OpenOffice spreadsheet magic bytes (.sxw)
.sxw file signature: 50 4B | application/vnd.sun.xml.writer
OpenOffice Writer XML (SXW) is a legacy word-processing document format created by OpenOffice.org and later supported by the Apache OpenOffice project. It was used for letters, reports, manuals, and other text documents in OpenOffice Writer and compatible office suites. The format is largely obsolete and may be opened by modern applications for backward compatibility; as with other document files, untrusted content should be handled with care.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
50 4B
Sources: Apache Tika
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .sxw files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 50 4B | 0 | Apache Tika |
| 50 4B 03 04 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Validation Code
How to validate .sxw files in Python
def is_sxw(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid SXW by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x50, 0x4B])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(2) == signatureHow to validate .sxw files in Node.js
function isSXW(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x50, 0x4B]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}How to validate .sxw files in Go
func IsSXW(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x50, 0x4B}
if len(data) < 2 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/sxw
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/sxw
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .sxw file?
A .sxw file is an OpenOffice spreadsheet. OpenOffice Writer XML (SXW) is a legacy word-processing document format created by OpenOffice.org and later supported by the Apache OpenOffice project. It was used for letters, reports, manuals, and other text documents in OpenOffice Writer and compatible office suites. The format is largely obsolete and may be opened by modern applications for backward compatibility; as with other document files, untrusted content should be handled with care.
What are the magic bytes for .sxw files?
The magic bytes for OpenOffice spreadsheet (.sxw) files are 50 4B at byte offset 0. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.
How do I validate a .sxw file?
To validate a .sxw file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (50 4B) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .sxw files?
The primary MIME type for .sxw files is application/vnd.sun.xml.writer.
Is it safe to open .sxw files?
OpenOffice spreadsheet (.sxw) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.