Q177519: WD97: Comments Lost When Word 2.x File Converted to Word 97

Article: Q177519
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta word97
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you open a Microsoft Word 2.x document in Microsoft Word 97, file property
comments for the document are lost.

RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, obtain Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

To temporarily work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Open the document in Word 7.x
---------------------------------------

If you have access to both Word 7.x and Word 97, follow these steps:

1. In Word 7.x, open the Word 2.x document.

2. Save the document as a Word 7.x document.

3. Open the Word 7.x document in Word 97.

Method 2: Save from Word 2.x as Rich Text Format (RTF)
------------------------------------------------------

1. In Word 2.x, save the document in Rich Text Format (RTF). To do this, follow
  these steps:

  a. On the File menu, click Save As.

  b. Change the Save File As Type to Rich Text Format (RTF)

  c. Save the document.

2. In Word 97, open the RTF file.

The file property comments will be retained.

NOTE: To ease the transition of documents from one format to another, you can use
the batch conversion macros that ship with Microsoft Word.

For more information about the batch conversion macros, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q107439 Word for Windows Batch Conversion Macro

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at
the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 97
Service Release 2 (SR-2).

For additional information about SR-2, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q151261 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-2


MORE INFORMATION
================

File property comments is a feature that allows you to store comments about the
document along with the document. You can then search on the text of these
comments at a later date using the search feature in Word.

In Microsoft Word 2.x and 6.x, file property comments are added by clicking the
File menu, clicking Summary Info, and entering information into the Comments
box.

In Microsoft Word 7.x and later, file property comments are added by clicking
Properties on the File menu, and entering information into the Comments box.

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

  Q177859 WD: Macintosh Word 6.x Comments Missing in File Properties

  Q166868 WD97: Properties (Summary Info) Comments in Wrong Format/Missing

Additional query words: file summary info properties

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.