Use an older version of Word? - Not if Microsoft have anything to do with it!

[masqueraid]

Apologies if this seems very techie but basically Microsoft have released an update for their Office package, a side effect of which is that it will no longer open files created in older version of Word written by err.. oh yes, Microsoft.

The blocking is intentional

Anyone considering installing Service Pack 3 should consider this before updating although it is possible to override the settings in Windows Registry.

Blog here

 

[Spin_bowler]

damn - installed SP3 yesterday!!

 

[Geezer]

When you say older versions how old do you mean?

 

[Spinal]

When you say older versions how old do you mean?

What’s affected? Powerpoint formats prior to PowerPoint 97. Excel formats prior to Office 2003. Lotus, Quatro and Corel Draw. And the following Word formats:

Word 11 saved by Word 12
Word 4.x, 5.x, 6.0, 98, 2001, X and 2004 for Macintosh
Word 1.x, 2.x, 6.0, 95, 97, 9, 10 and 11 for Windows
Any older formats

What affects me most is the Word:Macintosh one - I routinely open and convert document from/to macs... I wonder if this is included in the Vista updates too...

What I find shocking is the Word 2004 for mac and Word 11 for Windows... These are both relatively new and in Macintosh's case - the only choice! Word2007 isn't even out for OsX yet! This will pose a MASSIVE problem with our users who use windows XP machines and update to SP3 - more work/hassle for me I guess!

Michele

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I use OpenOffice. It is compatible with all the older versions of Word, but not the latest. It is free:

http://www.openoffice.org/

The latest version of Microsoft Office (2007) uses .docx, .xlsx and .ppsx formats for Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, and these cannot be opened by earlier versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which use .doc, .xls and .pps formats, nor by Open Office.

Open Office is rapidly gaining market share and Microsoft have probably introduced these new formats to put a stop to this.

 

[Spinal]

I use OpenOffice. It is compatible with all the older versions of Word, but not the latest. It is free:

http://www.openoffice.org/

The latest version of Microsoft Office (2007) uses .docx, .xlsx and .ppsx formats for Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, and these cannot be opened by earlier versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which use .doc, .xls and .pps formats, nor by Open Office.

Open Office is rapidly gaining market share and Microsoft have probably introduced these new formats to put a stop to this.

Funnily enough, the "open xml" based formats that Word2007 uses are Microsoft's response to a substantial request from the market! They took what the OpenSource people wanted; adapted it to suit them, then released it...

Be careful what you wish for, and even more careful in writing requirements/specifications!

 

[stevesey]

At least they provide a fairly simple way of turning them back on.

 

[stevesey]

The latest version of Microsoft Office (2007) uses .docx, .xlsx and .ppsx formats for Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, and these cannot be opened by earlier versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which use .doc, .xls and .pps formats, nor by Open Office.

Yes they can install the compatability pack

 

[bolide]

Ironically the new file formats are Microsoft's attempt to provide more compatibility by supporting XML documents. The last I heard, though, Microsoft were ignoring the official XML standard and proposing one of their own...

No surprises there then!

Nick Froome
www.pvision.co.uk

 

[wallingd]

Use RTF for transferring between PC + Mac Spinal.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Ironically the new file formats are Microsoft's attempt to provide more compatibility by supporting XML documents. The last I heard, though, Microsoft were ignoring the official XML standard and proposing one of their own...

That's most unlike Microsoft to steal somebody else's idea and tweak it slightly.

I wonder if we'll ever be able to say "The Office is dead, long live the Office!

Opensource software - like OpenOffice - seems to picking up more and more momentum, so maybe the point at which the critical mass is non-Microsoft is not so far off?

 

[Viking2]

I'm using MS Office 2003 with SP3 and Word is opening all my files, old and new without any problems!

 

[wallingd]

There isn't an issue with 2003. It's the latest version that's of concern.

 

[dino645]

I took on the full trial version of Office 2007 which I must say was fantastic. I didn't think it was worth purchasing though considering my use.

When opening files created using the new version, it wouldn't let me open or alter the saved versions. Couldn't even copy and paste.

Open the old version of Office, and you have full access. Don't panic into buying the newer version.

Load an older version and try it?

 

[Spinal]

I took on the full trial version of Office 2007 which I must say was fantastic. I didn't think it was worth purchasing though considering my use.

When opening files created using the new version, it wouldn't let me open or alter the saved versions. Couldn't even copy and paste.

Open the old version of Office, and you have full access. Don't panic into buying the newer version.

Load an older version and try it?

What operating system? I'm starting to feel like this only affects XP!

 

[dino645]

I'm on Vista, which was bought last year. Pretty rubbish actually. I loaded Office 2000, and then opted for the new trial version(2007).

Although it was a vast improvement, I didn't upgrade.

I then noticed I couldn't access the documents I had created during the trial period.

I opened the 2000 version, and could access the newer documents, but not vice versa.

 

[wallingd]

Never upgrade for the sake of it...

Or have multiple versions of Office installed!

 

[Spinal]

On my 2 "main" machines I run:
Laptop: Vista Business/Office2007 :dual boot: OsX10.4.11/Word2004
(I already have the 10.5 disk, but was so unhappy with it I uninstalled it an went back to 10.4... waiting for some bugs to be fixed first...)

Desktop: XP Pro/Office 2007 (clean install just before Christmas)

Haven't had any trouble so far (touch wood)

Michele

 

[stevesey]

I'm on Vista, which was bought last year. Pretty rubbish actually. I loaded Office 2000, and then opted for the new trial version(2007).

Although it was a vast improvement, I didn't upgrade.

I then noticed I couldn't access the documents I had created during the trial period.

I opened the 2000 version, and could access the newer documents, but not vice versa.

See post 8 and install the compatability pack - claims to work for Office 2000 as well as 2003. Then you should be able to open 2007 files in Office 2000.

 

[masqueraid]

Compatibility Pack makes older versions of Office able to open files created with newer versions.

SP3 seems to prevent the newer Office 2007 opening documents made with some older versions.