You can create a database in A2003, and convert it to A97 with:
Tools | Database Utilities | Convert...
It is safe if you use minimal references, and check them. After conversion
to A97, Access will have correctly adjusted the two required references -
Access and VBA. If you used the DAO reference, you may need to change it to
DAO 3.51 instead of DAO 3.6. Last time I did a conversion I noticed Access
had failed to make this change, and it is important.
If you have other references (such as Calendar control, or OCX or ActiveX
controls), you may find that these also need changing when you change
version or when you change computer.
For information on the references appropriate to each version and how to set
them, see:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-38.html