Default DOCX file to open w/ Word 2007 and DOC to open with Word 2

[WPenfold]

Hi, I am trying to convert several hundred mail merge documents from Word
2003 to Word 2007. Currently, if I double click a document to open it, it
opens in whichever version of Word was run last. What I would like, is for
..DOC files to open in 2003 and .DOCX files to open with 2007. I've tried to
change the file types to do this, but can't make it 'stick'. Any suggestions?

 

[Stefan Blom]

To prevent the two Word versions from "competing" over the file associations, see the "Hacking the Registry" section of the article at http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm.

However, you cannot have Word 2003 open Word 97-2003 files and Word 2007 open the new file formats; instead, the registry hack determines which version will open all Word files. You will have to start the appropriate Word version first and then open the file.

 

[Graham Mayor]

However, you cannot have Word 2003 open Word 97-2003 files and Word 2007
open the new file formats; instead, the registry hack determines which
version will open all Word files. You will have to start the appropriate
Word version first and then open the file.

You can't by the method on the page you quoted, but you can by associating
the file type with the particular Word version - see
http://www.gmayor.com/Document_Not_Found.htm This shows the settings to
associate both types with Word 2007, but by changing the reference of the
DOC format to Word 2003 (Office 11) DOC should then open by default with
Word 2003.

Having said that, I would probably recommend the method suggested by Stefan
and associate both types with Word 2007.
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Graham Mayor]

I should clarify that you must apply the hack at
http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm *before* the hack at
http://www.gmayor.com/Document_Not_Found.htm or the last Word used will
simply re-associate the files with itself.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Elaine]

I sometimes work with a couple of versions of Word running at the same time.
When double-clicking a document to open it I find it will always open in
whichever version was configured last (like you). To ensure the documents
open in the version I want, I open them from within the relevant Word
version, not from the file list. So from Word 2007 CTRL+O then select your
..docx documents; or from Word 2003 CTRL+O then select your .doc documents. I
hope that helps in some small way.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Good to know. Thank you.