Creating templates in 2007 for 2003 users

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Wendy - 10 Jan 2008 22:02 GMT

I recently (3-4 weeks ago) got a new computer at work and am now running
Office 2007. If I had to wag it, I would say 75% of our users are using 2003
and 24% are still on 2000. It's often my job to fix up documents or create
template files for other users. How do I ensure that what I do will still
work properly when someone on 2000 or 2003 opens it? (eg, is there a way
that I can temporarily disable 2007 specific features?)

I realize that when I save the file as a 2003 format that will nuke all
extra features and allow them to open it, but what I want to do is avoid
using things that aren't compatible to begin with.

I would just downgrade to 2003 myself, but then I won't learn 2007...

Thanks

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Jay Freedman - 11 Jan 2008 01:43 GMT

>I recently (3-4 weeks ago) got a new computer at work and am now running
>Office 2007. If I had to wag it, I would say 75% of our users are using 2003
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>Thanks

One way is to start a new blank document or template and immediately save it in
"Word 97-2003" format. The title bar will say "Compatibility Mode". Word will
limit you to things that can be saved in that format -- for example, when you
click the SmartArt button you'll get the old Diagram dialog, and the button for
the new equation editor will be disabled. If you get 2007-only items in the
document (for example, adding a cover page will bring in content controls),
saving the document will automatically convert them to plain text or something
else that 2003 and earlier can deal with.

Another way is to just use whatever you like, and let the automatic
downgrade-on-save-as-2003 take care of it. There is a compatibility checker that
pops up during the save if there's anything that will be converted, and you can
run that checker manually at any time from the Office button > Prepare menu.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

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Wendy - 11 Jan 2008 02:07 GMT

I'm afraid that you're not entirely correct with your comments about
compatibility mode restricting you to older functions. Several times now, in
both word and excel, I have modified documents which were created in 2003 and
are running in compatability mode. Upon saving, it tells me that various
features I've used are not supported in older versions. In some cases this
is minor things like color that are relatively trivial, but that is not
always the case.

Excel definitely allowed me to use functions that were not available in 2003
when I was operating in compatability mode. I had to redo a couple hours
worth of work using functions that were 2003 compatable. (I think the
averageif function is an example of this, though I don't have a copy of 2003
available at the moment to confirm)

Any other suggestions? Is there a list anywhere that tells me _all_ the new
features in 2007 organized by area? (the "top 10" and snazy marketing ads
just don't explain the differences sufficiently)

Thanks

I do appreciate your assistence

> >I recently (3-4 weeks ago) got a new computer at work and am now running
> >Office 2007. If I had to wag it, I would say 75% of our users are using 2003
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
> Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

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