Using Office 2007 vs 2003

[Annelie]

I bought Office 2007 right after it came out and then never used it. I am
still using Office 2003. I am thinking about moving up.
Is it fully compatible with Access 2003, which my clients still use?

 

[GBA]

as with all versions in the general sense; you can definitely use 07 to open
03s and it is fully compatible;

but if you develop in 07 - you might use a new feature of 07 that cannot be
understood by the 03s; so in general to be safe - I always use 03 for
development for 03 customers.... so I do use both; 07 takes some getting
accustomed to but once you get to know it it is fine....

 

[Annelie]

It makes sense. It is a shame that we can't work with both versions on the
same computer. I wish I had kept my old laptop.

 

[George]

You CAN work with both versions on the same computer, although it would not
be practical to work in both versions simultaneously.

When opening one version after having worked with the other, there will be a
delay as numerous registry settings are rewritten, but once you are going,
it should be fine.

As previously noted, there are considerable differences between the
interfaces, and that will be the biggest learning curve for most people.

Just be careful not to develop new databases in the accdb version if you
intend to deploy to a user who has A2003 installed.

 

[GBA]

as George noted; you can have both on the same machine.

I have 02 and 03 on the same xp machine; as George notes - if I open 02
after having used 03 (and vice versa) there is a nominal delay while it
installs the 02 library and such - but it is a nit.....before you do an
install of your second though be sure to search this web site on this topic
as there is advice in terms of being sure to direct the second install into a
new and different folder....

my 07 is on a vista so it is a different machine. I use a special Y cable
that I bought from a local PC shop so I can use the same screen, keyboard,
mouse and toggle physically from the xp to the vista machine....

 

[Guest]

I bought Office 2007 right after it came out and then never used it. I am
still using Office 2003. I am thinking about moving up.
Is it fully compatible with Access 2003, which my clients still use?