Forcing default "save-as" format

[Bart Magiure]

We are about to upgrade our users from Office 2000 to Office 2003.
While we are in the process of upgrading we want to avoid file-format
problems, where documents are saved in a newer format and cannot be
opened by the users who are still using the older version of Office.
I know that we can set the default save-as format from the menu, but we
cannot do this for every user and then re-visit them to undo it when
the rollout is complete. Can this be forced via Group Policy or with a
..reg file?

 

[Echo S]

I don't know about the other applications, and I don't know about your group
policies, but with PowerPoint, all versions from 97 through 2003 share the
same format. So newer versions can open older ones and vice-versa. No reason
to "backsave," and in fact, it's highly recommended that you DO NOT
backsave.

See Saving backwards to PowerPoint 95
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00542.htm

Note that the one pull-down option says "PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003 &
95" -- it's that AND 95 part that'll getcha. So just leave it at the default
PowerPoint Presentation (*.PPT) and be happy.

And make sure you install SP-1 for Office 2003, or those 2003 users won't be
able to open the existing PPT files! SP-1 is a *critical* patch if you use
PPT 2003.

(You might want to look into MST files for the roll-out.)