WD: Can't Edit Objects in Converted Word Document

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

If you create an embedded object in a Word 6.x or 7.x document, open the document in Word 97, and save the document in Word 6.0/95 format, or Rich Text Format (RTF), you can view but not edit the object when you reopen the document in Word 6.x or 7.x. When you double-click the object, you get the following error message:

   Word cannot edit the object.

   {Embed Unknown}

This problem does not prevent the object from displaying or printing; it only affects your ability to edit the object.

CAUSE

When you save the document in Word 6.0/95 format or Rich Text Format on a computer that has Word 97 installed, the embedded object is updated to the version of the server program on the computer. For example, an Equation Editor object is updated to Equation Editor 3.0; when you reopen the document in Word 6.x or 7.x where the updated version of the server application is not available, Word cannot identify the server and you can no longer edit the object.

WORKAROUND

There is no workaround currently available.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Note: Once you open the documents in Word 6.0 or 7.0, do not save the document from Word 6.0 or 7.0 in Rich Text Format (RTF). If you do, any of the objects listed below that come into the document as an "unknown" object will be converted to a picture when you perform the save as RTF. To prevent the conversion to a picture, save the document in native format as a Word Document.

This problem affects the following objects when you open the converted document in either Word 6.x or Word 7.x, except as noted:

   Microsoft Equation Editor
   Microsoft Graph
   Microsoft Excel Worksheet
   Microsoft Document Map
   Microsoft PowerPoint Slide
   Microsoft Photo Editor
   Microsoft Clip Gallery (Word 6.x only)
   Microsoft Organization Chart  (Word 6.x only)