Serious bug with Word 2003 file save as option

[Gabby]

Microsoft is claiming that you can save Word documents into different
file formats so that they can be opened up with other applications like
WordPerfect. Well, I can now say this is incorrect.

I installed the upgrade to Microsoft Word 2003 onto my computer about a
month ago. And I've found a serious problem with the save as option for
saving in other file extensions. They DON'T work!

Example: open up a Word document. Type some words in there and save the
document as an RTF file with the RTF extension. Try opening up that file
in another word processing program like WordPerfect. That file will fail
to be read correctly by the other application.

I've tried to save the file using the option to change the default
extension used by Word 2003. It still fails to allow other applications
to read the RTF files correctly. Only Word 2003 can read the files with
the RTF extensions that it initally created. But the whole point of the
RTF file extension was that it could be reasonably be certain that other
word processing applications could read them. This is apparently not the
case with Microsoft Word 2003. Saving files to RTF so that other
applications can read them don't work. Microsoft has done something
wrong that's causing this problem. I'd like to know if others have
experienced this issue and if so...please respond to this posting on
this forum.

I can attest that this is a problem because it's unique to only Word
2003. I also installed Publisher 2003 and there's the option to import
Word 2003 documents. I did this and then saved the Word 2003 files to
RTF from within Publisher 2003. Guess what? Publisher 2003 could save
the files correctly in the RTF format. I know this because when I then
opened up the file in another word processing application, it could
finally read the file in the RTF format.

So there is CLEARLY a problem with Word 2003's file save as option to
save in other word processing file formats. Is there confirmation to
this issue yet?

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Microsoft is claiming that you can save Word documents into different
file formats so that they can be opened up with other applications
like WordPerfect. Well, I can now say this is incorrect.

I installed the upgrade to Microsoft Word 2003 onto my computer about
a month ago. And I've found a serious problem with the save as option
for saving in other file extensions. They DON'T work!

Is RTF the only problem or have you found problems with other file
extensions as claimed?

Example: open up a Word document. Type some words in there and save
the document as an RTF file with the RTF extension. Try opening up
that file in another word processing program like WordPerfect. That
file will fail to be read correctly by the other application.

It may be that WordPerfect is failing to read RTF files properly. Can you
open the files in WordPad?

I've tried to save the file using the option to change the default
extension used by Word 2003. It still fails to allow other
applications to read the RTF files correctly. Only Word 2003 can read
the files with the RTF extensions that it initally created. But the
whole point of the RTF file extension was that it could be reasonably
be certain that other word processing applications could read them.
This is apparently not the case with Microsoft Word 2003. Saving
files to RTF so that other applications can read them don't work.
Microsoft has done something wrong that's causing this problem. I'd
like to know if others have experienced this issue and if so...please
respond to this posting on this forum.

What sort of special characteristics do you have in your file? Have you
tried reducing the file contents to something simpelr to see if other
applications can read the RTF output?

I can attest that this is a problem because it's unique to only Word
2003. I also installed Publisher 2003 and there's the option to import
Word 2003 documents. I did this and then saved the Word 2003 files to
RTF from within Publisher 2003. Guess what? Publisher 2003 could save
the files correctly in the RTF format. I know this because when I then
opened up the file in another word processing application, it could
finally read the file in the RTF format.

The tags saved by Publisher may differ in some respects but it doesn't prove
that Word isn't writing correct RTF out. You've only shown that (possibly)
WordPerfect can't read all RTF.

So there is CLEARLY a problem with Word 2003's file save as option to
save in other word processing file formats. Is there confirmation to
this issue yet?

It's not clear from your description. It may be true, but you haven't proved
this to be so.

Mike Williams - Office MVP http://www.mvps.org/faq/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup - not by email!
Include details of your application and Windows versions, plus any
service pack updates. Answers may also be found by reading recent
posts, checking the FAQs or searching the relevant Google archive at.
http://groups.google.com/groups?group=microsoft.public
If something doesn't make sense, it could be worse e.g.
http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/

 

[Gabby]

Is RTF the only problem or have you found problems with other file
extensions as claimed?

RTF is about as vanilla as it can get with saving for generic file
formats and WordPerfect 9 can't read them when they're created with Word
2003? C'mon. Why can Publisher 2003 save the SAME Word file as RTF and
WordPerfect 9 can read this?

It may be that WordPerfect is failing to read RTF files properly. Can you
open the files in WordPad?

Yes, I can open the RTF files in WordPad. But doing that doesn't prove
the problem with WordPerfect 9. Sorry. Since I can import the files into
Publisher 2003 and save correctly as RTF in that application proves
there is problem with Word 2003. I mean, you tell me...how embarrassing
is it going to be for Microsoft to advise people to shell out an extra
150 bucks for Publisher 2003 so that it's the only Office 2003 word
processing software that can save Word 2003 files correctly in RTF
format so it can be read by other word processing software?

What sort of special characteristics do you have in your file? Have you
tried reducing the file contents to something simpelr to see if other
applications can read the RTF output?

