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.
- Go to Control Panel, select “Uninstall a program” link under Programs section.”
- High Microsoft Office 2007 (it may show Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Small Business, Home and Student, etc).
- Click on “Change” located on the navigation link near the top of the window.
- Select “Add or Remove Features”, then click “Continue”.
- Expand “Office Tools” section.
- Click on the drop down list for “Microsoft Office Document Imaging” and select “Run all from My Computer”.
- Click “Continue”.
- 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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Entries (RSS)
February 28th, 2008 04:47
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.
February 28th, 2008 01:35
Thank you,thank you,thank you!!!!!!!!!Great tips!It works!!
February 24th, 2008 08:12
Thanks a lot for posting this, it was really helpful!
February 22nd, 2008 13:57
Not available in Office XP, contrary to Microsoft`s claims. Any download location would be appreciated.
February 15th, 2008 00:16
Dude, you are a genius! Thank you so much!
February 14th, 2008 02:09
thanks you are really you best
February 9th, 2008 13:13
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.
February 5th, 2008 04:29
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.
February 3rd, 2008 08:04
im on vista and office 2007 and that didn’t work. any ideas why? i restarted..still no luck.
January 24th, 2008 03:05
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.
January 23rd, 2008 00:50
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.
January 20th, 2008 05:11
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.
January 14th, 2008 22:45
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
January 9th, 2008 01:53
Thank you so much, I’m glad someone is smarter than the microsoft programers!
January 6th, 2008 14:23
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.
January 4th, 2008 21:47
Thank you for posting this. This is a much better explanation as what MS gave.
December 31st, 2007 20:59
Many many thanks it solv my problem. I jast opened one note that was it
thanks one more time
December 18th, 2007 10:01
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
December 17th, 2007 23:18
Wow.. that was great. I wish Microsoft’s website had such clear instructions. Excellent work!
December 12th, 2007 18:28
Thanks, Info was really helpful.
December 12th, 2007 05:15
Great, Was wondering why i couldnt find that after i U/G to 2007
Thanks for the tips ^.~
December 8th, 2007 11:31
Thank You!
It helps to solve a confusing problem. Cool!
December 6th, 2007 06:02
thank you for putting this up. it has helped alot.
November 22nd, 2007 02:19
This info was great! You guys were a real help and I very much appreciate your work.
November 6th, 2007 09:17
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