eamon
Explorer
Also, both .doc and .docx (and kin) formats contain the information necessary to interpret the documents; they're complete, as it were. However, .dnd4e files are basically just lists of rule-references that don't include the actual computed values nor the rule text (which is why things get wonky when updates change names).That's not 100% true. There is a converter available for older editions of Office which allow them to open and save files in the .xlsx, .docx, formats.
So, .doc and .docx - not known for their brilliant interoperability in the first place - are quite a bit more "reliable" and open in the long run than .dnd4e - I'd export all my charsheets to .pdfs if you intend to keep them around in the long run.