Why would you choose to maintain compatibility with 97-2003

[HT]

Hi there,

I don't understand the option to save a file and maintain compatibility with
97-2003. If I have an older version of a file, and I decide to "upgrade" the
file, fine...the obvious answer is to convert the file or save it with the
2007 .[doc]x extention. If I don't want to upgrade the file, perhaps because
i plan on sharing it with users on older software versions, to me, I would
keep the file in compatility mode, saving it as a 97-2003 version. So, why is
there an option to maintain compatibility with 97-2003 when I choose to save
it as a (e.g.) Word Document (or other 2007 version equivalent file type)?
What is the difference/benefit in choosing this rather than just keeping it
in the older file format? Either way they open in compatibility mode with
some productivity limitations.

Any insight on this is appreciated!
Thanks,
Heather

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

If you know that everyone that you exchange documents with is using a
pre-2007 version, it just makes sense.

Likewise, if you are working on your office files at home using 2007 and
your office uses 2003, why risk forgetting to Save As?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, HT asked:

| Hi there,
|
| I don't understand the option to save a file and maintain
| compatibility with 97-2003. If I have an older version of a file, and
| I decide to "upgrade" the file, fine...the obvious answer is to
| convert the file or save it with the 2007 .[doc]x extention. If I
| don't want to upgrade the file, perhaps because i plan on sharing it
| with users on older software versions, to me, I would keep the file
| in compatility mode, saving it as a 97-2003 version. So, why is there
| an option to maintain compatibility with 97-2003 when I choose to
| save it as a (e.g.) Word Document (or other 2007 version equivalent
| file type)? What is the difference/benefit in choosing this rather
| than just keeping it in the older file format? Either way they open
| in compatibility mode with some productivity limitations.
|
| Any insight on this is appreciated!
| Thanks,
| Heather

 

[HT]

Thank you. Maybe I'm missing the obvious here, but I guess I'm just wondering
why wouldn't you just do a save as [Word] 97-2003 file if you are frequently
exchanging files with those on older versions? Why save it as a 2007 version
and then select to maintain compatibility? I'm just trying to figure out what
is the difference/benefit of using one command over the other because to me
they seem like the same thing. I hope this makes sense...

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

That is not what I am saying. Just the opposite.

If you are the only one that you know who is using Office 07, I would set my
Save As options to always save as the earlier version. I would never elect
saving in the native format.

Saving in the native format would be the exception, not the rule.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, HT asked:

| Thank you. Maybe I'm missing the obvious here, but I guess I'm just
| wondering why wouldn't you just do a save as [Word] 97-2003 file if
| you are frequently exchanging files with those on older versions? Why
| save it as a 2007 version and then select to maintain compatibility?
| I'm just trying to figure out what is the difference/benefit of using
| one command over the other because to me they seem like the same
| thing. I hope this makes sense...
|
| "Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]" wrote:
|
|| If you know that everyone that you exchange documents with is using a
|| pre-2007 version, it just makes sense.
||
|| Likewise, if you are working on your office files at home using 2007
|| and your office uses 2003, why risk forgetting to Save As?
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
|| ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
|| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
||
||
|| After furious head scratching, HT asked:
||
||| Hi there,
|||
||| I don't understand the option to save a file and maintain
||| compatibility with 97-2003. If I have an older version of a file,
||| and I decide to "upgrade" the file, fine...the obvious answer is to
||| convert the file or save it with the 2007 .[doc]x extention. If I
||| don't want to upgrade the file, perhaps because i plan on sharing it
||| with users on older software versions, to me, I would keep the file
||| in compatility mode, saving it as a 97-2003 version. So, why is
||| there an option to maintain compatibility with 97-2003 when I
||| choose to save it as a (e.g.) Word Document (or other 2007 version
||| equivalent file type)? What is the difference/benefit in choosing
||| this rather than just keeping it in the older file format? Either
||| way they open in compatibility mode with some productivity
||| limitations.
|||
||| Any insight on this is appreciated!
||| Thanks,
||| Heather