Science Hall Computing Knowledgebase

Microsoft Office Compatibility

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This article will describe how to view the newest office file types without installing the new office.

The newest versions of Microsoft Office have new file types that cannot be opened with many previous versions of Office. This can be especially troublesome when users with different versions of office are frequently sharing documents and not being mindful of how they save. Microsoft has provided a "Compatibility Converter" that will allow older versions of office to open these new file types, and it can be obtained here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941B3470-3AE9-4AEE-8F43-C6BB74CD1466&displaylang=en
All one needs to do is download the Compatibility Converter (about 28 MB), and open the file if it does not automatically open. The pack will automatically install, and then you'll be asked to restart your computer. When one opens a new file format, Microsoft Office will automatically convert the file so that it can be viewed and edited.

The Converter package for macs can be found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958304