Use Old Versions of Office to Open and Save Files Created by Office

Understanding Office requires more than a headline. The overview below breaks down the key facts, changes, and user impact.

Office Overview

• 923097 update for Office 2003: updated on 10/10/2006
• 923272 Office 2003 security update: 10/10/2006
• 923088 security update for Excel 2003: October 10, 2006
• 923091 security update for PowerPoint 2003: 10/10/2006
• 923094 security update for Word 2003: 10/10/2006

For Office XP

• 918420 Microsoft Excel 2002 security update: July 11, 2006
• 917153 update for PowerPoint 2002: July 11, 2006
• 917347 update for Word 2002: July 11, 2006

Office 2000, does not require updates 2, You must install the Microsoft Office Compatibilitiy compatible package for Office 2003, Office XP, and Office 2000. Problems you may encounter when the computer has not been fully updated to be compatible with Office Open XML Format formats When trying to open a file written in one of the Office Open XML formats in the old version of Office, you may encounter the following problems: 1, If the computer has not been updated and you have not installed the Compatibility Pack, when you open the file, you will receive one of the following error messages, depending on the program you are using: - Word When using the Open dialog box or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of Word you are using, you will receive the following message:

When you double-click the file in Windows Explorer or double-click the attachment in the email, you receive an error message:

- Excel When using the Open dialog box or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of Excel you are using, you receive the following error message:

When you double-click the file in Windows Explorer or double-click the attachment in the email, you receive the following error message:

- PowerPoint When using the Open dialog box or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of Excel you are using, you receive the following error message:

When you double-click the file in Windows Explorer or double-click the attachment in the email, you receive the following error message:

To resolve this issue, install each update according to the appropriate version of the Office program. Then, install the Office Compatibility Pack compatibility pack. 2, If the computer has not been updated, but the Compatibility Pack compatible package has been installed, when trying to open the file you will receive one of the following messages, depending on the program being used. - Word When using the Open dialog or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of Word in use, the file will be opened correctly. The same is true when double-clicking files in Windows Explorer. - Excel When using the Open dialog box or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of Excel you are using, you receive the following error message:

If you double-click the file in Windows Explorer, the file will be opened correctly. - PowerPoint When using the Open dialog or the 'drag and drop' form to transfer files to the version of PowerPoint you're using, you receive the following error message:

When double-clicking on a file in Windows Explorer, the file is opened correctly. To handle the problem, install each update for the appropriate Office programs. 3, If the computer has been updated, but the Compatibility Pack compatible package has not been installed, when you open the file you will receive the following error message: Both in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

To solve the problem, you only need to install the appropriate Office (Compatibility Pack) compatibility package. Changes are made on Office programs after installing compatible packages (Compatibility Pack) After installing the required updates to open and write files that were stored as Office Open XML Format, some of the following changes were made on Office programs: Excel 2003 and Excel 2002 The following file formats are added to the Save, Save As and Open dialog boxes:

• Excel Workbook (*. Xlsx)
• Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*. Xlsm)
• Excel Binary Workbook (*. Xlsb)
• Excel Template (*. Xltx)
• Excel Macro-Enabled Template (*. Xltm)
• Excel Add-In (*. Xlam)

Alternatively, you can use Windows Explorer to open and write files in the Office Open XML Format format. Excel 2000 No file format is added to the Save, Save As or Open dialog boxes. To open an Excel 2007 file in Microsoft Excel 2000, follow these steps:

• Locate in Windows Explorer.
• Double click on the file.

Note: Microsoft Excel 2000 must be installed on the computer. If other versions are also installed, the Excel file may be opened in a newer version. To write Excel 2000 file as an Excel 2007 file, follow these steps: a. Locate the file in Windows Explorer. B. Right-click on the file, then click Save As. C. In the Save As dialog box, in the Save as type box, click to select one of the following Excel 2007 file formats, then click Save:

• Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Macro-Enabled Workbook (*. Xlsm)
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Binary Workbook (*. Xlsb)
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Workbook (*. Xlsx)

D. After the recording process completes, click OK. PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003 The following file formats are added to the Save, Save A s dialog boxes and Open:

• PowerPoint Presentation (*. Pptx)
• PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation (*. Pptm)
• PowerPoint Template (*. Potx)
• PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Template (*. Potm)
• PowerPoint Show (*. Ppsx)
• PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Show (*. Ppsm)

Alternatively, you can use Windows Explorer to open and write files in the Office Open XML Format format. PowerPoint 2000 No file format is added to the Save, Save As and Open dialog boxes. To open a PowerPoint 2007 file in Microsoft PowerPoint 2000, follow these steps:

• Locate the file in Windows Explorer.
• Double click on the file.

Note: Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 must be installed on the computer. If other versions are also installed, PowerPoint files may be opened in newer versions. To burn a PowerPoint 2000 file as a PowerPoint 2007 file, follow these steps: a. Locate the file in Windows Explorer. B. Right-click on the file, then select Save As. C. In the Save As dialog box, in the Save as type box, click to select one of the following PowerPoint 2007 file formats, then click Save:

• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Presentation (*. Pptx)
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Macro-Enabled Presentation (*. Pptm)

D. Once done, click OK. Word 2003, Word 2002 and Word 2000 The following formats are added to the Save As, Save and Open dialog boxes:

• Word Document (*. Docx)
• Word Macro-Enabled Document (*. Docm)

Alternatively, you can use Windows Explorer to open and write files in the Office Open XML Format format.