Converting MAC Word documents to Win Word

[Labbie]

Hi,

I have some documents which were created with Mac Word (don't know which
version) - and I am trying to open them in Windows Word (Office 2003).

The original MAC files don't have any file extensions - I tried manually
adding a .doc extension - but still win word can't open it. I can open it in
Wordpad - but the characters are unrecognizable.

How do I open the files on the PC side?

Thanks,

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

If you don't know what version of MacWord, then how do you expect us to
know? WinWord 97 to 2003 and MacWord 98 to 2004 share the same basic
file format, so Word 2003 should be able to open any of these. Word
2002 and earlier included a .mcw file converter for MacWord 4.0, 5.0,
and 5.1 files. The current Office Converter Pack available from the
Microsoft website does not include a .mcw file converter because that
converter posed a security risk.

 

[Labbie]

Thanks,

I'll ask the person who supplied me the files about the Macintosh word
version.

I'm sorry but I've never used MAC, so is it possible to save a file in MAC
as .doc? and open it later in Win Word (as you said Macword 98 to 2004 are
compatible with Win word 97 to 2003)...

Thanks for your response

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Some versions of MacWord can save as a .doc file. I believe all
versions of MacWord can save as a rich text format (.rtf) file, which
Word 2003 should be able to open.

 

[Labbie]

done that with success,

thank you very much indeed !

 

[CyberTaz]

As g-n-o says the file formats are the same but the OS is obviously
different, as is the email environment. For future reference...

Have the Mac (not MAC) user do three things to help avoid future problems;

1- There is a checkbox in their Save dialog box to include filename
extensions - they should use it (and it hurts nothing to *leave* it
checked),

2- Have them zip the file before attaching - especially if you're in an
Exchange Server email environment. Otherwise it will chew up the files &
spit them out in little pieces

3- Their email software probably has a "Windows Friendly" setting of some
sort or at least an option to verify the correct encoding method.
AppleDouble or UTF-8 should be good.

On your end always save the attachment to disk & open the saved file - don't
double-click the attachment icon.