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OTMU OTM
File conversion

Convert OTMU to OTM

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 25, 2026
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Is it possible to convert OTMU to OTM?
Yes - OTMU converts to OTM.

.otmu and .otm are the same matrix template, just Unicode (2018+) versus the legacy encoding. In Origin choose File: Save Template As and set the file-type dropdown to the older Origin Matrix Template (*.otm). This is the only supported way to downgrade it for older Origin versions.

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert OTMU to OTM?

Origin 2018 switched templates to Unicode .otmu, which Origin 2017 and earlier cannot read. Saving back to .otm lets colleagues on older Origin builds reuse the same matrix template.

How to convert OTMU to OTM

OriginLab Origin (Save Template As) PAID

Open the .otmu template as a matrix, then pick File: Save Template As and change the file-type dropdown to *.otm before saving.

OriginLab OriginPro PAID

Identical in OriginPro: use File: Save Template As and select the older *.otm type in the format list.

About these formats

.OTMU Origin Unicode Matrix Template

An OTMU file is a matrix-book template created by OriginLab's Origin, the scientific graphing and data analysis application. It stores the layout of a matrixbook (sheet count, dimensions,…

Open .OTMU details →
.OTM Microsoft Outlook macro file

A .OTM file is associated with Microsoft Outlook macro, a executable file.

Open .OTM details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The legacy .otm format cannot store Unicode text, so non-ASCII labels or comments may be lost or garbled.
  • Only Origin itself performs this conversion; there is no third-party or online tool for these formats.
  • Template structure and formatting are preserved, but neither file holds any actual matrix data.

Frequently asked questions

Why would I go back to .otm?
To share a matrix template with someone running Origin 2017 or earlier, which cannot open Unicode .otmu files.
Will I lose anything downgrading?
Non-Unicode .otm can drop or mangle special characters; the matrix layout and math settings stay intact.
Is there a free converter for this?
No. Both are proprietary Origin formats and only Origin/OriginPro can read or write them.
Does saving as .otm include my data?
No, a matrix template stores structure and formatting only, never the data values.