Word XP saving RTF with doc extension

[BobW]

Quite often we receive files with a doc extension which actually contains RTF
formatted data. It is the equivalent of saving an RTF and changing the
extension to doc.

These can occur numerous ways including via an OCR program.

When Word XP opens these files all is well. When it saves these files, even
though you have chosen to "save as Word", it keeps the internal RTF format
with the doc extension.

The only way I can find to fix it is open the file in Word 97, when it
opens this RTF within a doc, saves the file with the correct internal format.

The issue is that indexers tend to choke on files with incorrect extensions
(i.e. Sharepoint).

Anyway to FORCE Word XP to translate the RTF to DOC regardless of the
extension of the original file?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Ada Pan [MSFT]]

Hello Bob,

According to your description, I have performed some tests but failed to
reproduce this issue. Here are my steps.

1. Right click on an RTF file, click Open with ¨C Choose Program, and then
choose Notepad from the programs list.
2. You will find the information similar to the following:

Y{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg936\uc2\deff0\stshfdbch13\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0
\deflang1033\deflangfe2052{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}

This indicates the format of the file is RTF.

3. Close the Notepad window.
4. Double click the RTF file to open it in Word program, and then click
File ¨C Save As.
5. In Save As dialog box, choose "Word Document (*.doc)" from "Save as
type" drop down list, and then save this file.
6. Click File ¨C Exit to close the file.
7. Right click on the file, and then choose Notepad to open it.
8. Now, you will find unrecognized binary data instead of " Y{\rtf1\ansi
...". That indicates the format of the file has been converted to DOC.

However, you cannot convert the format of a file by simply changing its
extension. You may need to use Save As on File menu to do achieve your
goal.

Please try the steps on your end to test this issue and update me with the
result at your earliest convenience. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Ada Pan

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
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[BobW]

Thank you for your prompt reply.

When I save directly to the portal I get:

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Ada Pan [MSFT]]

Hello Bob,

From the information, I am afraid that I cannot have a clear idea of the
situation on your end. I was wondering if you have tried to first open the
RFT file in Word, and use Save As to save the RFT file as .doc document.
For the detailed steps, you can refer to my previous response.

===========================
1. Double click the RTF file to open it in Word program, and then click
File ¨C Save As.
2. In Save As dialog box, choose "Word Document (*.doc)" from "Save as
type" drop down list, and then save this file.
3. Click File ¨C Exit to close the file.
4. Right click on the file, and then choose Notepad to open it.
===========================

If the suggestion above doesn't help, please send me a sample experiencing
this issue to me at :< (e-mail address removed) >, for test. And also
provide us the exact steps to reproduce this issue on your end.

If anything is unclear, please feel free to let me know. I am glad to be
of assistance.


Regards,

Ada Pan

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[BobW]

The steps I am taking in particular are:

1. Receive RTF document with doc extension (from an OCR or outside folks).
Verifed RTF via notepad.
2. Open document in Word XP.
3. Save document to Sharepoint Portal Server 2001.
4. Document not indexed and not searchable in SPPS 2001.
5. Copy document off of Portal manually.
6. Open document in notepad and verified that the underlying structure is
RTF per your instructions.

Does that help?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Ada Pan [MSFT]]

Dear Bob,

Thank you for your update.

As you mentioned, "Receive RTF document with doc extension (from an OCR or
outside folks). Verifed RTF via notepad", it seems that you didn't use
Save As feature to convert the RFT file to DOC file. Please first open the
RTF file in Word, and use Save As feature to re-save the file as DOC
format. Then, open the file with NotePad to confirm its format has been
converted to binary data information.

Note: You CANNOT convert the format of the file from RTF to DOC by simply
rename its extension.

I hope this information is helpful.

If anything is unclear or you need further assistance, please feel free to
let me know. I am glad to be of assistance.

Regards,

Ada Pan

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.