Legacy Corel WordPerfect 4 for Macintosh document format
File type: Document file
WP42 is a legacy document format associated with Corel WordPerfect 4 for Macintosh. It stores word-processing text along with character formatting, paragraph formatting, and other document data used by this early Mac version of WordPerfect.
These files are most reliably opened with the original WordPerfect for Mac software or a specialized legacy-document conversion tool. Modern office applications may not recognize the format directly, so conversion may be necessary.
File type category:
Document file
Date updated: September 24, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The format belongs to an early Macintosh release of WordPerfect, a widely used word processor from the period before modern cross-platform document formats became standard. A document may contain text, WordPerfect formatting codes, page-layout information, and other settings supported by the original application.
WP42 files are legacy, platform-specific documents. Their internal structure differs from modern WordPerfect formats and from formats such as DOCX and ODT. Renaming the filename extension does not convert the document, and contemporary software may display the file as unknown or import only part of its content.
The most reliable compatibility path is the original Macintosh release of WordPerfect, running on suitable classic Mac hardware or in an emulated legacy Mac environment. Some later WordPerfect versions and document-conversion utilities may import the text, but support for precise formatting, graphics, footnotes, tables, and unusual fonts can vary.
When the original application is unavailable, make a backup copy and use a legacy conversion utility or document-conversion service to save the file as RTF, DOC, plain text, or PDF. Review the converted document carefully because old formatting, character encoding, page breaks, and embedded objects may not transfer accurately.
Make a backup copy and first try opening the document with the original WordPerfect for Macintosh version that created it. Because this software is discontinued, it may require compatible classic Mac hardware or an emulator. On Windows, a later desktop version of Corel WordPerfect may import the file, but support for this old Macintosh format is not guaranteed.
Modern office suites on macOS and Linux generally do not provide dependable native support for this format. Use a legacy Mac environment, an offline conversion utility, or a specialist document-conversion service. For confidential documents, prefer offline tools over uploading the file to an online service.
To convert the document, open it in compatible WordPerfect for Mac software or a legacy conversion utility, then use Save As or Export. RTF is often a useful intermediate format for retaining basic formatting; DOC, DOCX, ODT, plain text, or PDF may be appropriate for different purposes.
Some desktop converters and online services may accept old WordPerfect documents, but support for this specific Macintosh variant can be limited. Test a copy, retain the original, and check the result for missing text, altered page breaks, unsupported fonts, tables, footnotes, or graphics. Changing the extension alone does not convert the file.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving wp42 files:
Microsoft Windows
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