Plugin to open PC Word 2007 file in Mac 2004?

[Kurt]

One of my clients just upgraded to Office 2007 and the floodgates of
incompatibility opened for them everywhere. I know MS has a plugin for
PC users in earlier Office to open these new native docs, but how about
Mac 2004?

In the meantime, all office workers were instructed on how to save docs
back in earlier version. Not a big hit around there...

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I expect Microsoft will bring out a non-beta before too long.

They'll be in beta for quite a while yet. MacBU has announced that final
converters will ship 6-8 weeks after Office 2008 launches:


http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-09MacworldPR.mspx

 

[Kurt]

Kurt,

If you stop whingeing (we don't work for Microsoft in here), I'll tell
you...

At www.microsoft.com/mac/ under "Quick downloads", you'll see the second
item is Office File Format Converter Beta (Word).

I haven't used it myself; it has been reported as not working 100% on all
.docx files but generally does a good job. I expect Microsoft will bring out
a non-beta before too long.

I know you don't work for MS - What is whingeing?

Thanks for the tip. Did some quick searches, but didn't find anything.

 

[Kurt]

I know you don't work for MS - What is whingeing?

Thanks for the tip. Did some quick searches, but didn't find anything.

First 2007 doc I received I cannot open with the converter now installed.

So much for that!

 

[Elliott Roper]

I know you don't work for MS - What is whingeing? Are you a pom?
Thanks for the tip. Did some quick searches, but didn't find anything.

probably.

 

[Kurt]

Are you a pom?

Is that like a klingon?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

First 2007 doc I received I cannot open with the converter now installed.

So much for that!

Did you drag-and-drop onto the converter application's window?

The converter *converts* the .docx file to a .doc file, which can then
be opened by Word. It doesn't modify Word or allow Word to open a .docx
file directly.

 

[Kurt]

Did you drag-and-drop onto the converter application's window?

The converter *converts* the .docx file to a .doc file, which can then
be opened by Word. It doesn't modify Word or allow Word to open a .docx
file directly.

No, I just did install. I assumed it added a function to Word.
Where does it get installed by default? Don't see it in apps or Office
or Word toolbar (unless it's buried somewhere).

 

[JE McGimpsey]

No, I just did install. I assumed it added a function to Word.
Where does it get installed by default? Don't see it in apps or Office
or Word toolbar (unless it's buried somewhere).

I think you can install it anywhere, but by default it's in the
HD:Applications folder, named "Office Open XML Converter.app". Do a
Spotlight search if you don't find it there.

 

[Elliott Roper]

Is that like a klingon?

Heh! But not as pretty. Except the redheaded females.

 

[Kurt]

I think you can install it anywhere, but by default it's in the
HD:Applications folder, named "Office Open XML Converter.app". Do a
Spotlight search if you don't find it there.

Found it, thx!

 

[Kurt]

I think you can install it anywhere, but by default it's in the
HD:Applications folder, named "Office Open XML Converter.app". Do a
Spotlight search if you don't find it there.

"Unrecognizable file"

back to square 1.
Not a problem since most everyone knows to save it back a version.

 

[Michel Bintener]

"Unrecognizable file"

back to square 1.
Not a problem since most everyone knows to save it back a version.

Alternatively, you might want to give NeoOffice a try; it is free, and it
opens and saves Word 2007 documents rather well.

<http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php>

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

***Always reply to the newsgroup.***

 

[litttle.creature.inc]

Alternatively, you might want to give NeoOffice a try; it is free, and it
opens and saves Word 2007 documents rather well.

<http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php>

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

***Always reply to the newsgroup.***

Kurt if you need to convert xxls file, I can convert them for you on
PC, with no problem and not any hidden meaning.

 

[Kurt]

Kurt if you need to convert xxls file, I can convert them for you on
PC, with no problem and not any hidden meaning.

Even my client's other Word recipients with the last version of PC
Office were also complaining. Like I said, not a problem for me and Mac
Office 2004, I just have them save it back a version.

The Mac converter seems to be pretty much hit and miss.
This drag and drop external app was not a good solution, but it might
have been the only way available to MS. Too many additional steps
It was simple document too, no images or extensive formatting.

Neo Office has me thinking that it might be a worthwhile alternative to
next year's Mac Office upgrade.

As long as i can open PC Office docs and create simple ones they can
read, I'm good. I was happy with Word 5.

I do use Excel a lot, so will have to see how that plays out.

