WD5X: Characters Map from DOSWord 4.0 to MacWord 5.x Incorrectly
  
PSS ID Number: Q111404
Article last modified on 11-25-1998
 
MACINTOSH: 5.0, 5.1
 
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
========
 
When you open a Word version 4.0 for MS-DOS document into Word 5.x for the
Macintosh, extended characters which should retain their appearance instead 
appear as different characters.
 
CAUSE
=====
 
This problem occurs because the character-mapping functionality of the Word
for MS-DOS converter is not invoked for Word 4.0 for MS-DOS files. Extended
characters from MS-DOS Code Page 437 used by Word for MS-DOS are therefore
mapped to their same ordinal values in the Macintosh character set used by
Word for the Macintosh instead of being mapped to characters with like
appearance.
 
This problem does not occur when you open Word 5.x for MS-DOS files.
 
WORKAROUND
==========
 
If you are working with Word version 4.0a for MS-DOS, use the supplied
Word_rtf.exe utility to save your document in Rich Text Format (RTF) and 
then open the RTF file into Word for the Macintosh. If you are working with 
Word version 4.0 for MS-DOS, an RTF converter is not supplied. You can 
order this converter by contacting the Microsoft Order Desk at (800) 360-
7561 and requesting the Rich Text Format converter for Word 4.0 for MS-DOS.
 
Alternatively, if you have access to Word version 5.0 or 5.5 for MS-DOS,
open your Word 4.0 for MS-DOS document into Word 5.x for MS-DOS, resave,
and then open into Word for the Macintosh.
 
Otherwise, you will need to search and replace incorrectly mapped
characters in Word for the Macintosh following conversion.
 
STATUS
======
 
Microsoft has identified this as a problem in the Word for MS-DOS converter
supplied with Word versions 5.x for the Macintosh. We are researching this
problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base
as it becomes available.
 
Additional query words: textconv m_word d_word conversion converted 
converts transfer transfers translation translate
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Keywords          : kbinterop macword 
Version           : MACINTOSH: 5.0, 5.1
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbbug
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.