Knowledge Base

Word for NT and Word 7.0 Cannot Import DOS Works 3.x Documents

Article ID: 139795

Article Last Modified on 5/14/2007

Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q139795

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Word 7.0 for Windows 95 and Word 6.0 for Windows NT do not directly support conversion to or from Works 1.x, 2.x, or 3.0 for MS-DOS formats. However, if Word 7.0 has been installed with Office for Windows 95, a "Works for MS-DOS 3.0" option incorrectly appears as an available file type in the Open and Save As dialog boxes. If you select this option when trying to open a Works 3.0 for MS-DOS document, the file will not be recognized and Word will return the following error:

The file is not the right file type (Works for MS-DOS 3.0).

CAUSE

This error occurs because Word is attempting to use the Works 3.0 for Windows converter to interpret the Works 3.0 for MS-DOS file. Works 3.x for Windows has a different file format than Works 3.0 for MS-DOS.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed the appearance of the "Works for MS-DOS 3.0" file type to be a problem in Microsoft Office for Windows 95 Setup. This option no longer appears in a stand-alone Word 7.0 installation or in localized releases of Office for Windows 95.

RESOLUTION

Use an interim file format that is recognized in both Word and Works. For best results, use RTF format. See the table below for compatible file types and how they are referenced in each product:

   Works                 Word
   -----                 ----

   Text                  Any of the Text formats (MSDOS Text, Text Only,
                         Text with Layout, and so forth)
   Microsoft RTF         Rich Text Format (RTF)
   Microsoft Word 5.x    Word 3.x-5.x for MS-DOS
   IBM DCA               RFT-DCA
   WordPerfect 5.0       WordPerfect 5.0
   WordPerfect 5.1       WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS

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Keywords: kbconversion KB139795