Microsoft KB Archive/168423

= WD97: Batch Conversion Macro Causes Error When You Convert File =

Article ID: 168423

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q168423



SYMPTOMS
When you use the StartConversionWizard supplied with Microsoft Word, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Word cannot complete the conversion of this file--. Would you like to continue with the batch conversion?

-or-

Converter Error

When you click OK, you receive the following error message:

Word cannot complete the conversion of this file--. Would you like to continue with the batch conversion?

When you click Yes, the same error message is repeated four times. On the third and fourth occurrence of this message, the file name extension (for example, .doc) does not appear in the error message.



Case 1: File Name and/or Folder Name Exceeds 255 Characters
If a file name or folder name exceeds 255 characters, you receive the following error message:

Word cannot complete the conversion of this file--. Would you like to continue with the batch conversion?

This error message appears once for each file that matches this description.

Case 2: Same Format Converting From and To
This error message appears if the format of the document that is selected for conversion is the same as the format you are converting to.

For example, this problem occurs under the following conditions:

 You are converting from WordPerfect 5.1 to Word 97.

-and-

 A Word 97 file exists in the batch of files that you selected for conversion.

You receive the error message when the Batch Conversion Wizard attempts to convert the Word 97 document to Word 97 format.

Case 3: Insufficient Disk Space
This problem may occur when the StartConversionWizard source folder is set to a drive that has insufficient disk space, regardless of whether the destination folder is set to a different drive that has plenty of available disk space.

When there is insufficient disk space available on the drive that contains the source folder, Microsoft Word cannot create temporary files; therefore, Word cannot complete the conversion of any of the remaining files.

Case 4: Files with Numeric Names
Sometimes this message is followed by the same error message again once or even twice, but instead of the file name extension appearing in the error message, the extension specified in the error message is two periods (..).

Word randomly saves some, but not all, of the files, after they have been converted. For example, if six files are chosen for conversion, Word may only save one, two, or three of the files or none at all after the Conversion Wizard is finished with the conversion process. The unsaved files remain open on the screen in Word and can be saved manually.

This problem occurs if the file names of the files that are being converted begin with a numeric character, as in the following examples:

03604.doc

1212.01

444.555

1.doc

0003.xx



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the method appropriate for the type of problem you are having.

Case 1: File Name and/or Folder Name Exceeds 255 Characters
Rename your file or folder to be fewer than 255 characters.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, please consult your product documentation to complete these steps.

To change the name of a file or folder, follow these steps:


 * 1) If you are renaming a file, close the file in any program that may have it open.
 * 2) In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click to select the file or folder that you want to rename. Do not open it.
 * 3) On the File menu, click Rename.
 * 4) Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: A file name can cannot contain any of the following characters:

\ / : * ? " < > |

Method 1: Select Documents with Format Other Than the "Convert To" Format
In the File Selection area of the Batch Conversion Wizard dialog box, do not select documents for conversion whose file type matches the conversion type. For example, if you are converting from WordPerfect 5.1 to Word 97 document format, do not select a Word 97 document for conversion to Word 97 format.

Method 2: Move Documents of Same File Type to Another Location
Move the documents that have the same file format as the "convert to" type to a different directory or folder before you run the Batch Conversion Wizard. For example, if you are converting documents to Word 97, move any Word 97 documents out of the folder before you run the conversion macro.

Method 3: Run the Batch Conversion and Ignore the Error Message
All files whose format differs from the format that you are converting to will be converted correctly.

Case 3: Insufficient Disk Space
Make sure there is enough disk space available on the drive where the source folder is located. Or, move the files that need to be converted to another drive that has more available disk space. The amount of space that is needed depends on the number and size of the files that you are converting.

Case 4: Files with Numeric Names
Rename the documents with alphabetical characters for file names instead of numeric characters. The file extension can remain numeric.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about how to access the batch conversion macro, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

162490 WD97: How to Access Sample Macros for Word 97

After you open Convert8.wiz, use the following steps to run the Batch Conversion Wizard:
 * 1) On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
 * 2) Click StartConversionWizard and then click Run.

Additional query words: 8.0 conv convert

Keywords: kbbug kbother kbusage KB168423

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