Word won't open your file

Word can be very frustrating. Take, for example, when it refuses to open a file that you have worked on only a few minutes earlier. You know you closed the file correctly. There were no error messages when you exited. So, why does this happen?

If you get an error message that says: ˇ°Word experienced an error trying to open the fileˇ±, more than likely (though not always) this is due to an OfficeArt shape that was previously modified (i.e. saved) in an earlier version of Word and is now being re-used in the current document.

This error also occurs with PowerPoint and Excel.

Fixing Word 2003 Documents

The status of the OfficeArt shape confuses Word, which cannot open as a result. When a file is opened in an earlier version of Word, properties may be introduced into the file and a bit may be changed in the file record that describes these properties.

While earlier versions will ignore this bit value, Word 2003 may detect it and create the following errors:

1. Unable to open the document completely

2. Corrupt document

3. Missing content in document

4. Error messages such as:

Do you want to save the changes you made to your filename?

There is insufficient memory. Save the document now.

Filename is read-only. Do you want to save changes to a different file name?

Solution

You get fix this problem by installing the Office 2003 Update KB828041, available at http://download.microsoft.com

Install the update and re-open Microsoft Word. The document should now be available for use. (http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/1/9/
e19746da-c20c-43ff-b824-90a55b5386ad/office2003-kb828041-client-enu.exe)

Your Thoughts?

What are your thoughts on this? Drop me a line at ivan at klariti dot com