Now you can open Microsoft 2007 documents (.docx and .xlsx files) in online Google Docs easily.

Google Docs has added this option, which enables you to open Microsoft 2007 Word documents and 2007 Excel spreadsheets. This is useful for those who don't have the latest Microsoft Office 2007 or have only the older versions.

For now only word documents and spreadsheets can be opened in Google Docs, soon it will allow 2007 Power Point .pptx files as well.

Previously Google Docs allowed only the following formats:

.doc, .odt, xls, .ods, .ppt, .csv, .html, .txt, .rtf, and others

Now we can add .docx and .xlsx files to the above list.

Please note the formats may not be the same, Google Docs strips some of the background, font and format information.

But is convenient if you have to open it quickly to see what is in the file with Google Docs, plus you can share it with others online.

How to import a .docx or .xlsx file?

1. To import the Microsoft Word 2007 file or Microsoft Excel 2007 file, click the "upload button" in the menu bar and you will see a download window like the following.
2. Choose the 2007 document or 2007 spreadsheet file from your computer and click the upload file.
3. Save the new file online.

There is another Office suite online Zoho.com by which you can open your Microsoft Office 2007 files and view or edit online.

Both Google Docs and Zoho are free for users.