Automator docx conversions - no compatibility and delete original?

[sparkly]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Power PC Hi,
I'm trying to fiddle with Automator to batch convert some .doc files to .docx.

I have the "ask for finder items" step, then the "convert format of word documents" step.

This results in a copy of the file with the same name but the docx extension being saved in the same location as the original.

What I would like to be able to do, is first, have the docx file saved as a pure .docx. At present it is being saved in "compatibility mode" and I don't see any way to adjust this.

Secondly, I'd like it to automatically send the original (.doc) file to the trash.

I'm a little familiar with Automator (practice makes perfect!) so more than willing to fiddle around if someone gives me a little hint!
Thanks!

 

[John_McGhie_[MVP]]

"Compatibility Mode" simply means "Made from a .doc file". It's a pure
..docx, but the display settings have been tweaked so it looks the same in
..docx as it did in .doc.

You would need to write your own Automator Action in AppleScript to cancel
the compatibility mode. Matt Neuberg explains how, here:
http://onjava.com/pub/a/mac/2005/05/03/automator.html

To send the .docs to the Trash, you would add the "Move Finder Items to
Trash" step after the conversion to do just that.

However, I wouldn't bother with such a script. Word 2008 will automatically
convert anything you open to .docx format when you open it, and you can
choose to "Save As" to save the result in .docx.

The conversion is often not perfect: you may need to fix some things up
after the conversion. So I wouldn't trash the source until you have been
through the document and fixed up anything that needs fixing.

This, I wouldn't make such a script, I would do them one-by-one as you need
them.

Cheers

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Power PC Hi,
I'm trying to fiddle with Automator to batch convert some .doc files to .docx.

I have the "ask for finder items" step, then the "convert format of word
documents" step.

This results in a copy of the file with the same name but the docx extension
being saved in the same location as the original.

What I would like to be able to do, is first, have the docx file saved as a
pure .docx. At present it is being saved in "compatibility mode" and I don't
see any way to adjust this.

Secondly, I'd like it to automatically send the original (.doc) file to the
trash.

I'm a little familiar with Automator (practice makes perfect!) so more than
willing to fiddle around if someone gives me a little hint!
Thanks!

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410 | mailto:[email protected]