WD: Troubleshooting Guide: Converting Docs in Word for Windows

• From where did the file originate?
• Can the creator application open the file? For example, can WordPerfect still open the WordPerfect file?
• What's in the document (graphics, text only, tables, equations, memo fields, objects, and so on)?
• Repaginate the document in the originating application, resave it, and then open it in Word.
• Can Word for Windows open ANY files made by the creator application?
• If possible, create a new document in the source application. Can Word open the new document?
• Can you convert any part of the problem file? Cut and paste a portion of the document into a new file and try converting it.
• Is the file damaged? Save the file in RTF file format, reopen the RTF file, save the RTF file in the originating format. (In Word, you could also try to cut and paste all but the last paragraph mark into a new document.)
  For additional informationabout dealing with damaged files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  87856 WD97: Troubleshooting Damaged Documents in Word for Windows

Opening a Document from a Foreign Format

• Is the conversion just going so slow it appears as if the file is not converting? (Do you still see the status bar?)
• What conversion choice does Word choose for you after selecting Open from the File menu?
• Is the correct converter installed? To see a list of the currently installed converters,
  
  In Word 1.x - 6.0x:
  
  
  1. On the File menu, click Open.
  2. Turn on the Confirm Conversions checkbox.
  3. Open a non-Word document.
  In Word 7.0 - 97:
  
  
  1. On the Tools menu click Options
  2. Click on the General tab.
  3. Turn on the Confirm Conversion at Open checkbox.
  4. Open a non-Word document.
  Word displays the Convert File dialog box, showing all of the installed import converters.
• Is the converter (*.CNV file)and any supporting DLLs in the correct location? The files should be in the \TEXTCONV directory or in the program directory.

Supplemental Converters

• Is there a supplemental converter available?
  For additional information about obtaining supplemental converters, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  104949 Supported Foreign File Formats in WinWord 6.0 / 6.0a / 6.0

  212265 WD: Additional Text Converters and Image Filters Available in Microsoft Office Converter Pack

  136385 Supported Foreign File Formats in Word and Office 95

  162987 Word 97: Supported Non-Word File Formats

• Does the INI file or registry reflect the correct path and filename for the converter?
  
  Word 2.x - Check the [MSWord Text Converters] section of the WIN.INI.
  
  Word 6.0 - Check the [MS Text Converters] section of the WIN.INI file for shared text converters or the [MSWord Text Converters] section of the WINWORD6.INI file for Word specific converters.
  
  Word 97 - See the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  
  157464 Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry
• Does the [Extensions] section of the WIN.INI file have a DLL or CNV entry--for example, dll=toolbook.exe ^.doc or cnv=write.exe ^.cnv?

Saving a Document in a Foreign Format

• Is the correct converter installed?
• Is the document really a template with a .DOC file extension?
  
  If "Document Template (*.dot)" is unavailable (dimmed) in the Save As File Type box, then it's a template.
• Are the extensions incorrect?
  
  For Windows 3.x
  
  Does the [extensions] section of the WIN.INI file have a DLL or CNV entry--for example, dll=toolbook.exe ^.doc or cnv=write.exe ^.cnv? Remove the line from the WIN.INI file if it does, and restart windows.
  
  For Windows 95
  
  Does the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive of the registry have an association for CNV? If it does, remove the key from the registry.
• Are there other desktop shells running?
• Is the conversion just going so slow that it appears as if the file is not converting? (Do you still see the status bar?)