OfficeXP and 2003 backwards compatibility

[Simon Harvey]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any idea what amount of *core* functionality in the more
recent versions of Office, is available as far back as offive 97 and at
least 2000.

By "core" I mean the non-fancy - XP/2003 options like smart tages and so on.

Do you think I would find it easy enough to make sure that stuff i develop
on office 2003 still works on older copies, as long as i make sure that I am
not using any functions added in the more advanced editions.

Also, I am using VBA and not VSTO as i would really really like to. Are
their any key differences between VBA in the two most recent editions of
office, and 97/2000.

Thanks everyone

Take care

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Do you think I would find it easy enough to make sure that stuff i develop

on office 2003 still works on older copies, as long as i make sure that I am
not using any functions added in the more advanced editions.

It'd probably be a great deal simpler to develop under the lowest version
you want to support and test under newer versions.

Also, I am using VBA and not VSTO as i would really really like to. Are
their any key differences between VBA in the two most recent editions of
office, and 97/2000.

You mention 97/2000 as though they're the same. Actually, it's between 97
and 2000 that you'll find the biggest differences in VBA itself ... the
version went from VBA5 to 6, roughly like going from VB5 to VB6.

The help system took a nosedive as well or I might be able to find you a
list of the changes in VBA. If you have VB6, check the what's new section
for an idea.

 

[Simon Harvey]

Thanks Steve.

I

It'd probably be a great deal simpler to develop under the lowest version
you want to support and test under newer versions.


You mention 97/2000 as though they're the same. Actually, it's between 97
and 2000 that you'll find the biggest differences in VBA itself ... the
version went from VBA5 to 6, roughly like going from VB5 to VB6.

The help system took a nosedive as well or I might be able to find you a
list of the changes in VBA. If you have VB6, check the what's new section
for an idea.

 

[Lars-Eric Gisslén]

Steve.

I agree with Simon. If you want backward compatability with Office 97, use
Office 97. As Office 2003 is a totally new ballgame you should develop for
Office 2003 in 2003, otherwise stay with Office 97 for development. In 2003
you can even skip VBA and create much more powerful solutions that will be
automatically installed on the client computers when needed. I might say
that 2003 puts Office in a new dimension leaving previous versions of Office
far behind when it comes to creating business solutions

We have tested about 1 megabytes of Word 97 macros in Word 2003 and
generally it's works without any problems at all.

Regards,
Lars-Eric

 

[Lars-Eric Gisslén]

Sorry,

I mean I agree with Steve.

Regards,
Lars-Eric

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Sorry,

I mean I agree with Steve.

;-)

Whew! You had me worried there for a moment.