How Word Determines What to Display in the Convert Dialog Box

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a

SUMMARY

You can convert an embedded object to a different file format by selecting another application as the source application for the object. For example, suppose you receive a Word document that has a Microsoft Excel worksheet embedded in it. Although you do not have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can specify another application to use for future editing of the embedded worksheet.

To activate the Convert dialog box, first select the object you want to edit. Choose the name of the object you want to edit from the bottom of the Edit menu, then choose Convert.

This article describes what criteria Word uses to display the list of applications in the Convert dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

For applications to be listed in the Convert dialog box, they must support OLE 2.0 and be able to convert the file type listed in the REG.DAT conversion section. For example, Word is listed as being able to convert Word documents. The convert option is for OLE 2.0 objects only. You cannot use the Convert dialog box to convert your Word documents to another file format.

In the REG.DAT file, a key called Conversion is associated with each class. From this key there are two subkeys: Readable (Convert) and Readwriteable (ActivateAs). Each of these keys has a list of formats.

For example:

   Microsoft Word 6.0 Document
       |
       |--Conversion
             |
             |-- Readable
             |-- Main = MSWordDoc,WordDocument

Note that because there is no Readwritable key, Word would not be listed as an application that can "Activate As" a Word object.

For more information, see the "Converting an Embedded Object to a Different Format" section in Chapter 28, "Exchanging Information with Other Applications," in "Microsoft Word User's Guide" for version 6.0.