If you’ve ever wondered what those .odt, .ods, or .odp files are all about – or if you’ve stumbled across them and weren’t sure what to do – this post is for you. .odt: The Open Document Text File Think of .odt as the open counterpart to .docx. It’s the default file format for LibreOffice Writer. You can use it for everything from a quick grocery list to a dissertation. What’s great about .odt is that it’s built on open standards. That means anyone can build software to read or write it without jumping through legal hoops. It also means you’re not tied to one company’s ecosystem, which is increasingly important when you think about long-term access to your own data. Yes, you can open .odt files in Word – and yes, the formatting usually holds up pretty well. Not perfect, but usable. .ods: Spreadsheets Without Strings Attached Spreadsheets aren’t just for accountants anymore. Whether you’re managing a budget, tracking tasks, or planning a trip, you’re probably using rows and columns for something. .ods is the ODF version of .xlsx, and it’s handled by tools like LibreOffice Calc. If you’re used to Excel, Calc will feel familiar enough. Basic formulas,