newer versions of Word? I have numerous (over 100) old MS Word docs I need to open, however, these were created many years ago on an early version of Word (Mac). While most of the docs were ORIGINALLY created in late 80s and early 90's, when I "Get Info" on these docs, most state they are "Microsoft Word 97 - 2004 document" so they have had an update to a newer version as some point.
When I try to open in my current version of Word, which is Word 2008 for Mac, it will not open them properly.
My version of Word provides the various conversion options (Text, Unicode, Rich Text Format, etc) but most of what happens shows as garbage text. I know, in most cases, formatting is lost. This lack of format is not a problem for reading paragraphs of information from these old docs, but it is a problem for reviewing charts and highly formatted technical sections, which are not readable what so ever. And the bulk of these files are the highly formatted technical sections.
Other than buying some older versions of Word, from the early 1990s or earlier (will they even work on new Macs?) and updating each doc until readable by my current version of Word, do you have any suggestions? Any third party programs that open old docs?
I know that there is “Microsoft Word Viewer” which would solve the issue for viewing these docs, but this appears to be PC only. Is there a Mac version?
Thanks in advance for any help.
When I try to open in my current version of Word, which is Word 2008 for Mac, it will not open them properly.
My version of Word provides the various conversion options (Text, Unicode, Rich Text Format, etc) but most of what happens shows as garbage text. I know, in most cases, formatting is lost. This lack of format is not a problem for reading paragraphs of information from these old docs, but it is a problem for reviewing charts and highly formatted technical sections, which are not readable what so ever. And the bulk of these files are the highly formatted technical sections.
Other than buying some older versions of Word, from the early 1990s or earlier (will they even work on new Macs?) and updating each doc until readable by my current version of Word, do you have any suggestions? Any third party programs that open old docs?
I know that there is “Microsoft Word Viewer” which would solve the issue for viewing these docs, but this appears to be PC only. Is there a Mac version?
Thanks in advance for any help.