Can Not Open Document Saved in Office 2007 to Open in Office 2003

**tolet** · #1 24th Feb 2009, 11:33

I have saved a document at work in vista using microsoft office 2007. I have gone home to open then print it but it does not open and it just goes in decode mode? There are all funny lines everywhere thats it. I am using office 2003. Is there any way i can do this please

**philthomas** · #2 24th Feb 2009, 11:54

You will need this

Cavalier · #3 27th Feb 2009, 16:08

Theres a compatibility issue between to 2 packages. Office 07 saves as xml files which other versions can't read

To avoid it when using Office 07 when saving your work go to save as on the menu and you should be able to pick a save type thats compatible with the other offices

ricepudding9 · #4 27th Feb 2009, 21:34

I believe because Office 2003 can't open files from office 2007, though I'm not sure because I only have 07, though I doubt they would work, because the files I believe are a different format.

**mctw** · #5 1st Mar 2009, 14:33

yup, 07 saves in .docx format, which '03 cant open, it can only open .doc format. excel PowerPoint and publisher are all the same as well. the download that philthomas posted the link to will sort it, as it allows '03 to open .docx formats. it can cause some issues when you use a '07 only function though.

ShadyLady · #6 2nd Mar 2009, 15:21

This happens to alot of people. Personally, I stick to using the class 2003 version of Office. I prefer it to the new modernized version [2007].

You need to save your document as .doc and NOT .docx. In the 'save as type' part of the save as dialog it should say '97-2003' or .doc . Select this option and ur document should open in the 2003 version :)

Hope this helps.

CorsaSXI · #7 4th Mar 2009, 09:35

Its the compatibility which I believe is stupid.
Office should have made it the same format as the 2003 one. As it just makes it comlicated when people want to open their 07 document in 03 and find that it does not work. Of course some people understand which correct format to save in but others don't.

**philthomas** · #8 4th Mar 2009, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsaSXI

Its the compatibility which I believe is stupid.
Office should have made it the same format as the 2003 one. As it just makes it comlicated when people want to open their 07 document in 03 and find that it does not work. Of course some people understand which correct format to save in but others don't.

It's all part of Microshafts plan, to make folk feel as though they have an old/outdated version and need to upgrade

Tom Billington · #9 4th Mar 2009, 12:58

Its Microsoft's plan to world domination :p

I always thought it was Microsoft's policy to make everything backward compatible for there programs like word, excel ect.

**mctw** · #10 4th Mar 2009, 14:05

07 is backwards compatible, it'll open any file made on previous versions of office. its the older versions of office that wont open the newer format from 07, guess you could say they're not forward compatible, but then, is anything?