Converter required to open file?

[steve]

I have been sent a Word file from a Mac user and everytime I try opening in
Word 2003 it tells me I need a converter and it asks if I would like to
install one.

What converter do I need to install? I even asked the Mac user to save down
in an older version of Word to see if that would work but it didn't.

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Cross-posting to the Mac.word group for extra input.

This shouldn't be a problem, as it's the same file format since Word 97.
Does the file have the .doc extension? What format did your correspondent
use to encode the attachment (tell them to search Help in their email
program)?

DM

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Steve,

It could be an encoding problem, as Dayo suggested. Or it's possible that
the sender "stuffed" the file. That's the Macintosh equivalent of zipping a
file on the PC. If that's the case, you'll need "Aladdin Expander" (Stuffit
Expander for Windows), which is a free download from Aladdin.

I'm not familiar with Word 2003 but what happens when you answer "yes" to
the dialog about installing a converter?

--
Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/index.htm>
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/toc.html>

 

[steve]

the file didn't have a .doc extension so I added it, that is the only way
that Word even knew what to do with it and attempt to open it.

I will have to wait to hear back from him about the encoding.

 

[steve]

It's not a stuffed file. When I answer "yes" it asks me for the original
install cd. I do not have it with me here, so I will have to try later and
see what happens.

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Steve,

That's a new one on me but then I have no experience with Word 2003.

A few questions:

Are you *sure* it's a Word file you were sent? What version of Word created
it?

Was the document protected?

Have you asked the sender yet how s/he encoded it?

Have you received Word files from the same sender before and opened them
without problems?

Have you received Word files from other Mac users before and opened them
without problems?

If you're willing, I'll send you a Word 2001 file, encoded for Windows, to
verify that nothing weird is going on with your system. If you'd like me to
do that, either verify that the address you're posting from is a real one or
post your real one here (or to me directly at the email address I'm using
here).

--
Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/index.htm>
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/toc.html>

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Hi Steve,

My new standard response to this problem, which is suddenly popping up a
lot.

There's no difference in the Word file format (since Word 97), it's a
question of how the attachment is encoded by the email program.

My Mac email program, Entourage, has this to say:

About attachment encodings
When you choose an encoding format, it is helpful to understand how
Macintosh files differ from files created on other computers. Macintosh
files include additional resource information that files created on other
types of computers do not. If you are sending a data file, such as a
Microsoft Word document or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, such resource
information may not be necessary. However, if you are sending something more
complex, such as a program, to another Macintosh computer, you must choose
an encoding format that preserves all the data.
The AppleDouble encoding format preserves the additional resource
information, and can be read by both Macintosh and other types of computers.
AppleDouble is a good choice for your default encoding format; it works most
of the time with most computers. However, if AppleDouble fails, you can
choose a different encoding format depending on the type of computer you are
sending the attachment to:
€ To send an attachment to a Macintosh computer, use BinHex, which
preserves the Macintosh resource information and data.
€ To send an attachment to a Windows-based computer, use MIME/Base 64,
which preserves the data only.
€ To send an attachment to a UNIX computer, use UUEncode, which preserves
the data only.

Try sending this explanation to your correspondent, asking them to change
their encoding. The help on any Mac email program will tell them how.

DM

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word]]

Yeah, he needs the QuickTime 6 converter to handle the embedded PICTs.

Tell him to run Office Update on the PC and take the add-ins that are
offered.

Cheers


This responds to article

Cross-posting to the Mac.word group for extra input.

This shouldn't be a problem, as it's the same file format since Word 97.
Does the file have the .doc extension? What format did your correspondent
use to encode the attachment (tell them to search Help in their email
program)?

DM

--

Please respond only to the newsgroup to preserve the thread.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]