Why the Flipping File Won't Open

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to print a document just before you race to a meeting only to find that the darn thing won’t open. Before you put your fist through your computer screen, stop to check if the document has a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx extension. If so, you are a victim of Microsoft Backwards-incompatibility Syndrome (know affectionately as Microsoft BS.) Its main symptom is that people using different versions of Microsoft Office cannot open each others’ files.

There are three quick fixes:

• If you are using Office 2007 you can instruct it to save all files in the old 2003 format. Click on the Office button, select Options, under the Save section, "Save files in this format," select the old 2003 format.
• If you are using earlier versions of Office, you can download the free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack. This will allow your old applications to open the new formats. It is available at this web page.
• If these do not work, you can call upon the deity of your choice and/or call Networkistics. Either may be able to help you.

Just in case you’re wondering, “Why did those nice folks at Microsoft---who live to make my life easier---do this to me?” (OK, you might not have phrased it exactly that way…) There are some benefits to the new Office 2007 formats:

• They are smaller because they are zipped
• They are more robust (that’s tech talk for less likely to turn to gibberish for no apparent reason)
• Viruses are less likely to infect them

For those of you who are still postponing the joy of upgrading to Office 2007, a future Tech Tip will cover how to pick the version that’s best for you.

Wishing you a blue-screen-free week,

Darrell Gray
Networkistics, Inc.
IT consulting and support services
925.249.9980
www.networkistics.com