problems opening specific word doc

epagan · epagan #1 (**permalink**)

10-14-2008, 03:09 AM

Version: word for mac 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel
when I try to open a specific word doc the "convert file from:" window pops up and it won't let me open the file - when i try the options allowed: "text only," "recover text from any file" it appears as weird symbols, same when i try to open it in textedit (no box just gobbledygook) and even the last auto recover - according to the about box the file is fine - a recognizable word doc but i can't open it unless i convert it to one of these unreadable formats - this doc is very important - please please help - this only occurs with this one document

THeBadMonkey · THeBadMonkey #2 (**permalink**)

10-14-2008, 04:41 AM

Which version of word are you trying to convert from? if it is Office 2007 then it will be using the new file types which all end in "X" so a word document that was .doc will now be .docx the problem with this is that they are not wholly backwards computable in windows, let alone transferring between OS's.

If the file does end in .docx get the person who sent it to you to resave it as a 2003 version (.doc) and send it to you again.

Hope this helps.

epagan · epagan #3 (**permalink**)

10-14-2008, 09:50 AM

that's just it - I'm not trying to convert anything - I just want to open the file and word won't let me - when I click on the file it starts the process but before the actual document appears that "convert file from" box pops up and it won't let me proceed unless I choose an option from it's list but choosing one of these just converts the file into a mass of unreadable symbols - all I want to do is simply open the file not convert it to anything - very frustrating

epagan · epagan #4 (**permalink**)

10-14-2008, 09:54 AM

also, just to be clear - I'm the one who wrote the file no one sent it to me - I just want to open it - this problem suddenly appeared last night when I tried to open it and had never happened before

jon_chew · jon_chew #5 (**permalink**)

02-07-2010, 07:12 PM

Hi,

I have the same problem and was wondering if the OP fixed this? or if anyone else has any more visibility into this?

thanks in advance!

chscag · chscag #6 (**permalink**)

02-07-2010, 09:45 PM

That's what is known as a corrupted Word file. Unless you have a backup of the file, or can read it using a text editor, you're probably out of luck. Office Word has a nice option that few people seem to use - and that is making a backup of the file when opening it and prior to editing it. Also turn on automatic backups.

Regards.

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epagan #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 14, 2008 Posts: 4	10-14-2008, 03:09 AM Version: word for mac 2004 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Intel when I try to open a specific word doc the "convert file from:" window pops up and it won't let me open the file - when i try the options allowed: "text only," "recover text from any file" it appears as weird symbols, same when i try to open it in textedit (no box just gobbledygook) and even the last auto recover - according to the about box the file is fine - a recognizable word doc but i can't open it unless i convert it to one of these unreadable formats - this doc is very important - please please help - this only occurs with this one document
	QUOTE Thanks

THeBadMonkey #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 108 Mac Specs: Black Macbook: 2.4 ghz dual core 4gb Ram 250gb Hdd	10-14-2008, 04:41 AM Which version of word are you trying to convert from? if it is Office 2007 then it will be using the new file types which all end in "X" so a word document that was .doc will now be .docx the problem with this is that they are not wholly backwards computable in windows, let alone transferring between OS's. If the file does end in .docx get the person who sent it to you to resave it as a 2003 version (.doc) and send it to you again. Hope this helps.
	QUOTE Thanks

epagan #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 14, 2008 Posts: 4	10-14-2008, 09:54 AM also, just to be clear - I'm the one who wrote the file no one sent it to me - I just want to open it - this problem suddenly appeared last night when I tried to open it and had never happened before
	QUOTE Thanks

jon_chew #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 07, 2010 Posts: 1	02-07-2010, 07:12 PM Hi, I have the same problem and was wondering if the OP fixed this? or if anyone else has any more visibility into this? thanks in advance!
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,974 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	02-07-2010, 09:45 PM That's what is known as a corrupted Word file. Unless you have a backup of the file, or can read it using a text editor, you're probably out of luck. Office Word has a nice option that few people seem to use - and that is making a backup of the file when opening it and prior to editing it. Also turn on automatic backups. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

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