problem opening doc file in 2003 that was created in word 2007

[Dave]

A somewhat unusual problem has started in that an outside agency is sending
users emails in word with the “doc†extension so the file is in the 97-2003
format. A user, using word 2003, from our office tries to open the attached
doc file and sees garbage.
If the same document is sent to a user that has word 2007 there is no problem.
The user with word 2003 does have the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack
installed so they can open and see docx (2007) files.
The agency sending the doc file is using Office 2007.
Any thoughts on why office 2003 users are having problems?

 

[Graham Mayor]

This could be one of two problems that immediately spring to mind.

1. The document is in docx format with the extension misguidedly re-named.
Rename the file to have the docx extension. Can you now open the file? Does
the file open in WinZip/WinRar if you then rename the extension to ZIP (docx
is a compressed ZIP format).

If so tell your outside agency to stop changing the extension on docx files
it sends out.

2. Word 2003 cannot handle the 2007 template used to create the document
http://www.gmayor.com/Problems_opening_2007_docs.htm


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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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