B
C
CyberTaz
Well, yes, they can
However, if they were saved in Office 2008 native
OOXML (.---x) format the corresponding 2004 app needs the appropriate
converters to do so. the converters from MS are available here, but they
only work for Word & PPt files:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/maco...icrosoftofficeopenxmlfileformatconverter.html
Other programs - such as those in the Open Office & iWork suites can open
the new format as well, or you can obtain a program such as MacLink Plus
which does a wide array of conversions. NOTE: Converted files *may not* end
up exactly as they were intended to be - there are a number of variable
involved.
BTW - The Office 2008 apps also provide the option to Save As the older
(97-2004) format which can be set as the default.
However, if they were saved in Office 2008 nativeOOXML (.---x) format the corresponding 2004 app needs the appropriate
converters to do so. the converters from MS are available here, but they
only work for Word & PPt files:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/maco...icrosoftofficeopenxmlfileformatconverter.html
Other programs - such as those in the Open Office & iWork suites can open
the new format as well, or you can obtain a program such as MacLink Plus
which does a wide array of conversions. NOTE: Converted files *may not* end
up exactly as they were intended to be - there are a number of variable
involved.
BTW - The Office 2008 apps also provide the option to Save As the older
(97-2004) format which can be set as the default.
B
bhorv67
Right- I realize that you can save the doc in the older format- but the whole idea of having a new version of the app is (I would think) that all users- on current versions, and older versions, can open the files WITHOUT having to install converters.
This was not very well thought out in my opinion..
Also- any news on when an update is coming to correct the myriad of issues with this suite? (Excel crashing constantly, very slow performance, etc....)
This was not very well thought out in my opinion..
Also- any news on when an update is coming to correct the myriad of issues with this suite? (Excel crashing constantly, very slow performance, etc....)
J
John McGhie
Well, I am sorry but you must have missed the fact that Microsoft has been
shouting from the rooftops that they were introducing a new file format with
the new versions Office 2007 and Office 2008.
They have been driving us round the bend with that 'news' for about three
years.
They change file formats very rarely, for exactly this reason. They changed
in 1990, 1997, and 2007.
Unusually in THIS release, a converter IS available that enables older
applications to both read AND write the new format. The previous converters
have enabled older applications only to read.
The truth is that "new file format" automatically means "older applications
can't read it". You should be aware that this is one of the immutable
truths of the software industry, so you do not get caught again.
Hope this helps
--
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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
shouting from the rooftops that they were introducing a new file format with
the new versions Office 2007 and Office 2008.
They have been driving us round the bend with that 'news' for about three
years.
They change file formats very rarely, for exactly this reason. They changed
in 1990, 1997, and 2007.
Unusually in THIS release, a converter IS available that enables older
applications to both read AND write the new format. The previous converters
have enabled older applications only to read.
The truth is that "new file format" automatically means "older applications
can't read it". You should be aware that this is one of the immutable
truths of the software industry, so you do not get caught again.
Hope this helps
--
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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
B
bhorv67
Fair enough-
But do you or anyone have any idea when MS will address the multitude of issues w/2008? It's almost like the software wasn't tested enough before release...
Any word of an update coming soon?
But do you or anyone have any idea when MS will address the multitude of issues w/2008? It's almost like the software wasn't tested enough before release...
Any word of an update coming soon?
B
Bob Greenblatt
Trust me, the software was tested. But, it just isn't possible to check all
possible scenarios, hardware configurations and expected usages. Anyway,
Microsoft is aware of the problems being reported here and elsewhere and is
working to address them. For when, which, and even if they will be
addressed, your guess is as good as mine.
J
John McGhie
We know there are "lots" of updates in the works.
But not even Microsoft knows "when" they will be released, yet.
Some are "planned", some are still in development. Others are undergoing
the testing you imagine doesn't happen
No computer company will ever tell you "when" they are going to release
fixes, just in case they discover a problem during testing and are unable to
make the date. In the USA, companies have been sued out of existence for
less. So they say nothing.
Cheers
--
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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
But not even Microsoft knows "when" they will be released, yet.
Some are "planned", some are still in development. Others are undergoing
the testing you imagine doesn't happen
No computer company will ever tell you "when" they are going to release
fixes, just in case they discover a problem during testing and are unable to
make the date. In the USA, companies have been sued out of existence for
less. So they say nothing.
