaging anytime you double-click one.

  114. st
    December 3rd, 2008 04:07
    114

    thank you very much..rep :p
    it is very useful knowledge

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