documents won't open

[Tom in Texas]

I'm in Office/Word 04, on a new Mac/Snow Leopard. Trying to open Word
documents by clicking on the icon. Won't. I double click, they zoom
like they're going to, and the Word menu headings appear at the top
of the screen, but no document. However, if I open a blank document,
then click command/O, the Open: Microsoft Word window appears, and I
can sift through those layers, find it, click on it, and it opens that
way. Wondering why it won't open the regular way as it's always done.

Thanks...

Tom in Texas

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Tom;

Since you don't specify your version information I can't be sure, but it
sounds like you're behind in updates to Office ‹ 11.5.6 is current. It might
not be a bad idea to run Disk Utility - Repair Disk Permissions as well.

If those steps don't correct the issue you'll need to provide more details,
especially about your move to the new system. For example: Did you install
Office fresh or did you "migrate" from your previous Mac? Migrating complex
apps/suites often has unpredictable results.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Tom in Texas]

Hey, Bob..

I'm using Mac Word 11.5.6. It appears the cranky documents were
created with Word 97, a few years ago. Some open and some don't. I
repaired disk permissions. Also ran updates...it's updated. Yes, I did
a straight import from an older Mac via an Ethernet cable. I've got
Office 08 ordered, and plan to install it when it comes in. Don't know
if that will make things better or worse.

Tom in Texas

 

[Tom in Texas]

Is there any way to globally update or upgrade all Word documents to
be Word 04 (or 08 after I install it) documents, from older versions?

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, since Office seems to work OK in other respects [right?] try these
steps in this order:

1) Select a Word document in a Finder window & key Command+I (Get Info),
select Word in the Open With: list, then click Change All. Restart your Mac
& see if one of the mavericks will open on double-click. If not;

2) Follow the directions on this page to test your Preferences:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DamagedPrefs.html

3) If still no success see this page to test Normal.dot. Also, make sure you
have only *1* copy of Normal.dot which should be the one in your Microsoft
User Data folder. If there are nay others, delete them.

http://word.mvps.org/mac/MacWordNormal.html

4) Lastly, you may very well be the victim of a font issue which is
addressed here:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313535

BTW: In answer to your other post, there is no difference in file format
used by Office 97-2004, so that isn't the problem. Office 2008 does use a
new (OXML) file format by default but will work with the older format as
well. Before you install or upgrade to 2008, though, I'd suggest you have a
look at the procedure recommended here:

http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/index.html

Happy New Year |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

The Microsoft Open XML Converter is a stand-alone application that will run
in Batch mode.

Get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.mspx?pid=&fid=EDB6CD8F-832C-4123-8982
-AC0C601EA0A7#viewer

When you start it, it opens a window into which you can drag a selection of
files. It will drop the .docx (Word 2007/8/10) conversion of each file back
into the same folder as the original.

Cheers

Is there any way to globally update or upgrade all Word documents to
be Word 04 (or 08 after I install it) documents, from older versions?

--

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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Celebrating the New Year a bit early, John?;-) The OXML Converter goes just
the opposite direction ‹ OXML to 97-2004. AFAIK, it won't convert *to* OXML.

Happy New Year |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Bob:

No, it has been 2010 for about nine hours down here ‹ we've even had time
for the hangover to partially dissipate.

What you say is both correct, and extremely low of Microsoft. Last time I
played with the "Compatibility Pack", it was both ways: if you dragged .docs
to it, they came out as .docx. Which is what we asked for.

Since I have Office 2008 installed, I do not need, and hadn't installed the
converter. I now see they have removed that feature.

Of course, if you have access to a PC (or Virtual Machine) you can use this:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179019.aspx

Or, you can download this:
http://www.batchwork.com/en/doc2doc/ which has a seven-day free trial.

Or, since the poster has Word 2004, with the converter installed, he can
write a macro that will do a similar thing for him.

The macro is complex to write: if he needs help, he can get back to me.

Cheers

Celebrating the New Year a bit early, John?;-) The OXML Converter goes just
the opposite direction ‹ OXML to 97-2004. AFAIK, it won't convert *to* OXML.

Happy New Year |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--

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
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]