WD95: Error Message Opening Word 97 File in Word 6.x, 7.x

ID: Q161841

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Word versions 6.x and 7.x, when you open a Word 97 document that contains PNG or JPG graphics, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Case 1

Microsoft Word 97 Conversion: Out of Memory

When you click OK, you receive this message:

Microsoft Word Err = 1025: Word cannot open the document. (<path><filename>)

where <path> and <filename> will vary depending on the location and name of the document that you are trying to open.

Case 2:

Microsoft Word 97 Conversion: Unable to load graphics conversion filter. Continue with document conversion?

CAUSE

Case 1:

Microsoft Word 97 saves PNG and JPG graphics files in their native file formats (that is, Word 97 does not convert these graphics to EMF/WMF formats as it does with other graphic formats). The converter that is installed to Word 6.0 (Msword8.cnv) has a problem converting some Word 97 documents containing PNG or JPG graphics to Word 6.x, 7.x format.

Case 2:

One or more of the following graphics filters installed by the Word 97 converter Setup is either missing or an incorrect version of the filter.

Following are the graphics filter files installed by the Wrd97cnv.exe Setup for Word 6.x and 7.x.


   Filters for Word 6.x (located in the Msapps/Grphflt directory):
      File name        Size       Date
      -------------------------------------
      Emfimp.flt       150KB      8/29/1996
      Iffjpeg.dll      76KB       4/2/1996
      Jpegimp.flt      14KB       4/2/1996
      Pictimp.flt      57KB       5/25/1993
      Pngimp.flt       128KB      9/25/1996

   Filters for Word 7.x (located in the Program Files\Common
   Files\Microsoft Shared/Grphflt folder):
      File name        Size       Date
      --------------------------------------
      Emfimp32.flt     333KB       9/19/1996
      Jpegim32.flt     168KB       9/19/1996
      Png32.flt        218KB      10/15/1996
      Pictim32.flt     80KB        9/30/1996

WORKAROUND

Workaround for Case 1

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Save the File in as a Word 6.0/95 Document

Open the document containing .png and/or .jpg graphics in Word 97.

On the File menu, click Save As.

In the Save As dialog box, in the Name box, type a new name for the file (this creates a copy of the file). Change the "Save as type" to "Word 6.0/95 (*.doc)," and then click OK.

This saves a copy of your file in a format that can be converted into Word 6.0. This saves the document as an RTF file. The RTF converter for Word 6.0 is internal to Word, so no additional converter is required to open an RTF file in Word 6.0.

Method 2: Save the File in Rich-Text Format (RTF)

Open the document containing .png and/or .jpg graphics in Word 97.

On the File menu, click Save As.

In the Save As dialog box, in the Name box, change the name of the file (this creates a copy of the file).

Also, in the Save As dialog box, change the "Save as type" to "Rich Text Format (*.RTF)," and then click OK.

This will save a copy of your file in a format that can be converted to Word 6.x and 7.x. The RTF converter for Word 6.x and 7.x is internal to Word, so no additional converter is required to open an RTF file.

Method 3: Use a Different Graphics Format

In your Word 97 document, insert the graphics files in a format other than PNG or JPG before you open the document in Word 6.x or 7.x.

Workaround for Case 2

To work around this behavior, use the following method:

Reinstall the converter and associated graphics filters by running the Wrd97cnv.exe setup again to ensure usage of the correct filters.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If you're using Word 6.x or Word 7.x for Windows, you must install the Word 97-2000 Import Converter to open Word 97 documents. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q162214 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-2000 Import Converter

For more information about Word converters, click the Office Assistant, type "file converters," click Search, and then click to view "File format converters supplied with Microsoft Word."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

For information on error messages you may receive when converting the following objects:


   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)

Please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q157546 Can't Edit Objects in Converted Word Document

Additional query words: 8.0 oom word6a word6c word95a

Keywords : kbualink97 kbusage kbdta kbconversion word8 winword word6 word7 word95
Version : WINDOWS:6.0,7.0,7.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug