<p>A word document is not a source document that is fit for version control, it's a proprietary binary file.</p>

<p>For version control, try to learn a real source document like e.g. Markdown or AsciiDoc. In this way you'll be able to preview in Gitlab or Github, even with Windows.</p>

<p>While still being able to publish it after rendering it with e.g. Pandoc to a .docx or .pdf, .html, RTF, ODT, EPUB or all of them with an optional version tag.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-15T10:05:06.187Z
2018-09-15T17:37:13.433Z
2018-09-15T17:37:13.433Z
Danny Goossen
<p>DOCX actually is zip-archive which contains xml. Xml is text format which should be fine viewed and tracked by Gitlab and other version control systems. Unfortunately, now this feature is unavailable. But exists alternative path - use third-side utility Pandoc. </p>

<p>I found information about Pandoc at this link:
<a href="https://github.com/vigente/gerardus/wiki/Integrate-git-diffs-with-word-docx-files" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/vigente/gerardus/wiki/Integrate-git-diffs-with-word-docx-files</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T18:00:46.813Z
2020-04-19T18:00:46.813Z
hwak
<p>You can only view text/source code files, Markdown files and images.  Gitlab doesn't have a preview option for other files such as proprietary word processors.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-04T18:29:54.493Z
2017-08-05T06:21:19.747Z
2017-08-05T06:21:19.747Z
Jeeva
<p>I'm uploading docx file in Gitlab, however it doesn't preview it. </p>

<p>It only downloads it.</p>

<p>Is it fixable?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T01:09:20.650Z
Gitlab is an open source project so you're not stuck with what they've done. 
 You can make a patch yourself and try to get it added. https://github.com/gitlabhq/gitlabhq/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
chicks
<gitlab>
Gitlab doesn't open Word files
Tarlan Mammadzada
# Gitlab doesn't open Word files

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-04)

I'm uploading docx file in Gitlab, however it doesn't preview it.

It only downloads it.

Is it fixable?

**Tags:** gitlab

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Gitlab is an open source project so you're not stuck with what they've done.   You can make a patch yourself and try to get it added. https://github.com/gitlabhq/gitlabhq/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-08-04. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

You can only view text/source code files, Markdown files and images. Gitlab doesn't have a preview option for other files such as proprietary word processors.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-15. Score: 4

A word document is not a source document that is fit for version control, it's a proprietary binary file.

For version control, try to learn a real source document like e.g. Markdown or AsciiDoc. In this way you'll be able to preview in Gitlab or Github, even with Windows.

While still being able to publish it after rendering it with e.g. Pandoc to a .docx or .pdf, .html, RTF, ODT, EPUB or all of them with an optional version tag.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-04-19. Score: 0

DOCX actually is zip-archive which contains xml. Xml is text format which should be fine viewed and tracked by Gitlab and other version control systems. Unfortunately, now this feature is unavailable. But exists alternative path - use third-side utility Pandoc.

I found information about Pandoc at this link:
<https://github.com/vigente/gerardus/wiki/Integrate-git-diffs-with-word-docx-files>


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