Microsoft Document Imaging (or MDI for short) is used by a program from the main Windows package called Microsoft Office Document Imaging. The basis is the TIFF format, but MDI has many advantages. For example, it not only provides better image quality, but also has a smaller file size. It is also worth saying that it is possible to save text along with images in both formats. However, editing MDI format images is only possible in the “native” program.
The program itself from the office suite has both advantages and disadvantages. A convenient interface allows you to increase the useful area of the monitor screen and reduce clutter. Application windows can be shown, hidden, maximized and minimized. Children can be placed in cascades or tiles in the main window. It is also important to note the memory savings and increased speed during operation in one window. The program provides "hot button combinations" that allow you to use fast navigation, which makes working with the application even faster and more convenient, since it does not involve additional resources.
It is quite difficult to display the contents of several windows on different monitors, and it is also impossible to display the contents on various virtual desktops. In addition, when working with the MDI format, it’s difficult to work simultaneously with several applications at the same time than opening it, which is quite inconvenient to switch between windows. And also there is some chaos in the program if several windows are open at the same time.
It should be said that the “native” program is included only in the Office 2007 package, in earlier versions the question again arises when the MDI format appears, than to open it. Installing Document Imaging on Windows XP also fails. In the event that you do not have a program from the Office 2007 office suite, or you do not want to spend money on it, the MDI Viewer program may be useful to you.
However, even development from a package cannot always open the MDI extension. To solve this problem, do the following.
In the event that when you double-click on the MDI file in the program from the package does not open, and instead an error message appears on the desktop, you must perform the following steps. The reason for the failure is that this program does not install when opening the MDI file.
Decision:
1. In the "Start" menu, select the "Run" line, enter the command appwiz.cpl, then click on "OK".
2. In the list of installed programs, select the version of Office 2007 that is installed on the computer.
3. Select the "Change" button.
4. Select the "Add components" item, then click on "Continue".
5. You need to expand the Office Tools node.
6. Here we select Microsoft Office Document Imaging, set the value for the Run All program.
7. Click on the “Continue” button.
These steps should help solve the problem with the MDI format, than open it.
In addition, the file can be exported in tiff format using the MDI Viewer program, which you can download for free. So, when you see the MDI format, how to open it you know: either a program from the Office 2007 suite, or using the MDI Viewer. This is a fairly simple development, although a bit inconvenient compared to the program from Office, which allows you to view MDI files, print, export to TIFF, scale the picture in height and width, and rotate it 90 °.
With the development of computer technology, the development of new programs and more advanced operating systems, new file formats are appearing . And it is far from always very easy to open and edit. Many updated data formats that were developed after the advent of the 2007 Office system cannot be opened on later operating systems by the standard software package. Sometimes you even have to use online convectors to convert docx to doc. After all, not everyone today can deliver the latest operating system. I hope that now, when you see the MDI file, than open it, you will know for sure.