How to Open MDI (Microsoft Document Imaging) Files

Files with the .MDI extension are especially important for users who don’t have a printer. They make it possible to preview documents prepared in any program digitally, without printing them. However, it is often not possible to take advantage of this service that Microsoft Office provides. This problem occurs when you open an .mdi file because Microsoft Office Document Imaging, which is included in the 2007 Microsoft Office programs, is an optional component that has not been installed. To resolve this problem, install Microsoft Office Document Imaging. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, then click Run, type appwiz.cpl and click OK.

2. In the Currently installed programs list, click the 2007 Office version that you installed.

3. Click Change.

4. Click Add or Remove Features, then click Continue.

5. Expand Office Tools.

6. Click Microsoft Office Document Imaging, then click Run all from My Computer.

7. Click Continue.

If you only want to install the MDI viewer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl in the Open box and click OK.

2. In the Currently installed programs list, click the 2007 Office version that you installed.

3. Click Change.

4. Click Add or Remove Features, then click Continue.

5. Expand Office Tools.

6. Expand Microsoft Office Document Imaging.

7. Click Scanning, OCR and Indexing Service Filter, then click Run from My Computer.

8. Click Continue.