Imagine you’re trying to send your short story to a publisher (👋 hello, that’s us!). You open your laptop, attach the file… and then suddenly, you’re hit with 5 options:
.docx.pdf.txt.xlsx.inp
Your brain goes: “Wait… am I emailing a story or launching a spaceship??”
Don’t worry. Let’s break these down.
1. Word File (.doc / .docx)
Think of it as: A notebook that lets you write, erase, highlight, bold, italicize, and scream in ALL CAPS.
- Extension:
.doc(older) or.docx(newer) - App used: Microsoft Word or Google Docs
- Can be edited? YES!
- Perfect for: Writing stories, essays, letters, and anything with pretty formatting.
2. PDF File (.pdf)
Think of it as: A photo of your Word file. What you see is what you get — neat, clean, unchangeable (mostly).
- Extension:
.pdf - App used: Adobe Acrobat, browser preview, etc.
- Can be edited? Not easily.
- Perfect for: Final drafts, contracts, ebooks, and files that shouldn’t change.
3. InPage File (.inp)
Think of it as: The Urdu typewriter of the digital age.
- Extension:
.inp - App used: InPage (specifically made for Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi, and Persian scripts)
- Can be edited? Yes, but ONLY in InPage!
- Perfect for: Writing in Nastaleeq script. Not suitable if your publisher needs Unicode (more on that below).
4. Unicode/Text File (.txt)
Think of it as: A plain white sheet with just words — no makeup, no frills.
- Extension:
.txt - App used: Notepad, any basic text editor
- Can be edited? Absolutely
- Perfect for: Submitting plain text (especially Urdu in Unicode), writing code, or sharing quick notes.
💡 Fun tip: Always send your Urdu work in Unicode if the publisher asked for it. If it opens in English gibberish, that’s probably InPage.
5. Excel File (.xls / .xlsx)
Think of it as: A giant calculator with boxes. Great for tracking stuff!
- Extension:
.xlsor.xlsx - App used: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
- Can be edited? Yep
- Perfect for: Budgets, sales records, attendance sheets, royalty tracking — anything with rows and columns.
Wait, What’s an Extension Again?
File extension = those few letters after the dot in your file name (.docx, .pdf, .xlsx… you get it!)
It tells your computer:
“Hey, open me with Microsoft Word!”
Or: “I’m a PDF, don’t mess with my formatting!”
💡 TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read?)
| File Type | Extension | Use Case | Can Be Edited? | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word | .docx | Writing stories | ✅ Yes | Word/Docs |
.pdf | Final version/ebook | ❌ Not easily | Acrobat/Browser | |
| InPage | .inp | Urdu in Nastaleeq script | ✅ Yes | InPage |
| Text/Unicode | .txt | Simple, clean Urdu or text | ✅ Yes | Notepad |
| Excel | .xls/.xlsx | Data, numbers, stats | ✅ Yes | Excel/Sheets |
Need more help figuring out what file to send us? Read our Publishing Guide or email our support team! 📩
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