Never use Powerpoint anymore, since PDFs out of Indesign or Illustrator
are so much more elegant.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Kurt:

The issue is that the first version of the Mac XML converter was not quite
complete. The one that's on the website now is an update, but it is still
not complete.

Basically the converter is the "engine" of Mac Office 2008. They are
releasing new cuts of it as they develop them because everyone including
Microsoft knows that this is a critical issue for all users

The later the converter version, the more of a PC Office 2007 file it will
be able to handle.

Also: There is an issue that can strike some users: you must NOT "Unzip" a
..docx file. Some email programs are mistakenly recognising a .docx as a
..zip file, and are expanding it on save.

Well, a .docx IS a .zip file, but in order for Word or the converter to be
able to read it, it must remain zipped and have .docx as the final extension
on the file name. Inside, the file is a mini website, and all the folders
must remain in the correct relationship and with the correct names, or
nothing will be able to read it.

You can, of course, pull a .docx apart and have a look inside: the content
is plain text. But if you do, the converter can't read it

Cheers

Even my client's other Word recipients with the last version of PC
Office were also complaining. Like I said, not a problem for me and Mac
Office 2004, I just have them save it back a version.

The Mac converter seems to be pretty much hit and miss.
This drag and drop external app was not a good solution, but it might
have been the only way available to MS. Too many additional steps
It was simple document too, no images or extensive formatting.

Neo Office has me thinking that it might be a worthwhile alternative to
next year's Mac Office upgrade.

As long as i can open PC Office docs and create simple ones they can
read, I'm good. I was happy with Word 5.

I do use Excel a lot, so will have to see how that plays out.

Never use Powerpoint anymore, since PDFs out of Indesign or Illustrator
are so much more elegant.

--
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]

 

[Kurt]

The document I received was .doc and was displayed with the Word icon.
received it in an email. Didn't notice anything different about it,
except that I was asked by Word how i was to open it, text, rtf, etc...

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Kurt:

Ah hah! We're beginning to see light here

Something happened along the way!

The new format Office files all have four-character extensions. This tells
the recipient that these files are NOT a Binary File Format, they are
"Marked-Up Unicode Text".

If it IS a Word 2007 file, put the "x" back to make it ".docx" and it should
work. If the file is a template, try ".doct" If the file is a template
containing macros it will have an extension of .docm, and the Mac converter
will never be able to handle it, because the coming Mac version of Office
does not have any VBA interpreter in it.

Then you need to ask yourself how the file you received came to have a
".doc" extension.

This indicates that the originator may have saved it back in a
"Compatibility format" and it IS a .doc file. In which case it doesn't need
any converter at all. Mac Word 2004 will simply open it, if it is a valid
Word file.

Otherwise, "something", quite possibly the originator's mail program or
yours, has attempted to unzip the file, and totally pooched it in the
process

Cheers

The document I received was .doc and was displayed with the Word icon.
received it in an email. Didn't notice anything different about it,
except that I was asked by Word how i was to open it, text, rtf, etc...

--
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]

 

[Kurt]

Hi Kurt:

Ah hah! We're beginning to see light here

Something happened along the way!

The new format Office files all have four-character extensions. This tells
the recipient that these files are NOT a Binary File Format, they are
"Marked-Up Unicode Text".

If it IS a Word 2007 file, put the "x" back to make it ".docx" and it should
work. If the file is a template, try ".doct" If the file is a template
containing macros it will have an extension of .docm, and the Mac converter
will never be able to handle it, because the coming Mac version of Office
does not have any VBA interpreter in it.

Then you need to ask yourself how the file you received came to have a
".doc" extension.

This indicates that the originator may have saved it back in a
"Compatibility format" and it IS a .doc file. In which case it doesn't need
any converter at all. Mac Word 2004 will simply open it, if it is a valid
Word file.

Otherwise, "something", quite possibly the originator's mail program or
yours, has attempted to unzip the file, and totally pooched it in the
process

Cheers

Considering that sender user was on a PC using Vista, anything could
have gone wrong. ;-)
Surprised that PC Word didn't put correct extension on it in the first
place.

Changed it to .docx and now convertor opens it and converts to .rtf.
Who woulda know?

Thanks for solving this puzzle.

 

[CyberTaz]

FYI & FWIW:

Haven't had the opportunity to use them, but DataViz indicates on their site
that MacLinkPlus Deluxe v.16 now has translators for both .docx & .xlsx:

http://www.dataviz.com/products/maclinkplus/