Q157666: WD97: Cannot Open Word 97 Documents in Word 6.0 or 7.0

Article: Q157666
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbinterop kbusage kbconversion word97
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to open a Microsoft Word 97 document into Microsoft Word
version 6.x or 7.x, the document contains garbage characters.

CAUSE
=====

The document file format used to save files for Word 97 has changed. Word
version 6.x or 7.x cannot read this format.

RESOLUTION
==========

Windows:

The best way to open a Word 97 document in Word 6.x or 7.x for Windows is to use
the Word 97-2000 Import Converter. For information about how to obtain the Word
97-2000 converter, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  

  Q162214 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-2000 Import Converter

Macintosh:

The best way to open a Word 97 for Windows document in an earlier version of Word
for the Macintosh is to use the Word 97-98-2000 Import Converter.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  

  Q184128 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-98-2000 Converter

WORKAROUND
==========

Use one of the following methods to open a Word 97 document into an earlier
version of Word:

Method 1: In Word 97, Save the Document as a Word 6.0/95 File:

1. Open the document in Word 97.

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

3. In the Save As dialog box, change "Save as type" to "Word 6.0/95 (*.doc)".

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  

  Q162602 WD97: Questions About Saving in the Word 6.0/95 File Format

Method 2: In Word 97, save the document as Rich Text Format (*.rtf)
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1. Open the document in Word 97.

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

3. In the Save As dialog box, change the "Save as type" to "Rich Text Format
  (*.rtf)".

Additional query words: convert read import

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Keywords          : kbinterop kbusage kbconversion word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbprb

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