Some word files can't open

[Hongbin Wang]

I have some word files that can't open. I'm pretty sure they were created
using word on pc. I have no problem to open them with word on pc or mac word
X. But mac word 2004 (11.2) gives me trouble. It displays "Word is
formatting the document.." forever.

Thanks

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello-

Are you trying to open these files from a floppy or other removable
media, by any chance? If so, copy them to your hard drive first, then
open the files from there.

Regards |:>)

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

That indication usually means that Word is looking for the printer that was
last used to print the document.

If you wait "forever" it will eventually give up. When it does, go to
File>Page Setup and change Format For... To a printer that you do have
connected.

Add and remove a space in the text of the document so Word knows the
document has been changed, then save and close it. It ought to be OK the
next time you open it. Sorry, you will have to do this to each document.

Cheers

I have some word files that can't open. I'm pretty sure they were created
using word on pc. I have no problem to open them with word on pc or mac word
X. But mac word 2004 (11.2) gives me trouble. It displays "Word is
formatting the document.." forever.

Thanks

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 4 1209 1410

 

[Hongbin Wang]

Hello-

Are you trying to open these files from a floppy or other removable
media, by any chance? If so, copy them to your hard drive first, then
open the files from there.

Regards |:>)

No. The files are on my hard drive. Thanks.

 

[Hongbin Wang]

That indication usually means that Word is looking for the printer that was
last used to print the document.

If you wait "forever" it will eventually give up. When it does, go to
File>Page Setup and change Format For... To a printer that you do have
connected.

Add and remove a space in the text of the document so Word knows the
document has been changed, then save and close it. It ought to be OK the
next time you open it. Sorry, you will have to do this to each document.

Cheers

Thanks for the advice. I tried and it worked. But I also found that even I
don't do anything, just by re-"save as" the document, it solves the problem.
It seems the word resets to the default printer after the failure to format.
Thanks again.