doc-files

users
#1

Hello,
I sometimes have to send files created under LO-Writer to people who use
M$-Word. I then store them in .doc-format for sending. From time to time
people tell me that they cannot open these files. Has anybody experienced
this problem?
Regards
H. S.

#2

This is likely to be a consequence of the particular version of Word that your correspondents are using. A simple answer would be to save the documents in .rtf format instead.

Graham

#3

Hi :slight_smile:
Perhaps give them the link to download LibreOffice and let them know it reads a
wider range of formats and is more compatible with a wider range of other
programs. Word 2010 is not always compatible with Word 2007 let alone Word
2003.

Are you sure you are saving as Doc rather than DocX? The DocX used by default
in MS Office 2007 & 2010 is not able to be read on earlier versions of MS Office
without installing extra an extra patch. Do they have problems opening
documents from anyone else or do they keep quiet about that? Again it would be
a good reason for upgrading to LibreOffice because it can read both.

In LibreOffice or OpenOffice choose to "Save As" "Word (97/2000/XP)" (scroll
back up the list 1 place) rather than the default Word format. Or as Graham
says use Rtf to avoid the whole issue.

At work i set the older MS Office formats as the default by going to
Tools - Options - Load/Save - General
Then down at the bottom use the 2 drop-downs to set
Text document = Microsoft Word (97/2000/XP)
Spreadsheet = Microsoft Excel (97/2000/XP)
Presentation = Microsoft Powerpoint (97/2000/XP)
For the last 2 it's 2 back up the list as 1 back is a template which is well
worth avoiding.

On the same page about halfway up i tend to change "ODF format version" right
back from "1.2 Extended (recommended)" to "1.0/1.1" because MS Office 2010 &
2007 can just about read those. I don't know why they haven't tried the newer
spec, it's not exactly hidden or difficult or anything. I think the 1.2 was not
around in 2007. Further down in the Writer section - Compatibility i tick all
the boxes just as the extra finesse.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#4

for me,no problem with doc but sometimes faced problem with docx.avoiding it
now

#5

Hi Heinrich,

Heinrich Stoellinger wrote (08-08-11 15:02)

I sometimes have to send files created under LO-Writer to people who use
M$-Word. I then store them in .doc-format for sending. From time to time
people tell me that they cannot open these files. Has anybody experienced
this problem?

No. Maybe you have some details on the documents / circumstances?

Thanks,

#6

Make sure you save the file as "Microsoft Word Win 97/2000/XP .doc format". That way you get one that should work fine. That is the one I use when I have to send a Word document to people. I never had any problems with it.

As other will tell you, stay clear of .docx" format. Any of the formats that show the "x" as the forth character are to be avoided. Sometimes, as I have been told by Word users, if you save a document with the latest Word format of .docx using Word 2010, it may not be read properly with Word 2007 or Word 2003 with the format extension/filter MS created for Office 2003 to read 2007 formats. So if MS cannot get their act together to allow their own products to read files saved by their own products, what hope will third-party packages have to be able to read/write those formats 100% of the time.

So stick with .doc, and the other per Office 2007 formats.

Also, send them the link for LibreOffice, if it is appropriate to do so. let them know that it uses as their default formats, the International Standard formats for Office packages - ODF, while MSO's formats are not. Let them know that the software is free. Many people I have told did not believe it was free, until I stated that fact several times, and some it took a printout of the page stating it was free AND handing the a DVD with the package in it.

#7

One area where M$ Word still scores over LO is in the use of track-changes. I know many editors and authors who stay with M$ because the in-text change tracking that LO (and OO) use is much trickier to use than the in-margin alternative available in the M$ version. If the latter could be added to LO, then I can guarantee a lot more users.

Graham

#8

Sorry guys, but I was talking about Calc/Excel spreadsheets, not Word text documents.
-Aarni-

#9

Same deal.

Use the one "Microsoft Excel 97/2000/XP .xls" format, not the one that ends with "x".

#10

Graham,

One area where M$ Word still scores over LO is in the use of
track-changes. I know many editors and authors who stay with M$ because
the in-text change tracking that LO (and OO) use is much trickier to use
than the in-margin alternative available in the M$ version. If the
latter could be added to LO, then I can guarantee a lot more users.

Graham
--
graham.mullan@coly.org.uk

Could post a suggestion with bugzilla https://bugs.freedesktop.org/ and
note ii is feature request. That why the devs will know about it.

#11

I have a similar problem.
I use LO Impress to save PPT files and send to others, but some tell me they can't open my files.

#12

Hi :slight_smile:
As with the other apps please check that you are NOT using the format ending
with X, in this case avoid pptX. Try "Save As..." to use the "Microsoft
Powerpoint (97/2000/Xp)". A better option is to give those people a link so
they can download and install LibreOffice too rather than pay for the newer
versions of MS Office.

There are a few problems with Impress but people are working on it and you could
help by posting specific bug-reports or perhaps getting even more involved. As
things are this problem will probably get fixed without you having to do
anything other than use the older Powerpoint formats.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile: