.docx files - compatibility mode

[autumn]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

Hi -
When I send attachments in email, recipients are not able to open .docx files.

Can you inform me how to convert the docx files into a more universally usable mode so that others can read them.

I never had a difficulty with doc files

Is this going to be an ongoing problem?

thanks so much for your assistance.
Autumn

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

Hi -
When I send attachments in email, recipients are not able to open .docx files.

Can you inform me how to convert the docx files into a more universally usable
mode so that others can read them.

I never had a difficulty with doc files

Is this going to be an ongoing problem?

thanks so much for your assistance.
Autumn

Save your files as Word 2004 (.doc) files. You can set this as the default
file type, so that it does not save files as .docx

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Autumn -

Here's another approach to consider: If the recipients only need to be able
to *read* the files send them a PDF instead of a .doc or .docx in the first
place. That way you don't have to worry about what software they have - let
alone their update level - and you won't have to hold back on the use of
Office 2008's capabilities as you might have to do if you back-save to a
previous version file format

As far as an "ongoing problem" - No... it's just a matter of other users
getting up-to-date with what they're using. Most any Windows user with Word
2000 or later already should be able to open Word 2008's .docx format if
they have been keeping their software updated. Likewise, Mac users of Office
X & 2004 have converters available from Mactopia which enable converting
..docx files to be opened & edited. MS will also be providing an update to
2004 which builds the converter into the software so that a separate
conversion step won't be required, but I'm not sure when that will be
available. Additionally, other programs - such as Apple's Pages, OpenOffice
Word Processor, etc. can handle the .docx format.

 

[autumn]

Dear Bob and Bob,
THANK you very much for your replies - I appreciate your taking the time to respond - it helped.

cheers,
Autumn

 

[Gradgal]

Just a quick question on this - what version of the windows Word can open docx? Can 2007?

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Word 2007 is the first version that was built to use docx. There is a
compatibility pack that allows earlier versions of Word (2000, XP, 2003) to
read documents in docx format:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA100444731033.aspx

Note that you can still save Word 2008 documents in doc format if you are
sure the recipient is using an older version.

 

[Kathleen Young]

Why can't i hit the spacebar and preview docx files in the finder?

 

[CyberTaz]

I don't know what the explanation is, Kathleen, but it isn't true of *all*
..docx files - at least not here. Some preview, some don't.

What I've found is that if the file icon appears in Finder as a blue & white
color with a Word logo - .docx or .doc - it will not preview. If it has the
plain white color with DOC or DOCX printed on it in gray it *does* preview.
What makes the difference I haven't been able to determine.

At first I thought it may be a matter of Word's Option to save with a
preview, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. I've messed around
with it for more time than I should have & remain clueless. I have dozens of
files created by several versions of both Mac & PC Word but can't find a
common thread. Nor can I find a way to *force* one behavior or the other.
The only consistency I have found is that those which have the Word logo in
blue can't be resaved in the opposite state & those that have the gray
stamping can't be reversed either - at least not with anything I've done.

I have also found, however, that it isn't Word/Office files only which are
affected. Illustrator files as well as a number of others seem to be in the
same boat. I get the impression that OS X & the Quick Look feature itself
may be at least partially responsible.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac