MS Office file save options
We have a network of mostly MS Office 2010 but some 2007 and 2003.
What's the negative to applying a GPO to force all users to save all files as 2003?
What's the negative to applying a GPO to force all users to save all files as 2003?
Haresh Nikumbh
nothing as such .. all other version will be able to open 2003 files without giving any prompt
ASKER
Will I lose functionality in files already developed and saved in 2010 if saving in the older format?
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How many 2003 users? You say majority is 2010 some 2007 and 2003, sounds like the 2003 users would be an extreme minority.
Office 2003 is now 10 years old. The file format for the actual documents has changed fundamentally from a file to something more like a zip folder full of files (i.e. the difference between doc and docx). As far as I can tell docx is more reliable.
Users of 2003 can still view docx with the compatibility pack installed... they may not be able to edit as much... but they are a minority?
It really depends on what you want your 2003 users to be able to do... just view? If so then there is no reason that I can see to enforce compatibility.
If they need to edit? You might have a case to enforce compatibility BUT word 2007 changed so much from 2003 - so many new features (& bugs)... it would be a shame to deprive everyone of all that just to cling to 10 yo software (& 10 yo bugs).
HTH
Office 2003 is now 10 years old. The file format for the actual documents has changed fundamentally from a file to something more like a zip folder full of files (i.e. the difference between doc and docx). As far as I can tell docx is more reliable.
Users of 2003 can still view docx with the compatibility pack installed... they may not be able to edit as much... but they are a minority?
It really depends on what you want your 2003 users to be able to do... just view? If so then there is no reason that I can see to enforce compatibility.
If they need to edit? You might have a case to enforce compatibility BUT word 2007 changed so much from 2003 - so many new features (& bugs)... it would be a shame to deprive everyone of all that just to cling to 10 yo software (& 10 yo bugs).
HTH
Regarding functionality - if the 2007 and 2010 files contain content controls then you will likely loose functionality.
IMHO 2003 is not worth supporting in a mixed environment.
IMHO 2003 is not worth supporting in a mixed environment.
I have also come across issues where 2003 does not support the number of formats available in 2007 and later.
The result is that the 2003 user ends up with a completely unformatted file.
I suspect it could be resolved with some work on the 2007 file to ensure that the cell formats are consistent in their application rather than ad hoc which is where 2007 then sees them as different formats.
Thanks
Rob H
The result is that the 2003 user ends up with a completely unformatted file.
I suspect it could be resolved with some work on the 2007 file to ensure that the cell formats are consistent in their application rather than ad hoc which is where 2007 then sees them as different formats.
Thanks
Rob H
@Rob - I thought that if the 2003 user has the compatibility pack installed then the file would be perfectly formatted... just that the 2003 user would not be able to edit
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I have 2003 on my work laptop with compatibility pack installed. Each week I receive a file created in 2007 and get the error message "Too many unique cell formats". The file opens fine but the sheets show only data, no formatting at all; numbers, colours or anything.
Thanks
Rob
Thanks
Rob
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