Re: Choosing between Word Formats

Hi Phillip:

On 18/07/08 8:52 AM, in article ec8byPG6IHA.4296@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
"Phillip Jones" <pjones1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John its not necessarily Silly.

Well, "misguided" then :-) We could ask how such users came to be misguided
:-)

I could be case like mine. I've tried to upgrade from OSX.3.9 on this
machine (7 times in fact) and it just won't go from OSX.3.9 to OSX.4.
So I am stuck using 2004.

I am sure that it will if you first format the hard disk :-)

In the case of PC perhaps some are still using machine that can't even
be upgraded to use XP. and therefore stuck.

No. There is no such PC still running :-) An operating system later than
Windows 3.x will do them, and any copy of Word later than Word 95. They
will all install the free .docx converters.

The are probably many in these situations.

I simply do not believe there are ANY people in such a condition. Anything
too old to load Windows 95/Word 97 is too old to get on the Internet.

So unless you know they have 2007/2008 or have 2003/2004 with installed
converter or you know that have a dedicated program such as DataViz It
would be better to send in Docx you know have 2007/2008 and Doc to the
rest and to prevent strange things happening zip them.

I strongly disagree. I strongly believe that all users of Word 2008 are
best advised to save in and work in the latest .docx format.

I further believe they are best to SEND that format to other people, always.
Everyone else can find a way to open the .docx format. There are no
exceptions.

Suggesting that users use anything else with Word 2008 is just sentencing
them to a long period of irritation, misery, and lost data.

Sorry Phillip: I just think it is a really bad idea to give that advice.
Very few users know enough to know WHY they would be better off in .docx,
and very few of them want to know. We are here because we are supposed to
know the difference and be able to give the questioners responsible advice.

A year ago, I could make a case for bothering with the old file formats.
Not any more. In any large workplace, the .docx converters have already
been installed. Users can run any flavour of Word younger than Word 95 in
..docx if they choose. If they do, they will save a lot of disk space and
document corruption.

Cheers


John McGhie wrote:
Hi Anne:

I would stick to 2008 format (.docx) always. For several reasons:
* It is one quarter the size
* It is much, much more robust
* Documents can be fixed if they do corrupt
* The format supports all the new features that you bought Office 2008 to
get.

So: I would always work in .docx. Most people in the world can now read
and write the new format (there are free converters available for older
versions of Word).

Occasionally, you will have to send a file to someone who is too silly to
install the converter. You can then Save As to the old format if you need
to. But first, send them the new format: chances are, they won't notice :-)

And always keep the original in .docx format: it's much safer.

Cheers


On 17/07/08 12:35 PM, in article 59b5452f.1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
"annpeace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <annpeace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

For now Doc is the more like to receive a safe trip. perhaps 90% of PC
users have remained with PC Office version below 2007 (the non XML type)

And 2008 isn't receiving a warm reception either due to leaving out VBA
and for all intents and purposes kill Macros depending upon VBA.

So I'd find out from the person you wan to send to if they have Office
2007 or Office 2008 (XML version or 2003 PC/2004 Mac. Send DOCX to
2007/2008 users and DOC to everyyyy one else.

And to be on safe side to keep from getting mangled in the Transfer Zip
the file before sending even if it makes the file larger.

annpeace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I can't decide whether to save documents as .doc or .docx.

I do interchange documents frequently with people who have pc based
operating systems; also, many of my documents were created on a pc based
operating system.

What are the pros and cons of saving documents each way?

Thanks very much.
--
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If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto:pjones@xxxxxxxxxxxx








Thank you very much!


--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:john@xxxxxxxxxxx

.

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