Office 2007 programs - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - typically
save files in a format that is not compatible with the older
versions of Office; however, users can take steps to avoid problems
when sharing files with others.
While you continue to use earlier versions of the Office suite,
the following information will provide solutions for many
compatibility issues with files created/saved in Office 2007
programs:
To save an Office 2007 file in Office 97-2003 format
Office 2007 does allow users to save files in Office 97-2003
format, so they can be opened in earlier versions of Office,
including Office for the Macintosh.
- Open the Office 2007 file to be converted.
- Click on the Office button (the
large, round button in the top-left corner of the window).
- Highlight Prepare, then click "Run
Compatibility Checker" to check for features used in the document
that may not be available in the earlier format.
- Click OK to close the Compatibility Checker.
- Click the Office button again.
- Highlight "Save As," then click the ... 97-2003 ... option
(Word 97-2003 Document, Excel 97-2003 Workbook, etc.).
- Name the file, then click the Save
button.
To change Office 2007 settings so files are automatically saved
in 97-2003 format
- Open the Office 2007 program (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Click on the Office button.
- Click the ... Options button (Word
Options, Excel Options, etc.) at the bottom of the dialog
box.
- On the left side of the Options dialog box, click the
Save category.
- In the "Save Documents" area, select the appropriate 97-2003
format from the drop-down list next to "Save files in this
format:"
- Click OK.
Installing the Compatibility Pack for Office 2000, 2002 or 2003
for Windows
The Office Compatibility Pack will allow you to open, edit and
save files in the Office 2007 format using your older versions of
Office (Windows Only).
The free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack is available
from:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101686761033.aspx?pid=CL100796341033
It is important that you have installed all of the
appropriate update patches first - be sure to read the information
listed on this site carefully before installing the Compatibility
Pack.
To determine a file's format
- If the extension (e.g., .doc, .pptx) is not visible at the
end of the filename, see the instructions below.
- If the extension at the end of the filename ends with an x
(e.g., .docx, .xlsx, .pptx) the file was created/saved in the
Office 2007 format and it cannot be opened in Office 97, 2000,
2002 or 2003 unless the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack is
installed. See instructions on installing the compatibility pack
above.
- Office 2007 files cannot currently be opened in any version
of Office for the Macintosh without the installation of an
additional file (beta version available - see Office 2007 and Macintosh
Computers).
- If the file extension does NOT end with an x character (.doc,
.xls, .ppt) it was saved with the older Office 97-2003 formats
which can be opened in ANY version of Office, including Office
for the Macintosh.
To display file extensions (Windows XP/2000)
File extensions are normally hidden by default in all versions
of Windows. To change this, follow these steps:
- Open a My Computer or Windows Explorer window.
- On the Menu Bar, click Tools, then click Folder Options
(Windows 2000 - Options).
- Click the View tab at the top of the Folder Options dialog
box.
- Remove the check mark from "Hide extensions for known file
types".
- Click OK.