Microsoft Office 2003 question.

**woody123**

Hi,

I have microsoft office 2003 installed on my computer. I have to do a project for work and would like to know if my excel document can be opened in newer versions of microsoft office.

It may depend on the extension i save the excel document in. Say if i saved it as "xls" could that then be opened in office 2007 and more up to date versions.

I have yet to start the project so any tips for what i save it as to make it easier would be very helpful.

Thanks.

Browntoa

it will be fine opening in newer versions , its the other way , ie the new docx etc that does not work in the older versions

CRH71

**woody123** wrote: »

Hi,

I have microsoft office 2003 installed on my computer. I have to do a project for work and would like to know if my excel document can be opened in newer versions of microsoft office.

It may depend on the extension i save the excel document in. Say if i saved it as "xls" could that then be opened in office 2007 and more up to date versions.

I have yet to start the project so any tips for what i save it as to make it easier would be very helpful.

Thanks.

Yes, just save it as an .xls
Excel 2007 will open it in what's called "Compatibility Mode" automatically.

**woody123**

Thanks for the replies. I'll start it the weekend.

LucianH

If you need to keep switching between versions, make sure you save it with the selection "Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*xls)" when you're in newer versions.

giraffe69

There is a free compatabilty pack which will allow anyone using Office 2003 to open 2007 or 2010 files (xlsx or docx) without problem.

**woody123**

Thanks for all of the replies.

I am now about to save my work in excel 2003 and it gives me several options but the 2 i think i would save it as would be:

a) Microsoft Office excel workbook (default)
or
b) Microsoft Excel 97-Excel 2003 & 5.0/95 Workbook

I think both of the above could be opened in newer versions of Excel but the extension "xls" which i was looking for is not stated which has thrown me a little.

giraffe69

Either of these will be fine. Newer versions of Excel will open older versions without problem.

johnmc

Either of those will work.

The "issue" is that Excel 2007 has some new features which are not available to earlier versions.

While you are working on the files in 2007 keep saving in 2003 mode. If you then use any of those new features you should find out early.

**woody123**

That sorts it thanks.

prowla

BTW, the newer "docx" version produces smaller files, as the docx format is really a ZIP archive.
So getting the compatibility pack is a good idea regardless.