What is the WPT file format?
A .wpt file is a document template for Corel WordPerfect, the long-running word processor. Templates serve the same purpose as .dotx files in Microsoft Word - they define styles, page layout, boilerplate text, macros, and merge fields that new documents inherit when created from the template.
The format shares the same binary container as .wpd documents: all WordPerfect files begin with the four-byte signature FF 57 50 43 (often written as ÿWPC). The file type - document versus template - is distinguished by a product/type code at header offset 0x0E. Content is encoded as a token stream describing formatting instructions, styles, and optionally embedded OLE objects or raster images.
.wpt templates were introduced with early WordPerfect for DOS (circa 1989); the current binary format solidified with WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows (1993). The header bytes at offsets 0x08-0x09 encode the WordPerfect version (5.1, 6.x, 7 through X9).
Note that Microsoft Works also used the .wpt extension for its own unrelated template format - the two formats share only the extension, not the binary structure.
LibreOffice Writer can open .wpt files with partial fidelity through its WordPerfect import filter. WordPerfect Office X9 / WP 22 provides full native support. Both password-based encryption and embedded macros are supported features of the format.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMWordPerfect templates can contain macros, which could in principle be malicious (analogous to Word macro viruses). Risk is low in practice due to WordPerfect's small user base. Open templates from untrusted sources with macro execution disabled.
Format details
in a nutshell- GPS Waypoint Data File - Various GPS applications (OziExplorer, Trimble GPS Pathfinder, Garmin MapSource, EasyGPS) use .wpt for waypoint data in different incompatible text or binary formats.
- Microsoft Works Template - Microsoft Works (discontinued 2007) also used .wpt for its own word-processor templates - a completely different binary format.
Programs that open WPT files
Windows2 apps
WordPerfect Office
Paid File → Open → select the .wpt file. WordPerfect opens it as a template; use File → New from Template to base a new document on it. 
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source File → Open → select the .wpt file. LibreOffice uses its built-in WordPerfect import filter. 
macOS1 app
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| Magic bytes | FF 57 50 43 (ÿWPC) at offset 0 - shared with .wpd documents |
| File type discriminator | Product/file-type byte at header offset 0x0E distinguishes template from document |
| Version encoding | WordPerfect version stored at header offsets 0x08-0x09 |
| Container | WordPerfect compound binary (WPC token stream) |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Compression | Partial - some internal blocks may use zlib-style compression in newer versions |
| Encryption | Optional password-based encryption supported |
| Content model | Token stream encoding styles, formatting, macros, merge fields, and optional embedded OLE objects |
| Typical file size | 5 KB - 2 MB depending on embedded graphics and macros |
| Relationship to .wpd | Structurally identical to .wpd; file type code in header is the only distinguishing factor |
| Unrelated homonym | Microsoft Works also used .wpt for its own unrelated template format |
| Third-party support | LibreOffice Writer opens .wpt via WordPerfect import filter with partial fidelity |
| Associated OS | Windows; Linux (via LibreOffice) |
| Format generations | WordPerfect 5.1, 6.x, 7-X9; Windows binary from WP 6.0 (1993) |
| Released | circa 1989 with early WordPerfect for DOS; current binary format from WordPerfect 6+ (1993) |
| Latest version | WordPerfect Office X9 (2019) / WP 22 (2022) |
WPT conversions
Community Q&A
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