Microsoft KB Archive/114168

= WD: Troubleshooting Guide: Converting Docs in Word for Windows =

PSS ID Number: 114168

Article Last Modified on 5/6/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0a
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0a-CD
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0b
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0c
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
 * Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

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This article was previously published under Q114168



SUMMARY
This article contains a series of questions you can use to troubleshoot problems converting from a foreign file format in Word for Windows.



General Troubleshooting
 How much hard disk space is available?

The amount of free disk space should be approximately 20 MB or higher.

Note: There is no specific minimum amount of free disk space required to run Office applications. However, most PC systems do require a certain amount of free space to perform file I\O and printing functions. 20 MB is a general recommendation.

If your hard disk has less than 20 MB of free disk space available, you should consider removing unused data files, temporary files or programs. Once you have cleared 20 MB or more on your primary hard disk, restart windows and re-open the affected file. How much RAM is available on your computer?

Make sure it at least meets the minimum requirements for the applications you are running. How much RAM is allocated to specific devices?

For example, how much RAM is allocated to SMARTDrive and/or RAMDrive in Windows 3.x? What are the BITMAPCACHE and/or CACHESIZE settings in the WIN.INI file (Word 2.x), WINWORD6.INI file (Word 6.0x), or the registry (Word 7.0x and Word 97)? Is the SET TEMP statement valid? Is there a TEMP directory? Is the TEMP directory located where the SET TEMP statement indicates it should be? In Word, check to see if the converter in question is working by following these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Open a new Word document.</li> Type Have a nice day. </li> Save in the foreign format desired.</li> Reopen the file in Word.</li></ol>

NOTE: If the converter is import only, try opening another document that is in the same foreign file format.</li></ul>

Working with the File
<ul> From where did the file originate?</li> Can the creator application open the file? For example, can WordPerfect still open the WordPerfect file?</li> What's in the document (graphics, text only, tables, equations, memo fields, objects, and so on)?</li> Repaginate the document in the originating application, resave it, and then open it in Word.</li> Can Word for Windows open ANY files made by the creator application?</li> If possible, create a new document in the source application. Can Word open the new document?</li> Can you convert any part of the problem file? Cut and paste a portion of the document into a new file and try converting it.</li> Is the file damaged? Save the file in RTF file format, reopen the RTF file, save the RTF file in the originating format. (In Word, you could also try to cut and paste all but the last paragraph mark into a new document.)

For additional informationabout dealing with damaged files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

87856 WD97: Troubleshooting Damaged Documents in Word for Windows

</li></ul>

Opening a Document from a Foreign Format
<ul> Is the conversion just going so slow it appears as if the file is not converting? (Do you still see the status bar?)</li> What conversion choice does Word choose for you after selecting Open from the File menu?</li> Is the correct converter installed? To see a list of the currently installed converters,

In Word 1.x - 6.0x:

<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>On the File menu, click Open.</li> <li>Turn on the Confirm Conversions checkbox.</li> <li>Open a non-Word document.</li></ol>

In Word 7.0 - 97:

<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>On the Tools menu click Options</li> <li>Click on the General tab.</li> <li>Turn on the Confirm Conversion at Open checkbox.</li> <li>Open a non-Word document.</li></ol>

Word displays the Convert File dialog box, showing all of the installed import converters.</li> <li>Is the converter (*.CNV file)and any supporting DLLs in the correct location? The files should be in the \TEXTCONV directory or in the program directory.</li></ul>

Supplemental Converters
<ul> <li>Is there a supplemental converter available?

For additional information about obtaining supplemental converters, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

104949 Supported Foreign File Formats in WinWord 6.0 / 6.0a / 6.0

212265 WD: Additional Text Converters and Image Filters Available in Microsoft Office Converter Pack

136385 Supported Foreign File Formats in Word and Office 95

162987 Word 97: Supported Non-Word File Formats

</li> <li>Does the INI file or registry reflect the correct path and filename for the converter?

Word 2.x - Check the [MSWord Text Converters] section of the WIN.INI.

Word 6.0 - Check the [MS Text Converters] section of the WIN.INI file for shared text converters or the [MSWord Text Converters] section of the WINWORD6.INI file for Word specific converters.

Word 97 - See the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

157464 Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry</li> <li>Does the [Extensions] section of the WIN.INI file have a DLL or CNV entry--for example, dll=toolbook.exe ^.doc or cnv=write.exe ^.cnv ?</li></ul>

Saving a Document in a Foreign Format

 * Is the correct converter installed?
 * Is the document really a template with a .DOC file extension?

If "Document Template (*.dot)" is unavailable (dimmed) in the Save As File Type box, then it's a template.
 * Are the extensions incorrect?

For Windows 3.x

Does the [extensions] section of the WIN.INI file have a DLL or CNV entry--for example, dll=toolbook.exe ^.doc or cnv=write.exe ^.cnv ? Remove the line from the WIN.INI file if it does, and restart windows.

For Windows 95

Does the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive of the registry have an association for CNV? If it does, remove the key from the registry.
 * Are there other desktop shells running?
 * Is the conversion just going so slow that it appears as if the file is not converting? (Do you still see the status bar?)

Keywords: kbdta kbinfo winword winword2 word6 word7 word8 word95 word97 KB114168

Technology: kbWord110 kbWord110a kbWord200 kbWord200a kbWord200b kbWord200c kbWord600 kbWord600a kbWord600c kbWord95 kbWord95a kbWord95Search kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbWordSearch kbZNotKeyword2

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