Will Either Microsoft Office 2007 or 2008 Open a Word 97 Document OK?

[Linda Atkins]

Hi,
I will be transferring my Word 97 documents on a PC running Windows 98
SE to a new iMac, on which I will install Microsoft Office for Mac.
It looks like Microsoft Office 2007 and 2008 are available. Will
either open Word 97 documents OK? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Clive Huggan]

Hello Linda,

Yes, since the electronic file formatting is the same there should be no
problems opening Word 97 documents in either Word 2007 (if you install
Windows, because that's a Windows application) or Word 2008 (a Mac
application).

You can run Office 2007 on a new (Intel-powered) Mac using Parallels (but
bear in mind you'll have the expense of purchasing Windows as well, if I'm
correct in thinking you don't have a later version of Windows than 98;
installing Windows 98 via Parallels is possible though complicated).

Office 2008 for Mac is coming out early in the new year. If you are in the
US, there is a "sweetener" deal (see http://www.microsoft.com/mac/) for
buying Office 2004 and getting Office 2008 Special Media Edition free.
Depending on your needs (e.g. if you need VBA to work -- it won't in Office
2008) you might find it attractive to end up with both.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
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[Linda Atkins]

Thanks very much!

Linda