Microsoft KB Archive/141451

= Backup File Name Extensions Changed for MS Word and MS Excel =

Article ID: 141451

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 4.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Office 4.3 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0c
 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c

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This article was previously published under Q141451



SUMMARY
The file name extensions for backup files that you save with the Create Backup option in Microsoft Word 7.0, Microsoft Word 97, Microsoft Excel 7.0, or Microsoft Excel 97 are different from the file name extensions for earlier versions of Word and Microsoft Excel.

The following table lists the file name extensions for backup files that you save in Word versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c, 7.0, and Word 97; Microsoft Excel versions 5.0, 5.0c, 7.0; and Microsoft Excel 97. Program                              File name extension -

Word 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c             .bak

Microsoft Excel 5.0, 5.0c            .bak

Word 7.0 and Word 97                 .wbk

Microsoft Excel 7.0 and Microsoft Excel 97                   .xlk In addition to using different file name extensions for backup files, Word 7.0, Word 97, Microsoft Excel 7.0, and Microsoft Excel 97 also add "Backup of " to the beginning of the backup file name. For example, a backup copy of a file named "Weekly Report.xls" would be named "Backup of Weekly Report.xlk" in Microsoft Excel 7.0.



MORE INFORMATION
If the backup option is enabled, the backup file will be created in the same folder as the original file.

To use the backup option in Word 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c, 7.0, and Word 97, follow these steps:


 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 2) Click the Save tab.
 * 3) Select Always Create Backup Copy.
 * 4) Click OK.

NOTE: When you use the Always Create Backup Copy option in Word, you automatically create backup files for any and all files that you subsequently save.

To use the backup option in Microsoft Excel 5.0, 5.0c, 7.0, and Microsoft Excel 97, follow these steps:


 * 1) In an open workbook, click Save As on the File menu.
 * 2) Click Options.
 * 3) Click to select the Always Create Backup check box.
 * 4) Click OK.

NOTE: When you use the Always Create Backup option in Microsoft Excel, you automatically create a backup file for the file that is currently open when you save the file. You must select the option in each file that you want to back up.

Keywords: KB141451

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