Microsoft KB Archive/63896

WD5X: Opening an RTF Document from the Mac in Word for MS-DOS

PSS ID Number: Q63896 Article last modified on 11-25-1998

MACINTOSH:4.0,5.0,5.1

MACINTOSH

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

The information in this article applies to:

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

= SYMPTOMS =

If you open a Rich Text Format (RTF) document from version 4.0 of Microsoft Word for the Macintosh into Microsoft Word for MS-DOS version 5.0, you may receive an error indicating that the document is not a Word document.

= CAUSE =

This error occurs when the Macintosh places a line of code that Word for MS-DOS cannot understand in the beginning of the document.

On the Macintosh, when a document is saved as RTF, there is an option to make that format the default format for the file. If this option is selected, Word places the code “” into the RTF file.

= WORKAROUND =

To open such a file, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Remove the Offending Code and Allow Word to Convert the File
To modify the code, follow these steps:

  Open the document and click No when Word asks if you want it converted from RTF. This opens the document as text with all of its RTF code intact.   The first line of the document will have a section of code that looks similar to the following: {\rtf1\defformat\mac\def2 {... Remove the “” so that it appears as follows: {\rtf1\mac\def2 {...   Save the document with text-only format, clear the screen, and open the document again. This time, allow Word to convert it into a Word document. 

Method 2: Use a Conversion Program
Use a conversion program such as WPTOWP, which you can obtain by calling the Microsoft Order Desk at (800) 360-7561. If you are outside the United States, contact the local Microsoft subsidiary for your area. To locate your subsidiary, see the Microsoft World Wide Offices Web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm

NOTE: Because the Microsoft Web site is constantly updated, the site address may change without notice. If this occurs, link to the Microsoft home page at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/

= MORE INFORMATION =

NOTE: Make sure that when you are using a Macintosh, you do not save the document with the “Use as Default Format for File” check box selected.

NOTE: Microsoft has been unable to reproduce this problem with version 5.0 of Word for the Macintosh.

= Additional query words: =

Keywords : kberrmsg kbinterop macword Version : MACINTOSH:4.0,5.0,5.1 Platform : MACINTOSH Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.