How to open old Word formats in Word 2003 SP3/2007 for Win

#1 Thu, 25 Jul 2013 - 02:32 68kMLA

Use this reg file for Office 2003 SP3:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"FilesBeforeVersion"=dword:00000000

Use this reg file for Office 2007:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"FilesBeforeVersion"=dword:00000000

#2 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 - 18:29 68kMLA

You can also achieve this in Office versions as recent as 2013 by opening a document and going to File -> Options -> Trust Center (along the left-hand side) -> Trust Center Settings ... (on the right-hand side) -> File Block Settings (along the left-hand side) and unchecking the boxes in the Open and Save columns for the types of files you want to open.

You can also use this to do hilarious things like preventing Word 2003 from opening and saving native docx files.

#3 Thu, 1 Aug 2013 - 09:56 68kMLA

That is why I put 2003 SP3 and 2007 in the title, because I know there is UI in 2010 and later.

#4 Sat, 3 Aug 2013 - 20:37 68kMLA

Thanks! One of my to do items is to migrate a TON of old Mac Word docs to Office 2003.

This will make mucho much easier! Saved me a lot of time.