Office 2007 Isn't Backwards Compatible?
Submitted by Taran on Mon, 12/04/2006 - 13:06
I sent a document that I saved in OpenOffice as a Microsoft Word file to someone running Microsoft Office 2007. They emailed me back, asking me to send it to them in PDF format - saying that they couldn't read it.
Huh?
I don't use Microsoft Office - I haven't used it in about 6 years - so I don't know for certain whether Microsoft Office 2007 is incompatible with previous versions of Microsoft Office; it's not been a concern of mine before this. It did concern me that Microsoft didn't support ODF, but to not support previous versions of their own software can do nothing but create rifts within their own user base. Not that this would be something new for Microsoft, but...
Is there anyone out there who can confirm or deny this?
If it is true, well, I suppose I will send PDF files to people who are using Microsoft Office 2007.
I have Word 2007 and it does
I have Word 2007 and it does have a new file format (*.docx), but you can still open/edit/save Word 97-2003 (*.doc) files. You can't open the new format with anything but 2007 and that sucks when you're developing templates for the whole company. I can't tell what the file will look like when opened in the older versions.
Word docs in Office 2007
OK Folks,
I need some more answers here. My daughter wanted me to proof read a paper she wrote in Word 2007. I'm using Office 2003. I can't seem to figure out a way to open the doc without buying a new version of Office.
For today, my daughter will copy her paper into her email, so that should work.
Are there any other solutions?
Thanks
2 possible answers:
Have her save the document in the Office 2003 format (its in the dropdown when she decides to save).
Or.
You could give OpenOffice.org a try. Its free, and replaces Microsoft Office.
Open Office
Open Office is a good enough program to use for writing, but if you think you are having problems between Word 2003 and Word 2007, you ain't seen nothing yet.
I have Open Office on my home computer, and Word 2007 on my work computer. I have written short but necessary papers at work and can usually transfer them to Open Office with no problem at all.
The problem comes when I work with a longer document and open it up in Open Office. The first page appears, usually just as I wrote it - but whatever of the document does not fit on the first page is gone from view. I've tried printing from that cut-off version of my document, but all I get is the first page.
I also must prepare several documents each month that contain a table or graph. These do not transfer from one wordworking program to another without becoming something unrecognizeable.
If I had my druthers, I would stick with Word - as much as I like parts of Open Office. Open Office is what best opens Open Office documents. Most people to whom I send documents are using one form of Word or another, or a Mac, and I have absolutely no idea how they open upon receipt. Word can also open documents written in WordPerfect with little or no change in the document. Open Office stumbles all over these.
I hate the monopoly Microsoft has on useable programs - but if one is trying to do any business with a variety of people, Word seems to be the most useful program to date.
Sure.
You think Microsoft's Word is better because they are basically holding a gun to your head. I understand.
I haven't used Word in 8 years. The only problem I have is typically when people spend more time formatting content for arbitrary reasons instead of actually *writing*.
You might want to read this, too.
Yes there is way. You can't
Yes there is way. You can't open up her file because it is a docx instead of a doc. When she saves it, she should click "save as" and then save it as a word 2003 compatibility file. Then you should be able to open it. If you have any other questions email me at bladealpha92@gmail.com and please do not spam me I will sue.
converter pack
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en
Download the converter pack from this microsoft page. It'll allow you to open/edit/do whatever you want to Office 2007 documents in Office 2000/2003 whatever the file format.
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