## "Document Appears to Be Corrupt" Opening WordPerfect File

Q108867

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

## SYMPTOMS

When opening a WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS document into Word 6.0 for Windows, you may receive one of the following error messages:

> This document appears to be corrupt. Continue with document conversion?

> -or-

> Cannot read file.

If you receive the first error message and choose to continue, you may receive a general protection (GP) fault or Word may hang (stop responding).

## CAUSE

This problem is caused by WordPerfect documents that are corrupt (that is, damaged or which contain nonstandard information). If such files are reopened in WordPerfect, in some cases [UNKNOWN] codes that represent information WordPerfect itself does not understand might appear in Reveal Codes, Initial Codes, and/or style definitions. In some cases, style names might contain blocks and other random characters. In still other cases a document might remain editable in WordPerfect without any overt sign of a problem. Known causes include:

1. WordPerfect Corporation has released several silent updates to the WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS program prior to the release of WordPerfect 6.0 DOS. One of these updates (it is not known specifically which) contains a problem in which the size of the actual components that make up the style packet do not match the size specified for the style packet in the WordPerfect document binary data stream.
2. Documents not actually created in WordPerfect for DOS, but instead saved as WordPerfect for DOS format by different applications might not contain 100-percent valid WordPerfect for DOS file format structure. For example, this might occur when a document is saved from WordPerfect versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.12, or 3.0 as WordPerfect 5.0/5.1 for DOS format.
3. A WordPerfect document might actually be damaged for some unrelated reason. This could occur due to a disk problem, an internal WordPerfect problem, etc.

## STATUS

One variation of the first known cause of this problem referenced above was corrected in an updated version of the converter supplied with versions 6.0a and later of Word for Windows. If Word version 6.0a or later does not address the problem with your files, refer to the alternative workarounds listed below.

## WORKAROUNDS

### Method 1

If you don't update to Word 6.0a or later, you can possibly work around these problems by using WordPerfect's CONVERT.EXE utility to convert documents to another format that Word can read (for example, RFT-DCA). This utility is included with WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS.
WordPerfect's ConvertPerfect application supports a variety of formats that Word can read and supports batch file conversion. For more information on ConvertPerfect, contact WordPerfect Corporation at (800) 321-4566.

### Method 2

If you have access to WordPerfect version 5.1 or 5.2 for Windows, open affected documents in this application and save as another file format that Word can read (for example, Word 2.0 for Windows, Word for MS-DOS, or RTF formats).

### Method 3

If your WordPerfect document(s) contain style definitions, you may be experiencing the first known cause of this problem referenced above. To determine whether invalid style packets are the cause of your problem, do the following:

1. Reopen an affected document in WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS or WordPerfect 5.1 or 5.2 for Windows.
2. Highlight and delete the entire body of the document, and resave as a WordPerfect document being careful to save the document with a new name.
3. Attempt to open this new document into Word. If the error message is still received, go on to step d; if not, your document is likely damaged in some other way.
4. Reopen the document in WordPerfect and view style definitions (ALT+F8 in WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS and Format Style in WordPerfect for Windows).
5. One-by-one, delete the definitions for each style in your document (Select style name and press 5, 3 in WordPerfect for DOS or choose the Delete button, select the Delete Definition Only option, and choose OK in WordPerfect 5.1 or 5.2 for Windows).
   Each time you delete one style definition, resave the document in WordPerfect format and attempt it to open in Word. If Word successfully converts the document after the removal of a particular style, that is likely the style definition in which the style packet problem exists. In such case, reopen your original WordPerfect document, remove only this one style definition, and attempt to open in Word. If this succeeds, this is your workaround. If you create many documents based on a similar boilerplate, this same workaround will likely enable conversion of all such files.
   NOTE: Removing the definition only for a style results in loss of the definition in Word. However, the underlying formatting and document appearance is retained, and the style can be redefined following conversion.

### Method 4

If the cause of corruption in your document doesn't appear to be due to the style packet issue referenced above, you may be able to correct the problem by completing the following steps:

1. Reopen the document in WordPerfect.
2. Paginate the document. In WordPerfect 5.1 for MS-DOS press HOME, HOME, PAGE DOWN followed by HOME, HOME, PAGE UP. In WordPerfect 5.1 and 5.2 for Windows, scroll to the bottom of the document, and then back to the top.
3. Resave the document in WordPerfect format.
4. Once again, attempt to open the document into Word.

To obtain Word 6.0c, call the Microsoft Order Desk at (800) 360-7561 and request the Word 6.0c update. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area. To locate your subsidiary, see the Microsoft World Wide Offices Web site at:

> http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm

The WordPerfect products mentioned here are manufactured by WordPerfect Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: textconv conversion converted converts transfer transfers translation translate perfect problem 6.00a convert

Keywords : kbconversion
Issue type :
Technology :

Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000 © 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.