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SmallerMac Users will not be able to open a file created with Office 2007 with their current version of MS Office 2004 for the Mac. The student or colleague will need to save the file in an older format (.doc) to keep it compatible for Mac Users.
This is no longer with Office 2008 for the Mac. The 2008 Office Suite is now available for download from at the UCS Software and Services website.
PC Users:
When you try to open a 2007 document, if you are NOT prompted to download and install a compatibility pack, you will need to update Office 2003 first. Follow the steps below to update Office 2003:
To Update Office:
- Go To http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/default.aspx
- Click the link Office Updates in the Get Updates Section on the upper right
After the Office 2003 updates are installed, follow the steps below:
PC Users can download and install a compatibility pack if all of the updates are current. Follow the below directions:
When you try to open a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file created in the new Microsoft Office 2007 format, you will be "prompted" to download a compatibility pack.
The information window will display:
"This file was created by a newer version of Microsoft Word. Do you want to download a compatibility pack so that you can work with this file?"
Click OK to open to the Microsoft download website. Note: If you have not kept Windows or Office updated, you may have to complete the updates before you can install the compatibility pack!
Your computer must be connected to the Internet.
The next window to display will be Microsoft Download Center page where you can click Download to start the process of downloading the file.
The next window will let you choose whether you want to Run or Save the download file. If you are on a slow (dial-up) connection, select Save. This method lets you install the compatibility pack from your computer instead of trying to Run the installation from the Internet.
Once the compatibility pack is installed:
- You can open the file
- Save the file in the .doc format (Office 2003 and earlier versions)
- Some of the Office 2007 features may not appear in the converted file, especially in PowerPoint
