Information Technology Services

If you are a user of Office 2003 for Windows (no need for Office 2007 or Macintosh users to do this), the Microsoft Compatibility Pack will allow you to open and edit files created in Office 2007.

To determine if the Compatibility Pack is on your computer - and install it if you wish - choose the appropriate steps below, based on the Web browser you are using.

If you are using Internet Explorer...

1. Click on the test link below.
2. A window will open with text similar to this: "Do you want to open or save this file?"
3. Choose Open
   If the document opens in Office 2003, you already have the Compatibility Pack installed on your computer, and you can stop here: you do not need to follow the remaining steps.
4. A window will open with text similar to this: "This file was created by a newer version of Microsoft Word. Do you want to download a compatibility pack so that you can work on this file?"
5. Choose OK
6. A Microsoft Web page will open. Click the Download button to download the Compatibility Pack to your computer.
7. A window will open with text similar to this: "File Download - Security Warning. Do you want to run or save this file?"
8. Choose Run
9. A window will open with text similar to this: "Internet Explorer - Security Warning. Do you want to run or save this file?"
10. Choose Run
11. This will install the Compatibility Pack on your computer. You may click on the Test Link again. When you choose Open, the document should open in Microsoft Word 2003.

To test your browser click this link:
[TEST LINK]

If you are using Firefox...

1. Click on the test link below.
2. A window will open with text similar to this: "Opening Office 2007 Word file.docx. What you do you want Firefox to do with this file?"
3. Be sure "Microsoft Office Word" is selected in the drop-down box, then choose: Open with [Microsoft Office Word]
   If the document opens in Office 2003, you already have the Compatibility Pack installed on your computer, and you can stop here: you do not need to follow the remaining steps.
4. A window will open with text similar to this: "This file was created by a newer version of Microsoft Word. Do you want to download a compatibility pack so that you can work on this file?"
5. Choose OK
6. A Microsoft Web page will open. Click the Download button to download the Compatibility Pack to your computer.
7. A window will open with text similar to this: "Opening FileFormatConverters.exe…. Would you like to save this file?"
8. Locate FileFormatConverters.exe (it will usually be on the desktop, unless you have specified a different locations for downloaded files).
9. Double-click on FileFormatConverters.exe to install it.
10. A window will open with text similar to this: "You must accept the Microsoft License Terms in order to continue the installation."
11. Click the checkbox in the bottom corner of the window, and then click on Continue.
12. A window will open with text similar to this: "The installation is complete."
13. Click OK to continue.
14. You may click on the Test Link again. When you choose Open, the document should open in Microsoft Word 2003.

To test your browser click this link:
[TEST LINK]