... just to get full display of DOCX metadata. (I've tried LibreOffice Writer, but found this feature lacking. Same, OpenOffice.)

Could an expert here help?

Is MS Word indeed the best Windows program for display of all DOCX metadata?

If so, which version(s) that does show full DOCX metadata:



* works on Windows 7
* is most 2003-compatible in UI (perhaps then the fewest obligatory UI "improvements" like ribbon, etc.)
* serves that metadata to the Windows Explorer Properties tab, given as far as I can tell that's the only way Properties will show it (and certainly that's not happening with my Word 2003, where instead of known metadata field values, I get blank.

Thank you in advance.

The DOCX format was introduced with Office 2007, which is when the UI was overhauled to include the ribbon.

So, what you are asking for simply doesn't exist.

I did say "perhaps then the fewest obligatory UI "improvements" like ribbon".

Not none.

Thanks anyway.

The latest version of Word without the Ribbon is Word 2003.

So definitely I'll have to have ribbon. Thanks.

Great post—thanks for sharing the details! It looks like you’re encountering a classic issue with trying to access full DOCX metadata using an older version like Word 2003 on Windows 7, while hoping for a UI that resembles the 2003‑classic (no ribbon) layout. As mentioned by others here, the DOCX format was introduced in Office 2007 , and the ribbon UI came in right along with it.

If staying with the “classic” UI is a must, you might explore third‑party tools tailored for metadata inspection or try a newer Office version with a custom UI skin/toolbar setup. Good luck finding the balance between functionality and familiarity!

See Ribbon Menu Control - Classic UI tab - by Greg Maxey. Scroll down to "Classic UI" for a free template that gives the classic UI in a Ribbon tab.
ribbon_menu_control_7[1].png
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I have. None are suitable. The only one that gives complete output is web-based, hence unreliable.

Will do ... when I cin find which version meets the requirements.

Thanks.

Yes—Microsoft Word is still the most reliable Windows program for viewing and editing all DOCX metadata. Word uses the full Open XML metadata model, while most third-party tools show only partial fields.

Works on Windows 7:
Word 2010 and Word 2013 both fully support viewing/editing DOCX metadata on Windows 7.

Most similar to Word 2003’s UI:
Word 2010 is the closest. It uses the Ribbon, but it is far less “modernized” than later versions and is the most 2003-like in behavior.

Best for exposing DOCX metadata to Windows Explorer Properties:
Word 2010 (and 2013) correctly writes metadata into the DOCX’s core properties (docProps/core.xml), which Windows Explorer uses.
Word 2003 cannot do this because DOCX support in 2003 relies on the compatibility pack and does not write full Open XML metadata, which is why Explorer shows blanks.

Recommendation:
Use Microsoft Word 2010 on Windows 7 for the fullest metadata support with the closest-to-2003 UI.

Yes—Microsoft Word is still the most reliable Windows program for viewing and editing all DOCX metadata. Word uses the full Open XML metadata model, while most third-party tools show only partial fields.

Works on Windows 7:
Word 2010 and Word 2013 both fully support viewing/editing DOCX metadata on Windows 7.

Most similar to Word 2003’s UI:
Word 2010 is the closest. It uses the Ribbon, but it is far less “modernized” than later versions and is the most 2003-like in behavior.

Best for exposing DOCX metadata to Windows Explorer Properties:
Word 2010 (and 2013) correctly writes metadata into the DOCX’s core properties (docProps/core.xml), which Windows Explorer uses.
Word 2003 cannot do this because DOCX support in 2003 relies on the compatibility pack and does not write full Open XML metadata, which is why Explorer shows blanks.

Recommendation:
Use Microsoft Word 2010 on Windows 7 for the fullest metadata support with the closest-to-2003 UI.

Great! Thanks.