Opening and using files created in Office 2007

Many Windows users (such as students) and those outside of the University are now upgrading to the new Microsoft Office 2007 software suite. In this new version of Microsoft Office, Microsoft has changed the file format in which Office applications are saved.

In Office 2003 (the version currently used by faculty and staff computers on campus), a Word document is saved in the .doc format, Excel is saved in the .xls format and PowerPoint is saved in the .ppt format. In Office 2007, a Word document is saved in the .docx format, Excel is saved in the .xlsx format and PowerPoint is saved in the .pptx format. As a result, files created in Office 2007 can not normally be opened in Office 2003 for Windows or Office 2004 for Mac.

However, there are a couple of ways to make sure that everyone is able to read, view, and work with Office 2007 documents, presentations, and workbooks especially in Office 2003 for Windows or Office 2004 for Mac.

On campus, Computing and Network Services will be installing the Office Compatibility Pack automatically for our Windows users on campus. Mac users will have to download the Compatibility Pack and install it separately (see the instructions below to download the software separately). This software will allow users to open and work with Office 2007 files.

If you have Office 2003 for Windows or Office 2004 for Mac at home, you can obtain the Office Compatibility Pack separately. Click on one of the following links to bring you to the correct Microsoft website:

• Office Compatibility Pack for Windows: Office 2003

• Office Compatibility Pack for Mac: Office 2004

Resources:

• For an general overview about Office compatibility, go to this article entitled: All versions of Office can play nice - Crabby shows you how. Authored by the Crabby Office Lady.
• If you are an Office 2007 user and want to make your files compatible with Office 2003, go to this article entitled: Create a document to be used by previous versions of word.
• For Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Word 2007, which also explains the compatibility issues, go to this article: Microsoft Office 2007 frequently asked questions.
• For information about installing the Office Compatibility Pack, go to this article entitled: Open a Word 2007 document in an earlier version of Word.
• For information on how Office 2007 users can save a document in another file format, go to this article entitled: Use Word to open or save a file in another file format.

If you have any questions concerning working with Office 2007 documents, please contact C&NS at ext. 4069 or send an e-mail to cns@mail.fairfield.edu.

Thank you, and safe computing.