USAO Computer Services & Support

Microsoft Office 2007
 - Application Compatibility Issues

This webpage details issues that may arise while using Office 2007 documents with campus services and other applications.

General:

• File Compatibility (Windows):
  ** Scroll down for Apple Macintosh instructions **

  The default 2007 Microsoft Office file format is new, and incompatible with all previous versions of Microsoft Office.

  Users of pre-Office 2007 Windows versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can use the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats, to make it possible to view and edit files that were created in the new Office 2007 file formats. This helps ensure that users of Office 2007 can continue to work with third-party solutions based on earlier versions, and users of earlier versions of Office can work with their colleagues, suppliers, customers, and others who have upgraded.

  IMPORTANT:
  The Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats is available here. Please download the converter pack on to your Windows-based computer and install it. You will be able to open up any new 2007 version Microsoft Office files on your computer after that.

  Side Note:
  Office 2007 users can change the default file format in Word 2007 to the .doc (previous) format by doing this:
          Office button > Word Options > Save > Save files in this format: Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)

  The procedure for changing the default file format for Excel and PowerPoint is similar.
  
   

• File Compatibility (Mac):

  Microsoft has released a free public beta version of the file format converter for Mac users. This converter will enable Office 2004 (or Office X) for the Mac to use the "Open XML" format for documents that is now the standard for Office 2007 (i.e. Windows version). Mac users should download the Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac software. It will enable you to convert Open XML files to a format that is compatible with Microsoft Office for Mac. For further reading on Apple's website, about the converter, please click here.

  Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac is scheduled to be released by the middle of January in 2008. This latest version of the Office suite for the Mac will use the Office Open XML formats natively, making it compatible with Office 2007 for Windows. According to Microsoft, the final (non-beta) converters (for Office 2004 users to open Office 2007/2008 files) will be available for download 6-8 weeks after the launch of Office 2008. For more information please see http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-09MacworldPR.mspx?source=rss&WT.dl=0
  
  System requirements for installing the converter:
  Important:   You must use Office 2004 11.3.4 or later, or Office v. X 10.1.9 or later to open converted documents. To verify that you have installed the Office 2004 11.3.4 (or later) update, select the Microsoft Component Plugin file in the Microsoft Office 2004/Office folder on your hard disk, and then on the File menu, click Get Info. To verify that you have installed the Office v. X 10.1.9 (or later) update, select the Microsoft Component Plugin file in the Microsoft Office X/Office folder on your hard disk, and then on the File menu, click Get Info.

  Additionally, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:

  Operating system : Mac OS X 10.4.8 (Tiger) or a later version of Mac OS.

  Note -  To verify that your computer meets these minimum requirements, on the Apple menu, click About This Mac.

Other Applications and Services:

• Adobe PDF files

  If you have Office 2007 installed on your computer and need to export your Office document to PDF, you can download and install the following free Office plugin from Microsoft. Download it from here: "2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS" 

  NOTE: If you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer (instead of just Adobe Reader), then you can use the PDF printer feature in Adobe Acrobat to export your office documents to PDF format. However, the above plugin will insure absolute compatibility and also add the functionality for it inside all Office 2007 programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher etc). The above plugin is available for Office 2007 users ONLY.
  
   

• Outlook Express

  After installing Office 2007, the English dictionary in Microsoft Outlook Express (not to be confused with the full featured Microsoft Outlook) is replaced with the French dictionary. The reason for this is that Outlook Express uses the dictionary from Office and Microsoft has only released a French language pack that Outlook Express can read. A suggested fix: install just the proofing tools from your previous version of Office. For details, see http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2006/20061228.htm. Please note that this fix is not supported by USAO Information Services and is provided for informational purposes only.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related Content:

• How to open .wps (i.e. Microsoft Works) files in Microsoft Word:
     -- Windows users - Works 2000 Converter for Word 97/2000/2002 users
     -- Macintosh users
   
• How to open .wpd (i.e. Corel WordPerfect) files in Microsoft Word:
     -- Windows users
     -- Macintosh users
   
• How to open various other obsolete file formats in Microsoft Office 97-2003:
     -- Download the Office File Converter Pack (Windows users)
   
• Office 2007: Why the New File Formats?
     -- http://askbobrankin.com/office_format_converters.html

© University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
1727 West Alabama, Chickasha, Oklahoma USA 73018
Phone: Chickasha: (405) 224-3140      
Last Updated 22 Apr 2008 02:02 PM