Simple? How's this for simple: "Katie Holmes is the next America's
Sweetheart" text in the Word 2003 file saved as RTF. I tried opening
this in WordPerfect 9. I get "file incompatible" error. And this is a
Word 2003 file saved as RTF. I opened the same file in Publisher 2003
and resaved it to RTF in that application. I was then able to open the
file in WordPerfect 9. Pass this along to the developers at Redmond
ASAP, Mike.

The tags saved by Publisher may differ in some respects but it doesn't prove
that Word isn't writing correct RTF out. You've only shown that (possibly)
WordPerfect can't read all RTF.

WordPerfect 9 can read RTF fine. If it's able to read RTF created from
Publisher 2003 means it understands RTF. Period. If it can't read them
when created from Word 2003, then you've got a problem here.

It's not clear from your description. It may be true, but you haven't proved
this to be so.

I suggest you try this on a test machine Mike. Install Word 2003 and
WordPerfect 10 on there. Create a simple Word document and save it to
RTF. Try opening it in WordPerfect 10. I can guarantee you it will fail
to open. After it fails to open, install Publisher 2003. Import that
simple document in there and resave it to RTF in Publisher 2003. Reopen
the document in WordPerfect 10. Viola. It'll read it. My description is
as simple as it reads when you're looking at this.

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

RTF is about as vanilla as it can get with saving for generic file
formats and WordPerfect 9 can't read them when they're created with
Word 2003? C'mon. Why can Publisher 2003 save the SAME Word file as
RTF and WordPerfect 9 can read this?

Probably for the same reasons that other tagged formats like TIFF are
treated inconsistently by almost every imaging program released.

Yes, I can open the RTF files in WordPad. But doing that doesn't prove
the problem with WordPerfect 9. Sorry. Since I can import the files
into Publisher 2003 and save correctly as RTF in that application
proves there is problem with Word 2003. I mean, you tell me...how
embarrassing is it going to be for Microsoft to advise people to
shell out an extra 150 bucks for Publisher 2003 so that it's the only
Office 2003 word processing software that can save Word 2003 files
correctly in RTF format so it can be read by other word processing
software?

All you have shown is that one application (WordPerfect) can't open the
file.

and resaved it to RTF in that application. I was then able to open the
file in WordPerfect 9. Pass this along to the developers at Redmond
ASAP, Mike.

Call Microsoft support. MVPs are not a channel to Microsoft.

WordPerfect 9 can read RTF fine. If it's able to read RTF created from
Publisher 2003 means it understands RTF. Period. If it can't read them
when created from Word 2003, then you've got a problem here.

There is no black and white for reading RTF or any other file format.
WordPerfect may not be handling some defined tags properly.

I suggest you try this on a test machine Mike. Install Word 2003 and
WordPerfect 10 on there. Create a simple Word document and save it to
RTF. Try opening it in WordPerfect 10.

I don't have WordPerfect.

Viola. It'll read it. My
description is as simple as it reads when you're looking at this.

I am just being pedantic but "viola" and "voila" are different.

 

[Gabby]

Probably for the same reasons that other tagged formats like TIFF are
treated inconsistently by almost every imaging program released.


All you have shown is that one application (WordPerfect) can't open the
file.


Call Microsoft support. MVPs are not a channel to Microsoft.

And just how much money am I going to have to fork over just to tell
Microsoft about this problem with Word 2003? If you know of any weblinks
that I can go to to tell them...please do.

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

And just how much money am I going to have to fork over just to tell
Microsoft about this problem with Word 2003? If you know of any
weblinks that I can go to to tell them...please do.

For bugs, nothing. If you follow the support links from Microsoft's home
page then (depending on your country) you'll find a free web-support option.
I've used it several times.

 

[Gabby]

For bugs, nothing. If you follow the support links from Microsoft's home
page then (depending on your country) you'll find a free web-support option.
I've used it several times.

Have they EVER responded to your comments and followed up with
questions?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Gabby,

Hmmmm. I saved a file to RTF format in Word 2003 and
opened it successfully in WordPerfect 11.

What is the build version in Word 2003 in Help=>About
and for WordPerfect?

What is the exact error message you get in WordPerfect
when opening a Word RTF file there?

Have you run a repair/reinstall from the Word 2003 help
menu or from Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control
Panel?

Are the fonts you're using in your test documents ones
that are supplied with Word/Windows, such as Arial or
Times New,Roman?

Do you have graphics or tables in your sample files?

Does this happen if you start a new document in Word2003
type
=rand(30,10) <enter key>
save that as RTF and then open it in WordPerfect?

If you save the same file in Word as a .doc file can you
open it in WordPerfect?

In Tools=>Options=>Save have you turned off [x] Allow Fast Saves?

What version of Windows+Service Packs are you using.

In answer to your other question, yes MS has responded
to queries, whether as an MVP or customer submission.
They tend to like to remove any found bugs

==========

Have they EVER responded to your comments and followed up with
questions? >>
--
I hope this helps you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

The Office 2003 System parts explained
http://microsoft.com/uk/office/editions.asp

 

[Chris Schatte]

Tested this on my machine as well, worked fine for me using Word 2003 and Word Perfect 11.

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Have they EVER responded to your comments and followed up with
questions?

Yes.