Can I upgrade from Word 2003 to Word 2007 and have my files fit?

[Help with Word]

Can I upgrade my current Word 2003 to Word 2007 and have my current files fit
the new program? If so, is it as easy as downloading the program form
Microsoft Downloads.

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

You can open your 2003 files in 2007 without further ado (but then the
new features in 2007 won't be available). You can save the old files
in the new format (and they'll take up less space on your hard drive)
You can create and save documents in the old format, too.

I don't think you can buy Word or Office as a download.

 

[Gordon Bentley-Mix on news.microsoft.com]

Your Word 2003 documents will be fully compatible with Word 2007, although
2007 will open them is what is called "compatibility mode" until you save
them in the new format.

As for it being "as easy as downloading the program [from] Microsoft
Downloads", if the full version of Office 2007 is available for purchase
through the Microsoft website, then I would say that this is correct.
However, please be aware that if you download a trial version and then decide
later to purchase the full version, you will need to uninstall the trial
version before installing the full version.

Also be aware that Word 2007 is *markedly* different in look and feel from
what you may be accustomed to in Word 2003. Accordingly, you may find it a
bit daunting at first, and the learning curve may be a bit steep. Have
patience. You can still do everything you did in 2003 (and much more!); you
may just have to learn a new way to do it. This newsgroup can be a great
resource for helping you along the way.
--
Cheers!

Gordon Bentley-Mix
Word MVP

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup.

Read the original version of this post in the Office Discussion Groups - no
membership required!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

To add to what Gordon has said, the "upgrade" is *not* a free download. It
is a new version, and it costs a significant amount of money. As he
indicated, you can download a free trial version, which I believe is good
for 90 days (though some users report it expiring sooner), but sooner or
later you will have to pay for it if you decide you want it.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[TedMi]

Office trial version is good for 60 days.
-TedMi

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Thanks, Ted. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, so I didn't know.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org