compatibility word 2004/2001 (Mac) - 2003 (Windows)

[johnny]

Hello,

I've reviewed the threads in this group concerning word compatibility
issues. Unfortunately, none provided a solution to my problem.

I used to send word files (2001/2004) to my collegues at work (2003)
with no problems. A few weeks back, however, this changed. They can no
longer open my documents. Instead they get a large screen with the
content of the file (mostly rectangles instead of letters) and the
option to choose an encoding format (varying from english to greek to
russian). None of the encodings choosen will produce the right
contents.

I have checked all the usual stuff. The extension is .doc,
compatibility report does not give any major subjects (except of a
possibility that sentences might have a different length), I send the
stuff windows friendly, they downloaded the files first before opening,
the file is in times new roman which is installed on the windows side
as well, their windows or word versions didn't change (XP, 2003) and
niether did my OS or word version, etc. Rtf files are ok, the problem
is only with .doc files.

I suspect that there was some kind of an update on their side but they
don't know about that.

What could be the issue here?

Thanks,

Johnny

 

[CyberTaz]

One thing you don't mention having tried - How about sending them zipped
copies instead of naked Word documents? It could be that security updates in
Exchange/Windows are hacking the docs apart.

 

[johnny]

A zip file gave errors when trying to download to disk, so I presume
they have some kind of safety installed preventing this method.

I tried another thing: I sent exactly the same file, using the exact
same method, that I sent before in January. Back then they had no
trouble opening it, but now they have!!! This is really starting to
puzzle me, also in view of the increasing number of people in this
group reporting this problem since a month or so. Apparently
something really odd is happening and standard answers do not
seem to provide a solution...

Does anybody have a suggestion? Service pack? Virus? Something else?

Greetings,

Johnny

 

[John McGhie]

I suspect this is a side-effect of Service Pack 3 for Office 2003.

See your System Administrator: they've done it, they need to fix it

Office 2003 opens my emailed Mac files perfectly at my work. I send stuff
back-and-forth all the time.

Cheers

Hello,

I've reviewed the threads in this group concerning word compatibility
issues. Unfortunately, none provided a solution to my problem.

I used to send word files (2001/2004) to my collegues at work (2003)
with no problems. A few weeks back, however, this changed. They can no
longer open my documents. Instead they get a large screen with the
content of the file (mostly rectangles instead of letters) and the
option to choose an encoding format (varying from english to greek to
russian). None of the encodings choosen will produce the right
contents.

I have checked all the usual stuff. The extension is .doc,
compatibility report does not give any major subjects (except of a
possibility that sentences might have a different length), I send the
stuff windows friendly, they downloaded the files first before opening,
the file is in times new roman which is installed on the windows side
as well, their windows or word versions didn't change (XP, 2003) and
niether did my OS or word version, etc. Rtf files are ok, the problem
is only with .doc files.

I suspect that there was some kind of an update on their side but they
don't know about that.

What could be the issue here?

Thanks,

Johnny

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[johnny]

Hello all,

Thanks for your suggestions. I've done some more checking, and so
has the system administrator at work.

When the files are saved from outlook webaccess they open just fine
in word 2003, sp3 installed or not. Only when saved from outlook,
the problem arises. So it seems that outlook is the problem or some
kind of fawlty conversion in that program. A solution however,
other than the workaround through webaccess, is not yet found and
also, it is still a mystery why this started to happen a few weeks
back. Does sp3 change outlook? In what way? Can we do something
about this? Change preferences in outlook? I'd welcome suggestions!

Greetings,

Johnny

 

[John McGhie]

Yes, SP3 makes changes to the Microsoft Outlook "Acceptable File Types"
entries in the Windows Registry.

There is an awful lot of verbiage about this: Hopefully this one will be
sufficient:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/829982

If not, the gory detail is here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA102380191033.aspx

Your long-suffering System Administrator will need to make these changes.
(And so he should: as penance for not having read all this cr*p before
allowing an update to his server...)

Cheers

Hello all,

Thanks for your suggestions. I've done some more checking, and so
has the system administrator at work.

When the files are saved from outlook webaccess they open just fine
in word 2003, sp3 installed or not. Only when saved from outlook,
the problem arises. So it seems that outlook is the problem or some
kind of fawlty conversion in that program. A solution however,
other than the workaround through webaccess, is not yet found and
also, it is still a mystery why this started to happen a few weeks
back. Does sp3 change outlook? In what way? Can we do something
about this? Change preferences in outlook? I'd welcome suggestions!

Greetings,

Johnny

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[johnny]

Hello all,

As of today I got messages that .rtf files also get garbled!
What would be the best way to get microsoft's attention
(the mac division) for all this shit and have them
formulate a solution?

They sell a product to mac users, claiming it is compatible
with windows. But it is not. So, apparently office for mac
is turning into a ripp-off. Shouldn't we sue them if they
do not repair this? We paid, so they have to deliver; or give
us back our money. I, for one, am not willing to perform
all kinds of extra actions (zipping, trying various formats,
engage in conversations with a system administrator concerning
things he can not change anyway because of company policy, etc.)
to achieve something they claim is not necessary in the
first place (in view of the so-called compatibility)!

I am really getting pissed-off!

Greetings,

Johnny