Document
What is a .w51 file?
A .w51 file is a WordPerfect for MS-DOS/Windows Document (version 5.1). This is a document format, so it holds text and layout meant to be read.
How to open a .w51 file
- Try LibreOffice (free, Windows/Mac/Linux) — it opens an enormous range of current and historic document formats.
- Microsoft Word and Google Docs handle most mainstream document types.
- If nothing opens it, open it in a text editor: many older document formats have readable text inside.
The registry records this extension against WordPerfect for MS-DOS/Windows Document, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .w51 file
- Once it opens in LibreOffice or Word, Save As .docx or .pdf to get it into a format you can use anywhere.
MIME type
When a .w51 file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.wordperfectThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .w51.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPerfect for MS-DOS/Windows Document | 5.1 | application/vnd.wordperfect | x-fmt/394 |