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)
May 16th, 2009 04:08
Thanks for your step by step guide. EFF YOU MICROSOFT!!!
May 15th, 2009 13:28
great!
May 6th, 2009 13:25
Thanks for all the help dude. The step by step procedure explained makes it very simple.
May 4th, 2009 19:40
Thx man! It helps me! Fast and efficient! That was great! U rocks!
May 3rd, 2009 13:14
Oh thanks!
The installation didn’t work on my Vista64 machine but the OneNote idea worked great. I needed those receipts!
April 29th, 2009 19:31
thank you so much. that was a spot on solution!
April 26th, 2009 22:33
Thank you very much! You solved my problem
April 25th, 2009 22:05
thanks dude for that info.
April 25th, 2009 03:56
You did it and solve the problem for me.
10 of 10
April 25th, 2009 03:48
Thanks a lot. Vey useful information, for me.
April 17th, 2009 13:08
Thank you ever so much, you just stopped me from throwing my laptop off the balcony
April 16th, 2009 06:04
Excellent post. Thank you.
April 14th, 2009 17:28
Thanks for the help man…:-)
April 11th, 2009 07:33
Thanks a lot for that info!!
Was very useful!!!
April 9th, 2009 09:40
Cool stuff !!! For d first time i installed some application without any help !!! WOW jus luved it after successful installation n it was made so easy by u !!! Awesum
April 8th, 2009 04:45
Muy buena recomendación, te felicito
April 7th, 2009 19:42
i got nothing to say, your tips help!
March 25th, 2009 21:10
THANKS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUR TIP IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME TO OPEN THAT “MDI” FILE.
THANKS ONES AGAIN.
GREAT JOB YOU HAVE DONE.
March 25th, 2009 20:38
thanks so much
I never knew that!
March 22nd, 2009 19:07
UR THE man!!!
March 20th, 2009 19:14
thanks a lot man
March 20th, 2009 02:29
youuuuuuuuu are teh best
March 18th, 2009 11:53
oh..! thnx man…. ws very much needed….
March 14th, 2009 18:29
thank you
March 12th, 2009 04:12
Brinca ese paso, solo busca herramientas de office y ahí encontraras lo q se indica