WD97: How to Open Documents into an Earlier Version of Word

ID: Q157091

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

This article describes how to open a Word 97 document in an earlier version of Word for Windows or in an earlier version of Word for the Macintosh.

NOTE: Word 97 for Windows documents open directly in Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition.


MORE INFORMATION

Windows

The best way to open a Word 97 document in an earlier version of Word for Windows is to use the Word 97-2000 Import Converter.

NOTE: Word 97 does not have an import converter for Word 2.0 for Windows and earlier.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q162214 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-2000 Import Converter

Macintosh

The best way to open a Word 97 for Windows document in an earlier version of Word for the Macintosh is to use the Word 97-98-2000 Import Converter.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q184128 WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-98-2000 Converter

METHODS FOR CONVERSION

Method 1: Save the Document as Word 6.0/95

NOTE: If you want to open your Word 97 document in Word 2.x for Windows, use either Method 2 or Method 3.

In Word 97, follow these steps to save the document using the Microsoft Word 6.0/95 converter:
  1. Open the document in Word 97.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save As Type list, select Word 6.0/95 (*.doc).


For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q162602 WD97: Questions About Saving in the Word 6.0/95 File Format

Method 2: Save the Document as Rich Text Format (*.rtf)

In Word 97, follow these steps to save the document using the Rich Text Format converter:
  1. Open the document in Word 97.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save As Type list, select Rich Text Format (*.rtf).


Method 3: Save the Document as Word 2.0 for Windows

In Word 97, use the following steps to save the document using the Word 2.x for Windows converter:
  1. Open the document in Word 97.


  2. On the File menu, click Save As.


  3. In the Save As Type list, click Word 2.x for Windows.


Additional query words: 8.0 converts converting conversion converted transferred transferring transfers import export

Keywords : kbualink97 winword word97
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: July 9, 1999
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