Knowledge Base

Error Messages when Opening a Works 3.0 File in Word 6.0

Article ID: 120584

Article Last Modified on 10/8/2003

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Works 3.0a
Microsoft Works 3.0b
Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q120584

3.00 3.00a 3.00b WINDOWS kbinterop kbother

SYMPTOMS

If you try to open a Works 3.0 Word Processor document in Word 6.0, you may receive the following error message:

Works for Windows Conversion
File is not a Works for Windows document.

When you choose OK, the following message appears:

Word cannot open the document.
<filename>

This occurs because Word is trying to use the Works 2.0 converter. Because the Works 2.0 converter cannot translate the Works 3.0 file, Word generates the error messages.

RESOLUTION

To eliminate this problem, either select the Confirm Conversions checkbox when opening the file in Word, or remove the line in the WIN.INI file that lists the Works 2.0 converter.

Using the Confirm Conversions Option

In Word for Windows 6.0, choose Open from the File menu.
Select the Confirm Conversions checkbox.
Select the Works for Windows 3.0 file to be opened and choose OK.
In the Convert File From: box, choose Works 3.0 for Windows and choose OK.

Removing the Works 2.0 converter from the WIN.INI

In Notepad, SysEdit, or any other text editor, open the WIN.INI file.
Locate the section titled [MS Text Converters].

Find the following line:

      MSWorksWin=MS Works for Windows 2.0,C:\WIN31\MSAPPS\TEXTCONV
      wrkswin.cnv,wps

NOTE: The above line appears as one line in the WIN.INI file. It should not be broken into two lines.

Either delete the line or type a semicolon (;) at the beginning of it to comment it out.
Save the WIN.INI file and restart Windows.

Word 6.0 should now be able to successfully import both Works 2.0 and Works 3.0 Word Processor files using the Works 3.0 converter.

NOTE: This workaround disables conversion capability in Works 2.0.

MORE INFORMATION

When you try to open any Works Word Processor document in Word 6.0, Word calls for the converter with the MSWORKSWIN classname. If the Confirm Conversions option is not selected and the Works 2.0 converter is not remarked out in the WIN.INI file, Word finds it and tries to use it. The only way to force Word to locate the Works 3.0 translator (classname MSWORKS3WIN) by default is to remark out or delete the line for the other one. Word then reads all the translator entries and checks to find the appropriate converter.

Additional query words: import export can't read open convert err msg mess doc 3.0 6.0

Keywords: KB120584

Microsoft KB Archive/120584

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