Article ID: 157088
Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q157088
SUMMARY
This article provides information about what happens when you convert a Microsoft Word 97 document to Word 6.x or Word 7.0 format.
MORE INFORMATION
The following table identifies the new features that are supported, not supported, or are partially supported.
Supported/
Word 97 feature Not supported Comments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Embedded fonts Not supported Embedded fonts are lost, and Word
7.x or Word 6.x assigns the
closest font available.
Outline and Not supported Outline numbered lists and heading
heading numbered numbered lists are converted to
lists regular text but retain their
appearance.
Multilevel bullets Not supported Multilevel bullets are converted
to regular text but retain their
appearance.
Arrow Styles Not Supported Arrow styles for lines are lost.
Page borders Not supported Page borders are not converted.
Character shading Not supported Character shading is lost.
Character borders Not supported Character borders are lost.
Paragraph borders Not supported Paragraph borders and shading are
lost.
Animated text Not supported Animated text formatting is lost.
Embossed and Not supported Embossed and engraved character
engraved formatting are lost.
characters
EMF, PNG, and Supported Graphics are saved in applicable
JPEG graphics EMF, PNG, or JPEG format and are
converted to WMF (Windows
Metafile) or PICT (Macintosh)
format. To avoid getting two
copies of each graphic saved in
the document, add the option
ExportPictureWithMetafile=0
in the registry at the following
location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options
Grouped Drawing Partially Grouped drawing objects become
objects supported a single box, unable to ungroup
Floating pictures Not supported Floating pictures are converted in
with text wrapping a frame to WMF (Windows Metafile)
around them or PICT (Macintosh) format.
Floating OLE Not supported Floating OLE objects are converted
objects to text boxes.
Highlighting Partially Highlighting is preserved in Word
supported 95 but lost in Word 6.x.
Vertically merged Not supported Merged table cells are exploded
table cells into unmerged cells.
Vertically split Partially Vertically split cells in a row
table cells supported are converted to separate rows
keeping the table uniform.
Vertically aligned Not supported Vertically aligned text is
text in table reformatted so that the text
cells aligns at the top of the cell.
Vertical text in Not supported Vertical text is reformatted as
table cells horizontal text.
HYPERLINK field Partially The last value of the HYPERLINK
supported field is retained.
Tracked changes Not supported Tracked changes for document
for document properties, paragraph numbers,
properties, and display fields (i.e. EQ
paragraph numbers, fields) are lost, but other
and display fields tracked changes are retained.
(i.e. EQ or other
embedded objects)
Password Not supported All document protection is lost.
protection of
documents
Document Not supported All document protection is lost.
protection for
tracked changes,
comments, and
forms
New document Partially New document properties are
properties supported preserved in Word 95 but lost in
introduced Word 6.x.
in Word 97
ActiveX controls Partially ActiveX controls can be used but
on forms supported not modified.
Unicode characters Not supported Result in potential data loss.
Unicode characters (2 bytes per
character) are mapped to
corresponding ANSI (Windows) or
Macintosh equivalents (1 byte per
character) or converted to
question marks (?). Foreign
language characters are the most
likely to be affected.
DOCPROPERTY field Partially The DOCPROPERTY field is retained
supported in Word 95, but only the most
recent value of the field is
retained in Word 6.x.
Visual Basic Not supported Macros created in Word 97 Visual
macros Basic are lost.
Cannot Edit a Word Document Embedded Object in Word 95
When you insert a Word document as an embedded object in a document in Word 97, save the document in the Word 6.x/95 format or Rich Text Format, and then open the document in Word 95, you may receive the error message "Word cannot edit the object" when you double-click the object to edit it. This occurs because when you save the document created in Word 97 in the Word 6.x/95 format or Rich Text Format, the embedded object is not saved as a Word 95 document object. To edit the object, you must have Word 97 installed on your computer.
Cannot Edit an Embedded Object Created in a Word 95 Document after Saving in Word 97
If you create an embedded object in a Word 95 document, open the document in Word 97, and then save the document in Word 6.x/95 format or Rich Text Format, the embedded object is updated to a later version of the OLE object server program on the computer running Word 97. If you reopen the document in Word 95 on a computer that does not have Word 97 or Office 97 installed, you may not be able to edit the object.
This can occur with any OLE object, including objects created in Word 97 documents. To see a list of OLE server programs installed on your computer, view the list in the Object dialog box (Insert Menu).
WordArt Text Effects
For information about converting Word 97 documents that contains WordArt text effects to Word 6.x or Word 7.0 for Windows, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
157466 WD: WordArt Object Missing, Changes After Conversion
Additional query words: converting converts converted transferred transferring transfers 6.0/95 binary imitation save down to word6 wordart art word
Keywords: kbfaq kbgraphic KB157088
