HWP versus HWPX
HWP is the older binary document format used by Hancom Office. HWPX is the newer, XML-based format. An HWPX file is a ZIP archive containing structured document parts, so a browser can safely extract text and build a print view without installing an office application. An HWP file is a proprietary binary format and normally needs a trusted server-side converter.
A practical three-step workflow
- Identify the extension. Check whether the filename ends in
.hwpor.hwpx. Renaming a file does not convert its internal format. - Preview the document. With HWPX, use a browser-first preview to confirm that the readable text is present. If the file contains complex layout, embedded fonts, charts, or tracked changes, compare the result with the original application.
- Save through the print dialog. Choose the browser's print function, select “Save as PDF,” confirm the paper size and margins, and open the saved PDF once to check page breaks.
What can change during conversion?
A text-focused conversion can preserve words while changing visual details. Page breaks, tables, footnotes, headers, embedded objects, fonts, and line spacing are the common trouble spots. For a contract, official submission, or document with complex tables, keep the original file and verify the PDF visually before sending it.
How Document Forge handles the boundary
Document Forge can preview HWPX, TXT, Markdown, HTML, and existing PDFs in the browser. HWP binary conversion is intentionally disabled until a licensed, isolated converter is configured. That means the tool will show a clear limitation instead of presenting an unconverted HWP file as a finished PDF. Files handled by the browser are not uploaded by the default workflow.