What's with the docx?

[Big Dave]

I've been sent a few files today in docx format.

My copy of word office mac won't deal. Is there a reader or something?

[Donor]

From some random website...

"In Office 2007 Microsoft introduced a new file format called the Microsoft Open Office XML Format (.docx). This format is not compatible with older versions of Microsoft Word or with alternative operating systems like Linux or Mac OS X. Nor is it compatible with other word processing applications like OpenOffice, Lotus 123, or NeoOffice."

[YellowDog]

You need MS-Word to open it. It is an open XML type document that your version of word may need a download so you can view it. Try it and see. Check out http://filext.com/file-extension/docx for a full explanation.

[Ixion]

'Tis bloody Gates again, crapping on the world. docx is Office 2007 WP format incompatible witrh everything in the world, including all previous MS Words.

Sound familar. Anyone remeber the Word 2 / Word 6 debacle

You can sort of open them by installing a Compatibility Pack from here (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA100444731033.aspx).

Probably crap the files out , pretty much, too.

And probably make everything else incompatible with anything else. that's Microshaft for y'

[Big Dave]

Thanks - i emailed back and said get real.

[YellowDog]

Download the MS-Word update from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941B3470-3AE9-4AEE-8F43-C6BB74CD1466&displaylang=en

[boomer]

Thanks - i emailed back and said get real.


i can imagine a few mid wifes wanting to do that too BD

[Big Dave]

>>This format is not compatible with alternative operating systems like Linux or Mac OS X.<<

Game over.

[xwhatsit]

Run into a couple of these, and using Linux this gives me the shits.

Latest version of OpenOffice.org (which is available for Mac, Linux, Windows amongst others) supports docx. Not ideal, though. There's also a tool kicking around called OdfConvert, which is what I've been using, which converts the docx into odf files, which is an open standard supported on every operating system.

Docx is possibly the most dangerous thing to happen in the strange world of file formats for some time. Microsoft is bribing small countries to vote it into being an official `open' ISO/IEC standard, but with next to no documentation and many parts of the so-called `open standard' locked away under patent rulings. So virtually impossible to implement effectively. Odf is the proper open-standard next-generation document file format, but without proper Microsoft support in Word it's pretty much dead in the water unfortunately.

[miSTa]

MS tried the same thing with Word 97 - different file format. Went back to the old format in the first service pack. MS don't seem to be very fast learners.

[NighthawkNZ]

The file pack converters do work as I had to use them myself... then I just said ferk it and got MS Office 2007 which kinda sux...

[NordieBoy]

When I install Office 2007 I make sure I change the default saves to DOC and XLS for Office 97-2003 format instead.


Reply to them in ODT format :D

[RantyDave]

Thanks - i emailed back and said get real.
A lot of people are doing that. Microsoft don't know what's hit them - people telling their customers to sort their lives out and stop sending them dodgy shit they can't open. It's been great.

Dave

[Big Dave]

A lot of people are doing that. Microsoft don't know what's hit them - people telling their customers to sort their lives out and stop sending them dodgy shit they can't open. It's been great.

Dave

If we could only defeat 'Publisher'!

[xwhatsit]

If we could only defeat 'Publisher'!

Don't let him hear that, you'll be out of a job.

[Big Dave]

Don't let him hear that, you'll be out of a job.


Mr Gate's Publisher.
Vege's a legend.

[MotoGirl]

then I just said ferk it and got MS Office 2007 which kinda sux...

Tell me about it! I'd been using '03 for years and was thrown into using '07 with the new job. I hate that freakin ribbon :mad:

[Gremlin]

I tested the compatibility pack a while ago, anticipating clients having issues with this... and it didn't work. Lovely...

Once again, a shiny product that only serves to irritate you more (just played with vista for the first time properly) :whocares:

[xwhatsit]

Mr Gate's Publisher.
Vege's a legend.

We knew that, silly. I suppose your opinion of Publisher is like my opinion of Visual Basic 6. The problem in both cases is where people try to use the tools for serious things.

What tool do you lot use?

[Beemer]

Yeah, got one the other day from a relative and when I tried to open it I got a message saying it was created with a more recent version of Word (hell, I only got my computer a year ago with Word 2003!) and I had to download a huge update in order to open it. Pain in the arse!

[aderino4]

MAC OS X File converted 2007 - 2003
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/8/e/28ede2b3-7574-46e9-b00f-a6269ad7fe47/OfficeOpenXMLConverter021EN.dmg

Windows File converter 2007 - 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en

We use them both in our office and they work fine.
I don't know what you guys are complaining about.

If your Mac OSX doesn't work, check for latest updates.

[Big Dave]

Thanks for the info.

I've installed 'Just send me a word document thanks' version Dave.