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Open a Word 2010 document in an earlier version of Word

To open Microsoft Word 2010 .docx or .docm files by using Microsoft Office Word 2003, Word 2002, or Word

2000, you need to install theMicrosoft Office ompatibility !ac" for Word, #xcel and !o$er!oint Open %M&

'ile 'ormatsand any necessary Office updates. (y using the ompatibility !ac" for Word, #xcel and

!o$er!oint Open %M& 'ile 'ormats, you can open, change some items, and sa)e Word 2010 documents in

earlier )ersions of Word.

In this article

*nstall the ompatibility !ac"

'eatures that beha)e differently in earlier )ersions

Install the Compatibility Pack

+ou can do$nload the Microsoft Office ompatibility !ac" for Word, #xcel and !o$er!oint Open %M& 'ile

'ormatsfrom Office.com.

With the ompatibility !ac", you can use some earlier )ersions of Word to open Word 2010 documents that

$ere sa)ed in .docx and .docm formats. +ou cannot open Word 2010 template files that $ere sa)ed in .dotx

or .dotm format.

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Features that behave dierently in earlier versions

lthough you can open Word 2010 files in earlier )ersions of Word, you may not be able to change some items

that $ere created by using the ne$ or enhanced features in Word 2010. 'or example, e-uations $ill become

images that cannot be changed. The follo$ing is a list of document elements that are changed $hen they are

opened in an earlier )ersion of Word.

OT# *f you are using Microsoft Word /tarter 2010, be a$are that not all the features listed for Word 2010

are supported in Word /tarter. 'or more information about the features a)ailable in Word /tarter, see Word

/tarter feature support.

http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#1http://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#2http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#backtotophttp://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10374498.htmhttp://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10374498.htmhttp://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#1http://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#2http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10370115.htm#backtotophttp://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10374498.htmhttp://ms-help//MS.WINWORD.14.1033/WINWORD/content/HA10374498.htmhttp://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033http://r.office.microsoft.com/r/rlidAWSContentRedir?AssetID=DC101298101033&CTT=11&Origin=HA103701151033

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Word 2010element Change when opened in Word 2007 Change when opened in Word 97-2003

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e!numberin"formats

e! numberin" formats are converted to#rabic numerals $1% 2% &% '% ((()(

e! numberin" formats are converted to#rabic numerals $1% 2% &% '% ((()(

e! shapesand te*tbo*es

+hapes and te*t bo*es are converted toeects available in this format(

+hapes and te*t bo*es are converted toeects available in this format(

,e*t eects -ects on te*t are permanently removedunless the eects are applied by usin" acustom style( If they are applied by usin"the style% the te*t eects !ill appear a"ain!hen the document is reopened in Word2010(

-ects on te*t are permanently removedunless the eects are applied by usin" acustom style( If they are applied by usin" thestyle% the te*t eects !ill appear a"ain !henthe document is reopened in Word 2010(

#lternativete*t ontables

,ables lose alternative.te*t information( ,ables lose alternative.te*t information(

Open,ypefeatures

e! type features are removed( e! type features are removed(

/lockin"authors /locks applied to re"ions of the document!ill be removed( /locks applied to re"ions of the document !illbe removed(

e!Word#rteects

-ects on te*t are permanently removed( -ects on te*t are permanently removed(

e!contentcontrols

Permanently converted to static content( Permanently converted to static content(

Word 200Contentcontrols

o chan"e( Permanently converted to static te*t(

,hemes o chan"e( Permanently converted to styles( If the le islater opened in Word 2010% you cannotautomatically chan"e the style by usin"themes(

a3or4minorfonts

o chan"e( Permanently converted to static formattin"( Ifthe le is later opened in Word 2010% headin"and body fonts !on5t automatically chan"e ifyou use a dierent style(

,rackedmoves

o chan"e( Permanently converted to insertions anddeletions(

,abs o chan"e( #li"nment tabs !ill be converted to traditionaltabs(

+mart#rt"raphics

o chan"e( /ecome a sin"le ob3ect that cannot be editedunless no chan"es are made and it isreopened in Word 2010(

Charts anddia"rams

o chan"e( +ome charts and dia"rams !ill be convertedto ima"es that cannot be chan"ed( 6atabeyond supported ro!s is lost(

Open 78-mbedded

o chan"e( Converted to static content(

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ob3ects

/uildin"blocks

o chan"e( /uildin" /locks and #uto,e*t entries may losesome information(

/iblio"raphy o chan"e( Permanently converted to static te*t(

Citations o chan"e( Permanently converted to static te*t(

-9uations o chan"e( /ecome "raphics and cannot be chan"ed( #nycomments% endnotes% or footnotes in thee9uations !ill be permanently lost !hen thedocument is saved(

:elativete*t bo*es

o chan"e( Permanently converted to absolutepositionin"(

OT# *n addition to the changes listed in the table, the follo$ing items beha)e differently $hen you open a

Word 2010 .docx or .docm file in Word 2000

Macros and macro signatures $ill be remo)ed.

Mail merge data $ill be lost and you $ill not be able to connect to data sources.

+ou $ill not be able to open pass$ordprotected files, e)en if you "no$ the pass$ord.

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