Document
What is a .ws5 file?
A .ws5 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.
How to open a .ws5 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, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .ws5 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 .ws5.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordStar for MS-DOS Document | 5.0 | — | x-fmt/205 |