Word 2008 "Word Cannot Open this Document"

[ToneH]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have Microsoft Word Version 12.0, and have had it installed for a few months. I set the saving format to compatable by default (so it makes .doc and not .docx). Yesterday I was working on a word file I had saved on my thumb drive and it worked fine. Today I try to open it (both on my Macbook, my iMac and on a PC I had access to) and it gives me the following error: "Word cannot open this document. The document might be in use or might not be a valid Word document". I have noticed that this has happened to half a dozen of my other word files also. I notice that on my Macbook all of the word files have the new plain black and white icons that show the text in tiny writing, while the ones I can't open have the old blue file icons (on other, older computers they seem the same).

So I have three questions:
Is this a problem others have faced? If so, how can I get around it?
Are those particular files just corrupted? If so, is this a problem I ought to be wary of with Word 12?
If they are corrupted, is there any way I can rescue these texts? It's a very important document.

I eagerly await your responses.

 

[CyberTaz]

Have you done any updates since installing Office? Current build is 12.1.2,
so if you're still at 12.0 that could account for the problem. Go to Help>
Check for Updates & proceed as prompted. You may have to start with SP1
(12.1.0), then apply 12.1.1 & 12.1.2 in order to get the software current.

Likewise, OS X should be at 10.5.5, so you might need to go to the apple
Downloads site & get the Combo Update:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/

Run Disk Utility - Repair Disk Permissions after applying the updates.

I'd also suggest that you break the habit of saving directly to or opening
files saved on USB sticks. They're fine for transporting but can cause
problems if you try to use them as a substitute for a hard drive. Work from
a real hard drive & copy/move the files to/from the stick using Finder.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[David L. Elliott]

Hi,

I have had the same problem. I was sent a .DOC file via email, but have tried unsuccessfully a number of times to open it. I keep getting the message that it is either not a valid file format or is in use. I have no idea which version of Office it was created in, only that it was a windows machine. I read the previous post and have done everything suggested. Updated to 10.5.5 and gone through the disk permission repairs. My office version is updated to 12.1.12 also. It would seem as though I'm at the end of the road with this one so far. Any Ideas?

David

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi David;

There are at least 4 methods for opening a file;

1- Double-Click the file icon in Finder

2- Control/Right-Click the file in Finder & use Open With

3- Drag the file from Finder to the app icon in the Dock

4- Use File> Open from within the program

Which have you tried & do you get the same result with all 4? If not, what
are the respective responses?

Does the file have an extension? Is it a Word icon?

Where is it stored?

BTW: Although you have a "similar" symptom the issue isn't at all the same
as that in the original post in this thread. It would be better for you to
have posted as a New message. Mixing stuff together makes it harder for
everyone to follow & isn't fair to you because the someone who has your
answer may have already seen the previous messages & decided to move on.
It's far more likely that they would be drawn to a new post rather than
returning to one they had already passed on.

As a frame of reference any time you consider posting, first determine if
all details are identical to your situation. If there are any differences
post as a New message. If the details are identical there's nothing to be
gained by posting a "me too" as a reply - watch for the suggested solutions
& try what's suggested. If they don't work for you but did for the OP your
issue must actually be different in some way, so again, a New message would
be in order rather than a reply.

IOW, it's preferable that you not *reply* to an existing thread unless you
have a reasonable solution, contribution or suggestion to offer on the
matter. Your cooperation would be appreciated by all

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[PK]

I solved my problem of files failing to open in Word and Excel (crash! Send
report to M$) from PC's, from changing fonts, from cutting and pasting,
whatever, by downloading the new OpenOffice.or 3.0. Once I open and save in
O they work fine in Word. I always let my documents and reports go to
M$, so I hope they can find out what coding error they have.

PK