Tip 554: Document Image Writer

If you upgraded from Office 2003 to Office 2007 you may have noticed the Microsoft Document Image Writer feature is not installed by default when you run Office 2007 setup. In order to open and view or print the MDI files with Office 2007 installed, try one of the following workarounds.

You can insert the file or drag and drop the MDI file into a OneNote page to view it.

If you don’t have OneNote, you can install the Microsoft Document Imaging Writer.

1. Go to Control Panel, select Uninstall a program link under Programs section (Vista) or Add/Remove programs in Windows XP.
2. Select your Microsoft Office 2007 installation.
3. Click on Change located on the navigation link near the top of the window.
4. Select Add or Remove Features and click Continue.
5. Expand Office Tools section.
6. Click on the drop down list for Microsoft Office Document Imaging and select Run from My Computer.
7. Click Continue then Close when the installation finishes

This installs a new virtual printer called Microsoft Office Document Imaging Writer and allows you to print to MDI format and open any MDI files by double clicking on them.

Published October 18, 2008. Last updated on June 17, 2011.

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