WD5x: Word Equation Objects Cannot Be Edited in MacWord 5.x
  
PSS ID Number: Q122707
Article last modified on 04-29-1998
 
MACINTOSH: 5.x
 
MACINTOSH
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.1, 5.1a
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SYMPTOMS
========
 
An Equation object embedded in a Word 6.0 for Windows document cannot be
edited as an equation when the document is converted to Word 5.x for the
Macintosh.
 
An equation object embedded in Word 6.0 for the Macintosh document also
cannot be edited in Word 5.x unless Word 6.0 is installed on the same
computer.
 
An Equation object embedded in a Word 98 Macintosh Edition document
cannot be edited as an equation when the document is converted to and
opened in either Word 5.1 for the Macintosh or Word 5.0 for the Macintosh.
 
Depending on the method of conversion, one of the following problems
results:
 
 - If you save a Word 6.0 for Windows document as Word 5.0 or 5.1 format
   and open the document in Word 5.x on a computer on which only Word 5.x
   is installed, equations initially appear as empty boxes. If you try to
   restore an equation by double-clicking the box, you receive the
   following error message:
 
      This object editor is not currently available.
 
 - If you save a Word 6.0 for the Macintosh document as Word 5.0 or 5.1
   format and open the document in Word 5.x on a computer on which only
   Word 5.x is installed, the most recent equation result does appear.
   However, if you try to update the equation, you will receive the above
   error message.
 
 - If you open a Word 6.0 for Windows or Word 6.0 for Macintosh document
   directly into Word 5.x using the "Word 6.0 for Windows&Macintosh"
   converter on a Macintosh on which only Word 5.x is installed, an
   Equation object becomes an empty picture box. If you double-click the
   box to update it, the Word 5.x Picture Editor is launched.
 
 - If you save a Word 98 Macintosh Edition document as Word 5.0 or 5.1
   format and open the document in Word 5.x for the Macintosh and then
   you try to restore the equation by double-clicking the equation, you
   receive the following error message:
 
      This object editor is not currently available.
 
CAUSE
=====
 
Equations are embedded in Word 6.x and Word 98 Macintosh Edition documents
as OLE 2.0 objects. The Equation Editor supplied with Word 5.x for the
Macintosh is an OLE 1.0 object server that cannot understand OLE 2.0 data.
 
The Word 5.x for the Macintosh export converters supplied with Word 6.x for
Windows, Word 6.x for the Macintosh, and Word 98 Macintosh Edition do
transform OLE 2.0 Equation objects to OLE 1.0 objects in a generic sense.
However, the structure of data within the converted objects still differs
from that understood by the Word 5.x Equation Editor.
 
With this limitation, the Word 6.0 for Windows&Macintosh converter is
designed to transform Equation Editor 2.0 objects and any other OLE objects
encountered in a Word 6.0 document into a picture in Word 5.x. This
functionality was included to at least allow updating of equations as
pictures.
 
RESOLUTION
==========
 
To retain the ability to edit equations as Equation objects when exchanging
documents with Word 6.x or Word 98 Macintosh Edition users, update to
either Word 6.x for the Macintosh or Word 98 Macintosh Edition.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
If Word 6.x has been completely installed on the same Macintosh as Word
5.x, OLE 2.0 support and the OLE 2.0 Equation Editor are available to Word
5.x. That is why in this scenario you can successfully edit an equation in
a document that was saved from Word 6.x in Word 5.x format. When you choose
to update the object, Equation Editor 2.0 is actually started instead of
the OLE 1.0 Equation Editor normally used by Word 5.x. This does not happen
with Word 98 Macintosh Edition.
 
The most recent result of an equation in any version of Word is represented
by a PICT picture image on a Macintosh and a Windows Metafile under
Windows. An empty box initially appears when you open a document containing
an equation that was saved from Word 6.x for Windows in Word 5.x format
because Word 6.x for Windows doesn't include a filter to convert a Windows
Metafile to a PICT image. In Word 98 Macintosh Edition, the equation shows
upon opening the file in Word 5.x for the Macintosh.
 
Word 5.x for the Macintosh does include a filter that converts Windows
Metafile format to PICT. This converter is named "Windows Metafile
Converter" and resides in the Word Commands folder in the Word 5.x folder.
If equations appear as empty boxes when opening Word 6.x files directly,
this converter is not installed.
 
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 
   ARTICLE-ID: Q135781
   TITLE     : WD: Word 6.x/7.0 Converter Update for MacWord 5.x
 
Additional query words: word6 conversion converted converts transfer
transferred translate translation converting macword winword
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Keywords          : kbinterop kbconversion macword 
Version           : MACINTOSH: 5.x
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.