office 2010 opening 2003 files

[numnutz]

I have not confirmed this yet but I have a client that states ever since I installed her new windows 7 pro 64bit computer with office 2010 any time they try to open file saved in office 2003 it is not displaying properly. Going there tomorrow but wondering if this has been seen by anyone? I did some google searches and didnt come up with much other than the known issues with compatibility with office 2003 opening 2007, 2010 files but this is the opposite.

anyone come across this?

 

[Knightsman]

You probably need to install the office compatability pack, google the name and the download should be the first result

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[glricht]

You probably need to install the office compatability pack, google the name and the download should be the first result

IIRC, the compatibility pack is for allowing older MS Office pgms (e.g. MS 2003) to open files from newer MS Office pgms (e.g. 2007 or 2010), not the other way around which is what the OP is concerned about.

Just found the download page it says:
"Install this compatibility pack if you would like to open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations that were created in the newer versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint."

 

[Knightsman]

IIRC, the compatibility pack is for allowing older MS Office pgms (e.g. MS 2003) to open files from newer MS Office pgms (e.g. 2007 or 2010), not the other way around which is what the OP is concerned about.

Just found the download page it says:
"Install this compatibility pack if you would like to open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations that were created in the newer versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint."

Um yeah, and it has also fixes issues like this.

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[numnutz]

Um yeah, and it has also fixes issues like this.

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Knightsman, so what your saying is. If someone with office 2003 with out the compatibility pack installed on their pc sends that file to someone with 2007 / 2010. the pc with Office 2007 / 2010 may have issues opening the file correctly? If so I was not aware of this. thanks

 

[Knightsman]

Knightsman, so what your saying is. If someone with office 2003 with out the compatibility pack installed on their pc sends that file to someone with 2007 / 2010. the pc with Office 2007 / 2010 may have issues opening the file correctly? If so I was not aware of this. thanks

I had the similar issue, and after trying to repair office didnt fix it, I tried it and to my suprise it worked. Thats if its resembles this problem, but like you said you haven't confirmed it. But I do hope it helps if it is the problem.

 

[allanc]

I had the similar issue, and after trying to repair office didnt fix it, I tried it and to my suprise it worked. Thats if its resembles this problem, but like you said you haven't confirmed it. But I do hope it helps if it is the problem.

Some of my Office 2010 clients had other issues when opening Office 2003 spreadsheets.
My resolution was to d/l Open Office, open the 2003 spreadsheet in Open Office then immediately (without changing anything) 'save as'. The default options in Open Office seem to resolve the issues.
HTH.

 

[Knightsman]

Some of my Office 2010 clients had other issues when opening Office 2003 spreadsheets.
My resolution was to d/l Open Office, open the 2003 spreadsheet in Open Office then immediately (without changing anything) 'save as'. The default options in Open Office seem to resolve the issues.
HTH.

Now getting the customer to do that is a whole nother story

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[strollin]

In my "day" job as a software engineer, I work on a product that's an addin for Excel. We support Excel 2003, 2007 & 2010 which I switch between constantly on a daily basis. I haven't had any issues saving a spreadsheet in 2003 format and then using it in 2007 or 2010.

I'd like to know more about what the problem is beyond "it is not displaying properly".

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I'd like to know more about what the problem is beyond "it is not displaying properly".

50p says it's a zoom issue

 

[seedubya]

Um yeah, and it has also fixes issues like this.

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I think you must be mistaken. The Compatibility Pack won't even install on a machine where Office XP or 2003 is not present. Just fails with a "required product not present" message.

 

[Knightsman]

I think you must be mistaken. The Compatibility Pack won't even install on a machine where Office XP or 2003 is not present. Just fails with a "required product not present" message.

That's weird, I installed one just the other day running home and business 2010

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[allanc]

In my "day" job as a software engineer, I work on a product that's an addin for Excel. We support Excel 2003, 2007 & 2010 which I switch between constantly on a daily basis. I haven't had any issues saving a spreadsheet in 2003 format and then using it in 2007 or 2010.

I'd like to know more about what the problem is beyond "it is not displaying properly".

My mistake.
They were Word documents that could not be opened properly in 2010 (not Excel).

 

[emsbronco]

Is the Office 2010 a 32 bit or 64 bit version?

There are some issues with plugins with the 64 bit version. I have also heard about some problems working with documents with embedded OLE functions when crossing from 32 to 64 bit or vice-versa.

 

[numnutz]

the issue i am having is my client is using watermarks and they are not displaying in 2010 word created in word 2003. the new machines are windows 7 pro 64bit

 

[allanc]

Is the Office 2010 a 32 bit or 64 bit version?

There are some issues with plugins with the 64 bit version. I have also heard about some problems working with documents with embedded OLE functions when crossing from 32 to 64 bit or vice-versa.

The client went from XP PRO sp3 (32-bit) to Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

 

[emsbronco]

For watermarks, if they aren't displaying, try opening the file, then going into Word options - display and make sure "Print drawings created in Word" and "print background colors and images" are both checked. See if that changes the behavior you are seeing.

AllanC, for Office compatibility, the version of windows does not matter much, it's the version of Office. If you install the 32 bit version of Office 2010, it will use the 32-bit plugins and the OLE issues should not be a problem. But, if you install the 64-bit version, most of the plugins are 32-bit only and OLE may have issues.
One thing to remember if you install 32-bit office on Windows 64-bit is that the control panel modules (like Email configuration) will not be int he regular Control Panel, you need to browse down to "View 32-bit control panel items".

 

[allanc]

For watermarks, if they aren't displaying, try opening the file, then going into Word options - display and make sure "Print drawings created in Word" and "print background colors and images" are both checked. See if that changes the behavior you are seeing.

AllanC, for Office compatibility, the version of windows does not matter much, it's the version of Office. If you install the 32 bit version of Office 2010, it will use the 32-bit plugins and the OLE issues should not be a problem. But, if you install the 64-bit version, most of the plugins are 32-bit only and OLE may have issues.
One thing to remember if you install 32-bit office on Windows 64-bit is that the control panel modules (like Email configuration) will not be int he regular Control Panel, you need to browse down to "View 32-bit control panel items".

I will keep this in mind.
Thank you.