AW to OXPS Converter

AW to OXPS online — convert legacy documents to open XPS format

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Modern Standard

OXPS is the standardized evolution of XPS. Converting old AW files to OXPS keeps them accessible on modern Windows systems.

Data Protection

Your AW files are deleted from servers immediately after processing. Converted files are wiped within 24 hours.

Nothing to Install

The converter runs entirely in your browser. No downloads, no plugins — just a web connection and your AW file.

How to convert AW to OXPS

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose oxps or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your oxps file right afterwards

About formats

AW is the document format of Applix Words, the word processor component of the Applix office suite (later renamed Anyware Office) developed by Applix, Inc. for Unix and Linux workstations. The suite targeted enterprise Unix environments during the 1990s, providing word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and presentation capabilities on platforms like Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, and Linux where Microsoft Office was unavailable. AW files store formatted text documents with support for character and paragraph styling, page layout, tables, headers and footers, and embedded graphics. The format uses a proprietary binary structure optimized for the Applix application's internal document model. Applix Words gained particular visibility in the Linux community during the late 1990s when it was bundled with several commercial Linux distributions as their default word processor before OpenOffice.org became widely available. One advantage was native Unix platform support — Applix provided professional word processing capabilities on Unix workstations at a time when few commercial alternatives existed. The format's tight integration with other Applix suite components enabled cross-referencing between word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Applix was acquired by Cognos in 2003, and the office suite was discontinued. AW files are primarily encountered today in archived documents from Unix enterprise environments of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Developer: Applix, Inc.
Initial release: 1992
OXPS (Open XPS) is a fixed-layout document format standardized as ECMA-388 in June 2009, representing an evolution of Microsoft's original XPS specification. The format packages fixed-layout pages, fonts, images, and metadata in a ZIP-based Open Packaging Conventions container — the same packaging framework used by DOCX, XLSX, and other Office Open XML formats. Each page is described using an XML markup language that specifies paths, glyphs, images, and canvas elements with precise coordinates, producing documents that render identically regardless of the viewing device or printer. OXPS incorporated several changes from the original XPS: the use of JPEG XR for high dynamic range images, support for the Open Packaging Conventions 2nd edition, and alignment with the Ecma standardization process. Windows 8 and later generate OXPS (rather than XPS) when printing to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer. One advantage is standards-based document fidelity — as an Ecma standard, OXPS provides a vendor-neutral, fully specified format for documents that must look identical everywhere they are rendered, essential for legal filings, regulatory submissions, and archival records. The fixed-layout model is another strength: unlike reflowable formats, OXPS documents preserve exact page composition including precise glyph positioning and vector graphics. Built-in support in Windows and the .NET framework provides native viewing and creation capabilities without third-party software.
Developer: Ecma International
Initial release: June 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between XPS and OXPS?

OXPS is the updated, standardized version of XPS based on Open XML Paper Specification. It is the default in newer Windows.

Why convert AW to OXPS?

OXPS gives your old Applix Words content a fixed-layout format that renders consistently across Windows devices.

What software reads OXPS?

The XPS Viewer built into Windows opens OXPS natively. On Linux, Okular and Evince provide support as well.

Is this conversion free?

Yes — AW to OXPS conversion is completely free. Paid tiers add larger file sizes and priority processing.

Can OXPS be converted back to AW?

OXPS is a fixed-layout format, so reverse conversion would lose editability. Consider DOCX if you need editable output.

Does conversion happen in the cloud?

Yes, entirely. Your device only handles the upload and download — the actual conversion runs on dedicated servers.