Opening Office 2007 documents in previous versions of MS Office

For Windows computers managed by IT Services

If you have an earlier version of Microsoft Office for Windows and need to open Office 2007 documents, our recommendation is to request that Office 2007 be installed on your campus computer. There is no charge for faculty and staff computers.

For older versions of Office, and as a temporary workaround, please try the following suggestions.

If you receive an Office 2007 file via email, when you try to open it, you may see one of these dialog boxes:

Windows cannot open this file:

If you see the first dialog box above, you will need to go and download the compatibility pack Download here

Or you may see this dialog box, in which case choose "open with" MS Office:

if the file is an Office 2007 format and you have a previous version of the Office program,
this prompt may appear:

Click on "ok." A web page will open on the Microsoft web site where you can download the compatibility pack.

Compatibility pack

By installing the Compatibility Pack to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able open, edit, and save files using the file formats new to Office 2007.

Downloading the compatibility pack.

Instructions

1. Downloadthe file from the Microsoft web site
2. In the File Download dialog box, click Open or Run this program from its current location.
3. Double click the icon, the program will begin installation and this prompt will appear:
   
   .
4. check the box to accept the Microsoft Software License Terms and click on "continue".

After downloading the Compatibility Pack...

You should now be able to open your Office 2007 file using a previous version of Office. EXCEPT for Macintosh users. Unfortunately Microsoft has not developed a compatibility pack for Macintosh computers. The current recommendation for sharing with Macintosh users is to save the file in the old format and then share it. If you have received an Office 2007 file on a Macintosh, you can send it back to the originator with a request to convert or find a pc to open it and save in the older format..

More MS Office support
The IT Services HelpDesk
Site-license software installation request (Form SL)
Order MS Office for your personal computer

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