if ( $file =~ /\.doc$/i ) {

                    my $filename = $dir . "/docs/" . $file;
                    $filename =~ s'/'\\'
                      ; # invert slashes otherwise SaveAs cannot process the path correctly!!!

                    my $savename = $dir . "/txt/" . $file . ".htm";
                    $savename =~ s/.doc//;

                    print "Starting word\n";
                    my $Word = Win32::OLE->new( 'Word.Application', 'Quit' );
                    $Word->{Visible} = 0;

                    
                    my ($doc) = $Word->Documents->Open($filename)
                      or die( "Unable to open document ",
                        Win32::OLE->LastError() );

                    $doc->SaveAs(
                        {

                            FileName   => $savename,
                            FileFormat => wdFormatDOSTextLineBreaks
                        }
                    );

                    #FileFormat  =>  wdFormatUnicodeText });#unicode support

                    print "Closing document and Word\n";
                    $Word->ActiveDocument->Close();
                    $Word->Quit;
                    $b++;

                }