Microsoft KB Archive/48411

Converting Files from Mac Word 4.0 to MS-DOS Word 5.0 PSS ID Number: Q48411 Article last modified on 08-08-1993 PSS database name: APpsConV

4.00 | 5.00

MACINTOSH | MS-DOS

Summary: The following is a description of how to transfer files from Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 4.0 to Microsoft Word for MS-DOS version 5.0, as well as a listing of document formats supported in conversion between these two Word versions.

An application note titled “Microsoft Word Cross-Platform Conversions” explains the best methods of transfer between the current versions of Word for DOS, Macintosh, Windows, and OS/2. It includes a comprehensive listing of which formats will convert, which will not convert, and explanations. To obtain this application note, contact Microsoft Product Support Services at (206) 454-2030.

More Information:

Word for the Macintosh 4.0 to Word for MS-DOS 5.0 File Conversion
  Open the document in Word for the Macintosh.   From the File menu, choose Save As.   Click the File Format button (available only with full menus).   Select the Interchange Format (RTF) option and click OK.   Type a short filename (no longer than eight characters) and append “.RTF” (for example, FILENAME.RTF).   Click the Save button to save the file to disk.   Transfer the file to the MS-DOS environment (see the section titled “Physically Transferring Files” below for details).   Start Word for MS-DOS 5.0. </li>  Choose Transfer Load. </li>  In the “filename:” field, type the path and document name and press ENTER to load the file. </li>  When asked if you want to convert the file to Word format, type <ol start="25" style="list-style-type: upper-alpha;"> </li></ol> </li></ol>

Items that Transfer
The following is an overview of document formats that convert between Word for the Macintosh 4.0 and Word for MS-DOS 5.0.

Character Formatting

 * All caps
 * Bold
 * Character size
 * Color
 * Double underline
 * Hidden
 * Italic
 * Single underline
 * Small caps
 * Strikethrough
 * Subscript
 * Superscript

Please note the following:


 * Double underline may not be visible if line spacing is negative.
 * Most fonts do not transfer between Word for MS-DOS and Word for the Macintosh because of differences in the way the programs map fonts. However, Avante Garde, Palatino, Zapf Chancery, London, and Symbol will transfer.
 * Superscript and Subscript transfer only at the 6-point size.

Paragraph Formatting

 * All tabs
 * Bottom border
 * Centered
 * Double border
 * Flush left
 * Flush right
 * Indenting
 * Justified
 * Keep together
 * Keep follow
 * Left border
 * Line spacing
 * Outside bar
 * Paragraph spacing
 * Plain box
 * Positioned paragraphs
 * Right border
 * Single border
 * Tab leaders
 * Thick border
 * Top border

Please note the following:


 * Dotted and shadowed borders transfer as a single border.
 * When Page Break Before is selected, Word for MS-DOS places a manual page break in the correct location.

Section Formatting

 * Column spacing
 * Even and odd headers/footers
 * First page headers/footers
 * First page special
 * Normal headers and footers
 * Number of columns
 * Section start

Document Formatting

 * Footnote position

Other Items

 * Date stamp
 * Footnote reference marks
 * Footnotes
 * Hard spaces
 * International quotation marks
 * Manual page breaks
 * Nonbreaking hyphens
 * Optional hyphens
 * Page number stamp
 * Section marks
 * Soft returns
 * Time stamps

Note: Macintosh Word 4.0 tables transfer to Word for MS-DOS with tabs separating columns and carriage returns separating rows.

Physically Transferring Files
The following are several methods of transferring files between Macintosh and MS-DOS machines:

<ul>  Use the Apple File Exchange utility to transfer the files. (This utility comes with all Macintosh computers.) When the Apple File Exchange is running, you can place a 3.5-inch MS-DOS-formatted disk in the machine and transfer the files without any extra hardware or software. For more information on transferring files using Apple File Exchange, see the “Macintosh Utilities User’s Guide.” </li>  Send the files over telephone lines using a modem. To do this, each machine must have an operating modem and a communications package that supports Xmodem data transfers. For more information on using the Xmodem protocol, see the manual for your communications program. </li>  Directly connect the Macintosh to the PC with a null modem cable. To do this, you must use the proper cabling pin-outs between the two machines. You can find this information in the reference manual supplied with your computer, or you can purchase it at most computer dealers or book stores. Once the two computers are correctly hooked together, you need to transfer the files using a communications program, as described in the previous method. </li>  Save the MS-DOS files to an external disk drive that reads MS-DOS formatted disks and hooks up to your Macintosh’s SCSI port. Two such disk drives are the Apple 5.25-inch drive and the DaynaFile from Dayna Communications. For more information about these products, contact your Apple dealer or call Dayna Communications at <ol start="801" style="list-style-type: decimal;"> 531-0600.</li></ol> </li>  Use the MS-DOS Mounter INIT program to read and write to MS-DOS formatted disks. For more information about this program, call Dayna Communications at (801) 531-0600. </li>  Install an AppleTalk card in your PC to transfer the files over a network. You also need a software package, such as Microsoft Mail or TOPS, that allows the computers to communicate. </li></ul>

Additional reference words: 4.00 5.00 textconv

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.