Opening documents created by other text applications
TextEdit can open Word Format files, RTF files, Web Archive files, HTML files, and plain text files. Most word-processing applications can save a file as one of these types. TextEdit preserves much of the formatting in a Word Format file or RTF file when you view it in TextEdit. TextEdit may support some elements that other applications use, such as tables, but may not support others.
- Choose File > Open.
- Locate the file you want to open, then click Open.
- If there is a specific text encoding you wish to use, choose it from the Plain Text Encoding pop-up menu; otherwise, leave the setting at Automatic.
- If you want to ignore formatting styles and elements in the document, select "Ignore rich text commands."
- Click Open.