.WSD and .WS5–.WS7: Same WordStar Family, Later Releases

Why the suffix changed

Users and installers often stamped the release into the extension: `.ws5`, `.ws6`, `.ws7`. WordStar for Windows commonly used `.wsd`. None of that splits the files into unrelated formats the way WordStar 2000 does.

PRONOM tracks MS-DOS versions separately (for example x-fmt/205 for v5, x-fmt/237 for v6, x-fmt/261 for v7) and Windows WordStar under x-fmt/206 and x-fmt/262 — identification detail for archivists, not a reason to buy seven converters.

What actually changed inside later releases

Early WordStar leaned on high-bit wrap flags. Later releases documented extended characters as `1Bh xx 1Ch` sequences and, from Release 5 onward, symmetrical sequences marked with `1Dh`. Dot commands grew richer (multi-line headers, conditional page breaks, more print controls).

For a converter user, the rule is simple: a tool that only strips high bits will mangle Release 5+ files. You need a parser that understands the later control layers.

Inventory tips

• Glob `*.ws*` and `*.wsd`, and still scan extensionless names.
• Keep `.BAK` siblings until you confirm the primary document converted cleanly.
• Do not rename everything to `.ws` before conversion — preserve provenance; let the scanner read content.
• Exclude fmt/882 WordStar 2000 material if your identifier separates it.

One pass, many extensions

WordStar Converter accepts `.ws`, `.wsd`, and `.ws3`–`.ws8` in the same batch. Output DOCX for editing, PDF for disclosure, Markdown for search. Trial 10 files locally; Standard $39.95.