What is OTT?

OpenDocument Text Template (OTT) is a reusable document template format for LibreOffice and OpenOffice word processors.

What is DOC?

DOC is the legacy binary document format used by Microsoft Word 97-2003. While widely supported, it lacks some modern features found in DOCX.

When Should You Use OTT vs DOC?

OTT vs DOC: Key Differences

• •OTT uses lossless compression while DOC uses lossy compression — this is the fundamental technical difference between the two formats.
• •Moving from OTT (lossy) to DOC (lossy) means the output file will be significantly smaller — but at the cost of some visual fidelity.
• •Alpha channel support: DOC lacks transparency support, so semi-transparent pixels from the source will be lost.
• •File sizes: OTT files typically range Small template files and DOC files 50KB to 5MB.
• •Primary audience: OTT is built for document templates, letterheads, form letters scenarios, while DOC focuses on legacy documents, older systems — pick the format that matches your output requirement.

Advantages of OTT

• ✓OTT applies lossless compression specifically calibrated for Document templates, letterheads, form letters.
• ✓OTT enjoys broad native support across operating systems, browsers, and creative tools alike.
• ✓OTT guarantees every bit of the original data survives — no approximations, no shortcuts.
• ✓You will find OTT support built into virtually every tool that handles Document templates, letterheads, form letters — no plugins or converters needed.

Advantages of DOC

• ✓DOC applies lossy compression specifically calibrated for Legacy documents, older systems.
• ✓DOC enjoys broad native support across operating systems, browsers, and creative tools alike.
• ✓DOC delivers impressive compression ratios, shrinking files dramatically while keeping visual quality high.
• ✓You will find DOC support built into virtually every tool that handles Legacy documents, older systems — no plugins or converters needed.

Common Use Cases for OTT to DOC Conversion

• Email correspondence
• Forms and templates
• Compliance documentation
• Meeting minutes and notes
• Project proposals
• Invoice and billing documents

Industry Applications

Best Practices for OTT to DOC Conversion

• →Before converting OTT to DOC, review the document structure — multi-column layouts, text boxes, and floating images behave differently across formats
• →Export a PDF preview alongside the DOC file so you have a reference of how the document should look
• →Check that hyperlinks and cross-references survived the OTT to DOC conversion — some formats handle links differently
• →Run a spell check before conversion to avoid propagating errors into the final document
• →Keep the original editable file in case the conversion introduces layout shifts
• →Test the output on at least two different applications or devices

Troubleshooting OTT to DOC Conversion

• !OTT to DOC formatting looks off → complex layouts with tables and columns may shift between formats
• !Fonts render differently in DOC → embed fonts or use standard web-safe fonts before converting
• !Images missing from the DOC output → ensure images are embedded in OTT, not linked externally
• !Tracked changes disappeared after converting OTT to DOC → some document formats don't support revision tracking

Related Document Converters

All Document Formats

More Document tools