Cannot edit in word 2007 compatibility mode

[JGT]

On my Vista ultimate (fresh install) PC I installed Office 2003 then I
installed and then installed Office 2007. Becasue I'm working on a network
where all the other PCs have office 2003 in Word 2007, I have configured my
default save format to "Word 97 – 2003 Document (*.doc)†. In Word 2007 I
open a word 2003 document on a network drive. At the top of the window it
states Compatibility Mode but I cannot select any text with my mouse cursor.
My intent is to update the document in Word 2007 and save it in the DOC
format thus when it is accessed by a PC that has only Word 2003 it can be
changed if necessary. Why cannot I edit the document in compatibility mode?

 

[Graham Mayor]

Is the document a form which is locked for editing?
Can you open and edit *any* document?
Have you activated Office?

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[JGT]

I cannot open and edit *any* word document. I can open the same documents on
my WinXP systems with Office 2003. Other observations about my WinVista
system with Office 2007

(1) I've noticed that in windows explorer I cannot double-click on a DOC
file and open it, I have to drag and drop on Word 2007.

(2) I can double-click on a TXT file and it opens

(3) I've installed a whole bunch of MS 2007 applications from my MS Action
Pack (by open in the following I mean I can from windows explorer
double-click and all of the files were created with MS 2003 versions) (Visio
- I can open and edit a visio file), Project - I can open and edit, Excel -
when I double-click on a file Excel opens but the hour glass does not
disappear and I never see the file I do see a message *Microsoft Visual Basic
- Compile error in hidden module JWPACKE*, ops I just noticed that I now do
see the contents of the file compatibility mode and when I attempt to close
the first two files I opend I'm prompted to save the changes (I made none)
but with other XLS files I open (I no longer see the error message) when I
close I'm not prompted to save- I just checked other XLS files and I don't
seem to have any issues with them). I can now double-click on a DOC file and
open it but still cannot edit the file - my cursor is at the beginning of the
file and I can only edit at this point - add text, change text etc. but as
far as the rest of the doc I cannot do anything)
(4) PowerPoint - I cannot load an add-in (in 2003 I had loaded *Secure Pack*
thus it appears that I need to reinstall it but other than that PowerPoint
seems to work OK
(5) Outlook 2007 - seems to be working OK
(6) Business Contact Manager (BCM) - when first installed I had an issue
with several MS office 2007 applications *BCM Office Addin - Office
application version does not match.* I found a KB article with a fix which is
now part of the Office Update. After the Office update was applied this
message went away. At this point I've not done anything else with BCM.
(7) Office Accounting 2007 - I've not done anything with this as of yet
(8) SQL 2005 - this was installed by Office Accounting 2007 - I've not done
anything with it.
(9) Publisher seems to work OK
(10) did not try the other MS 2007 applications (Access, Grove, InfoPath,
OneNote)

All of the MS 2007 applications have been activated.

Big thanks for your help

 

[Graham Mayor]

You answered my second question. What about the other two?

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[JGT]

The answer to all three questions were in the post, I guess they were
somewhat hidden.

Is the document a form which is locked for editing?
All of the DOC files are just normal DOC files e.g. they are NOT forms and
they are not locked. I can open the DOC files on any of my WinXP Pro systems
with Office 2003 installed. In fact I can open the files on my Vista Ultimate
system if I use Office 2003 rather than Office 2007 (I have both on the
system).


Can you open and edit *any* document?
With Office 2007 Word I cannot open any DOC file in edit mode. The file does
open but only if I drag and drop on the Word 2007 toolbar area.


Have you activated Office?
I have activated ALL of the 2007 products.

 

[Graham Mayor]

In this case it appears that you have either a stalled macro, a corrupt
normal template or a defective or incompatible add-in. - See
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm. The latter has not
been updated to acount for Word 2007, but the principles involved are
similar.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[JGT]

As I moved forward (restored to a previous point) things got worse and BCM
seemed to be at the heart of things. I gave up and reinstalled Vista
Ultimate. Somewhat of a pain but it is going smooth at this time. I'm going
to work up through the install of Office 2003 and transfer my settings from
my main system. Tomorrow I'll install Office 2007 and keep Office 2003 (I'll
have both on the same system) just to ensure I don't have the same issue. If
all goes well then I'll remove Office 2003 and just stay with Office 2007.
After I make a complete backup of my system I "may" attempt the BCM install.
I'm a bit gun shy on this option but would like to get it working.

Please feel free to make any suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[Graham Mayor]

If you plan to have both 2003 and 2007 on the system - then see
http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm

If you plan on removing Office 2003, why install it in the first place?

I don't know anything about BCM.

 

[JGT]

Thanks for the link - to answer your question about office 2003.

(1) I wanted to transfer all my settings including Outlook - I still have my
production system in place running WinXP Pro with Office 2003.

(2) In my eagerness with my previous attempt I installed BCM and this seemed
to be a bad move.

(3) Possibly because of the BCM install I could not edit Word documents in
either 2007 or 2003 format. As a consultant I work with a lot of people that
still have office 2003 installed and I need to keep their document in that
format. I realize that 2007 has the ability to save in the 2003 format but if
I cannot edit a document I'm in a catch 22.

I've got Office 2003 installed on my vista system and I'm still trying to
make up my mind to run both (2003 and 2007) or just run 2007. Again the bad
experience with my previous attempt has me in its grips.

At this time I'm going to image the system, this give me a point to easily
return and move forward. Just because of my schedule this will take a couple
of days and I remain open for suggestions.

Regarding BCM - I think for now I will hold off and get Office 2007 working,
image the HD and then try with 2007. Because I instruct Microsoft Project
classes I need to have both Project 2003 and 2007 on the system. I've already
tested this combination on another system and it seem to without issues.