How freakin' hard is it to support your own product, Bill?

[dr_kromm]

SJ Games has always demanded Word 6.0/95 files from its authors and editors. The reasons boil down to "This version is compatible with any PC or Mac that still runs." That's okay, I guess. I formerly used Word 2000, and then 2003, but it was never a problem to warp back to 1995 . . . shoot, Descent was pretty cool back in the day, too.

Anyway, my new PC has Word 2007. Which is awesome, incidentally. It's many times faster and more stable than Word 2000 or 2003 ever was, and personally, I like the interface. There's just one hitch: It cannot save in Word 6.0/95 format. I don't mean that it's less-than-perfect or requires an add-in -- I mean, you can't do it.

Well, not quite. Apparently, if you've got the volume-licensed Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and install a special admin tool, you can, via the Office Configuration Tool, enable a "Save As" option that outputs Word 6.0/95. So it's possible in the sense that the converter is lurking in there somewhere, just not in the sense that plebes like me, with lowlier editions (see here), can use it. Argh.

So now I have to figure out how to fix this headache, which of course Microsoft doesn't want me to do. Argh!

Comments

[dr-kromm.livejournal.com]

Word X is some sort of Mac OS X-specific version of Word 2001, which in turn is the Mac flavor of Word 2000 (much as Word 2008 is the Mac port of Word 2007). I was using Word 2000 before I updated to Word 2003 and then 2007, so it's roughly equivalent to the version of Word that I was using two updates back. If some of the offending files were from me, that explains it -- they were Word 2003 or 2007. Anyway, I'll try to get in the habit of saving as "Word 97-2003"; that way, anybody using Word 97 or later can read the files. Too bad for people with Word 6.0/95.

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I don't recall ever having a problem with files from you. What I run into trouble with is the occasional file from one of my copy editing clients. Happily, my biggest client uses a template that runs on Word X; in fact, they just sent out a questionnaire assessing what software all their freelancers use, so I'm hoping they'll stay compatible with me.

I may want to upgrade next year, but I need to check compatibility. I'm supposed to be getting OS X.4 today; that's the highest-end OS my machine will ever be able to run, as it's a Power PC system. I may want to look at a Mac Mini next year; I'd rather replace the core unit and keep the Samsung monitor than spend the money for a complete new computer. That would let me go to OS X.6 and more current software. On the other hand, replacing all my software may be a higher ticket item than buying the computer!

[dr-kromm.livejournal.com]

Word 2007 does great right out of the box when it comes to saving as anything but Word 6.0/95. Don't do extra work on my behalf unless your macro magically lets me save Word 2007 files as Word 6.0/95 . . . in which case I'd love to see it!