Document
What is a .ws file?
A .ws file is a WordStar for MS-DOS Document (version 5.0). This is a document format, so it holds text and layout meant to be read. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 8 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
8 different formats have claimed .ws over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 5.0 · x-fmt/205
- WordStar for Windows DocumentVersion 1.0 · x-fmt/206
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 5.5 · x-fmt/236
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 6.0 · x-fmt/237
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 4.0 · x-fmt/260
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 7.0 · x-fmt/261
- WordStar for Windows DocumentVersion 2.0 · x-fmt/262
- WordStar for MS-DOS DocumentVersion 3.0 · x-fmt/370
How to open a .ws 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 WordStar for MS-DOS Document, WordStar for Windows Document, WordStar for MS-DOS Document and others, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .ws file
- Once it opens in LibreOffice or Word, Save As .docx or .pdf to get it into a format you can use anywhere.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .ws.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 5.0 | — | x-fmt/205 |
| WordStar for Windows Document | 1.0 | — | x-fmt/206 |
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 5.5 | — | x-fmt/236 |
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 6.0 | — | x-fmt/237 |
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 4.0 | — | x-fmt/260 |
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 7.0 | — | x-fmt/261 |
| WordStar for Windows Document | 2.0 | — | x-fmt/262 |
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 3.0 | — | x-fmt/370 |