Cheers
--
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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
T
toomuchms
If a document is saved as a 97-2004 doc, can it later be copied and saved to a document in Word 2008? In addition, why do I have a message in Entourage encouraging the purchase of Office 2004? Is it necessary? (Just purchased Mac.Office 2008. Imagine my surprise when a professor couldn't read a paper that was e-mailed.)
Help! Please
Help! Please
B
Bob Greenblatt
Yes, a document saved as 97-2004 can certainly be opened and edited by Word
2008. The purchasing message sounds like you are using the trial version of
Office 2004. You will need to upgrade to any of the full versions. However,
this should not have any effect on why your paper can not be read by your
professor.
J
John McGhie
Run Remove Office and take out the Trial Version otherwise it will continue
to get into mischief
It's OK to keep Office 2004, but not the Test Drive.
Cheers
--
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]
to get into mischief
It's OK to keep Office 2004, but not the Test Drive.
Cheers
--
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]
A
autumn Preble
HI - even after reading these postings, I'm confused about the .docx arrangement. Are you saying that we 2008 Office for Mac users need to wait until the industry catches up with this? Meanwhile? I'm finding that I can no longer send attachments of my Word files to people - they cannot open them. I'm a bit desperate about this. Is there anything to do, such as save the document in another format as a default? The reason that I purchase the Office product has been because of it's compatibility - and if that's not the case might have well purchased AppleWorks . . . which I don't use for the incompatibility issue.
suggestions?
thanks!
Autumn
suggestions?
thanks!
Autumn
M
Michel Bintener
In Word>Preferences, Save, you can specify the old Word format (97-2004,
..doc extension) as the default format for new files. If you want to convert
your existing files from .docx to .doc, you will need to do so manually
through File>Save As.
--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)
*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***
..doc extension) as the default format for new files. If you want to convert
your existing files from .docx to .doc, you will need to do so manually
through File>Save As.
--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)
*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***
B
bhorv67
In Word>Preferences, Save, you can specify the old Word format (97-2004,
yes- amazing isn't it?
Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has made Office 2008 less compatible with this new 'x' format.
I've posted threads about this when it first happened, and I was told that MS has been 'screaming from the rooftops' that the new format is coming. But what they didn't really go into to much, was how the people that aren't able to read this format were going to be able to open the files- it seems those users need another program from MS that converts the xml file to the older format- you can download that from the Apple or MS site. It's painfully slow to use.
Who knows how long it will be until the entire MS Office world will be on the new format- years I would think.
In order to be compatible with everyone that has the older versions, you have to save your files in the older format- you can set that as a default, by going into preferences for each program.
yes- amazing isn't it?
Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has made Office 2008 less compatible with this new 'x' format.
I've posted threads about this when it first happened, and I was told that MS has been 'screaming from the rooftops' that the new format is coming. But what they didn't really go into to much, was how the people that aren't able to read this format were going to be able to open the files- it seems those users need another program from MS that converts the xml file to the older format- you can download that from the Apple or MS site. It's painfully slow to use.
Who knows how long it will be until the entire MS Office world will be on the new format- years I would think.
In order to be compatible with everyone that has the older versions, you have to save your files in the older format- you can set that as a default, by going into preferences for each program.
M
Michel Bintener
No, it is actually much *more* compatible with Office 2007.
For Win Office, there are built-in converters that are applied automatically
via a patch, so there should be no major problem there (apart from the
download of the patch itself, which is a very minor hassle). As for Mac
Office, you're right, there's a standalone converter doing that job, but the
Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft have promised to release an update to
Office 2004 that will install support for the new file formats right into
the Office apps. No one knows exactly when the update is going to be
released, but it should not be too long now.
As for how long it will be until the majority of Office users save their
files as Office Open XML files, no one knows. However, someone has to start
at some point, which is why Office 2007/2008 has been configured out of the
box to use the new file format as the default format for new files. There
are some major advantages to using the new file format; google this group,
or the internet in general, to find more exhaustive explanations.
--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)
*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***
J
john Bartos
Well, I am sorry but you must have missed the fact that Microsoft has been
Jbartos
I have recently converted to Office Mac 2008. I am finding that even when I save a document in a compatibility mode as a .doc file, a number of recipients (but not all) using older versions of Office have difficulty opening the documents.
Jbartos
P
PC3
Yes, I came across the same problem, the documents (Word and Excel) were given an additional letter or sign at the end of their extension, i.e. docc or doc0. The only solution there seems to be is to save the document, click on the name and correct the extension back to its correct form, and of course inform your recipients of the workaround. Tedious, isn't it
Best regards
Paul
Best regards
Paul