Microsoft KB Archive/122707

WD5x: Word Equation Objects Cannot Be Edited in MacWord 5.x

PSS ID Number: Q122707 Article last modified on 04-29-1998

MACINTOSH: 5.x

MACINTOSH

================================================================ ==

The information in this article applies to:

 == Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.1, 5.1a == 

= SYMPTOMS =

An Equation object embedded in a Word 6.0 for Windows document cannot be edited as an equation when the document is converted to Word 5.x for the Macintosh.

An equation object embedded in Word 6.0 for the Macintosh document also cannot be edited in Word 5.x unless Word 6.0 is installed on the same computer.

An Equation object embedded in a Word 98 Macintosh Edition document cannot be edited as an equation when the document is converted to and opened in either Word 5.1 for the Macintosh or Word 5.0 for the Macintosh.

Depending on the method of conversion, one of the following problems results:

  If you save a Word 6.0 for Windows document as Word 5.0 or 5.1 format and open the document in Word 5.x on a computer on which only Word 5.x is installed, equations initially appear as empty boxes. If you try to restore an equation by double-clicking the box, you receive the following error message: This object editor is not currently available.   If you save a Word 6.0 for the Macintosh document as Word 5.0 or 5.1 format and open the document in Word 5.x on a computer on which only Word 5.x is installed, the most recent equation result does appear. However, if you try to update the equation, you will receive the above error message.   If you open a Word 6.0 for Windows or Word 6.0 for Macintosh document directly into Word 5.x using the “Word 6.0 for Windows&Macintosh” converter on a Macintosh on which only Word 5.x is installed, an Equation object becomes an empty picture box. If you double-click the box to update it, the Word 5.x Picture Editor is launched.   If you save a Word 98 Macintosh Edition document as Word 5.0 or 5.1 format and open the document in Word 5.x for the Macintosh and then you try to restore the equation by double-clicking the equation, you receive the following error message: This object editor is not currently available. 

= CAUSE =

Equations are embedded in Word 6.x and Word 98 Macintosh Edition documents as OLE 2.0 objects. The Equation Editor supplied with Word 5.x for the Macintosh is an OLE 1.0 object server that cannot understand OLE 2.0 data.

The Word 5.x for the Macintosh export converters supplied with Word 6.x for Windows, Word 6.x for the Macintosh, and Word 98 Macintosh Edition do transform OLE 2.0 Equation objects to OLE 1.0 objects in a generic sense. However, the structure of data within the converted objects still differs from that understood by the Word 5.x Equation Editor.

With this limitation, the Word 6.0 for Windows&Macintosh converter is designed to transform Equation Editor 2.0 objects and any other OLE objects encountered in a Word 6.0 document into a picture in Word 5.x. This functionality was included to at least allow updating of equations as pictures.

= RESOLUTION =

To retain the ability to edit equations as Equation objects when exchanging documents with Word 6.x or Word 98 Macintosh Edition users, update to either Word 6.x for the Macintosh or Word 98 Macintosh Edition.

= MORE INFORMATION =

If Word 6.x has been completely installed on the same Macintosh as Word 5.x, OLE 2.0 support and the OLE 2.0 Equation Editor are available to Word 5.x. That is why in this scenario you can successfully edit an equation in a document that was saved from Word 6.x in Word 5.x format. When you choose to update the object, Equation Editor 2.0 is actually started instead of the OLE 1.0 Equation Editor normally used by Word 5.x. This does not happen with Word 98 Macintosh Edition.

The most recent result of an equation in any version of Word is represented by a PICT picture image on a Macintosh and a Windows Metafile under Windows. An empty box initially appears when you open a document containing an equation that was saved from Word 6.x for Windows in Word 5.x format because Word 6.x for Windows doesn’t include a filter to convert a Windows Metafile to a PICT image. In Word 98 Macintosh Edition, the equation shows upon opening the file in Word 5.x for the Macintosh.

Word 5.x for the Macintosh does include a filter that converts Windows Metafile format to PICT. This converter is named “Windows Metafile Converter” and resides in the Word Commands folder in the Word 5.x folder. If equations appear as empty boxes when opening Word 6.x files directly, this converter is not installed.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q135781 TITLE : WD: Word 6.x/7.0 Converter Update for MacWord 5.x

Additional query words: word6 conversion converted converts transfer transferred translate translation converting macword winword ====================================================================== Keywords : kbinterop kbconversion macword Version : MACINTOSH: 5.x Platform : MACINTOSH Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.