More on Office 2007 Backwards Compatibility

In an earlier post, I provided instructions on how to install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack (MOCP). You can read that post here. However, if you regularly share documents with people who use older Office versions and don't have the MCOP, here's a tip that might reduce the number of Office headaches you experience.

There is a setting you can change in Office 2007 that will save all your files in Microsoft Office 1997-2003 format. Open any Office application and click the Office button in the top left corner of your screen. Then click the Options button at the very bottom. Click Save on the left-hand side of the dialog box, and look for Save files in this format option under the Save documents section. Change it to the 1997-2003 format. Click OK. You will need to repeat this step in every Office application you have where you want to save files in the older file format by default.

If you'd rather save files in the old format occasionally, then don't follow the steps in the preceding paragraph. Instead, with the file open click the Office button in the top left corner of your screen. Go to Save As. Select to the 1997-2003 format, and save the document.