Help with saving .doc formats

[Betsy]

Hi,

I recently downloaded the OpenOffice program and created a "recipe" which includes a header (which contains a graphic plus text) and a footer. When I saved it I choose .doc. But, when closing my document I receive an error message: Saving in external formats may have cause information loss. Do you want to close? Yes or No

What does this mean?

And, in addition...I received another error message when I used the "save as" feature and created another document from the original...it said something to the effect of....attributes may be lost?

Please help, I am just starting to use this program...I provide a menu service to my customers and I want to use this program to create them. My clients are using MS Word, so I need to save my documents in the .doc format in order for them to be able to open them. I tried the .txt but my graphics would not appear, so that is not an option.

Thanks so much to whoever can provide some help with this issue.

Betsy

[Betsy]

Here is the other error message I am receiving: This document may contain attributes and information that cannot be saved under MS Word 97/2000/XP. Do you want to save your changes using OpenOffice.org 1.0 Text Document format? Yes No Cancel

I am choosing to save them under MS Word 97/2000/XP .doc....I feel this is the only real compatible option for my clients.

I am worried that I am going to create several documents, and then users with MS Word won't be able to read them? I don't understand what they mean by attributes can't be saved? What attributes are they referring to?

I am typing reicpes, and noticed that when I type in a measurement it will automatically change is to a smaller size...such as using 1/2, 1/4, etc. I figure those will just appear larger or smaller depending on my clients program, but...the text should remain the same, correct? Other than the measurements, I am just typing straight text using the numbering for paragraphs.

Should I continue to create my recipes with this program and ignore the error messages, or should I just stop using the OpenOffice program all together?

Thanks, Betsy

[8daysaweek.co.uk]

Betsy,

Do you have M$ Office installed? If so you can open your own documents and see if they look as you would expect. If not, I think there's a free M$ Viewer for reading .doc format (but not being able to change them) that way you could check your files too. Not sure where you get it from but I'll have a look later if you want it - or someone else may tell us

I think the key word in the error message is "may contain attributes..." as they are different programs you could put formats / attributes into a document in OOo that M$ Word couldn't cope with (and vice versa). However, if you are only formatting your Recipes with attributes you know exist in M$ Word then you should be OK.

I think the "prompt" is there for 2 reasons
1. to warn you not to try to save mega complicated OOo specific features into a M$ file format
2. to remind you that saving into OOo format is the *better* option

I save into M$ formats without any problems most of the time.

HTH
_________________
James
www.8daysaweek.co.uk - A User-Focused OOo site

[avantman42]

The Word Viewer can be downloaded from:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9BBB9E60-E4F3-436D-A5A7-DA0E5431E5C1&displaylang=EN
It's about 3.8MB in size

If your clients don't need to edit the documents you're sending, I'd recommend saving the original in OOo format (so that you can later edit it if neccessary) and export to PDF to send to your clients. Almost everyone has a PDF viewer, and many people think PDF's look more professional.

Russ

[The Liquidator]

I agree with Russ. Unless your clients need to edit the documents, then exporting to pdf is the one that is likely to produce the best results for you.

The warnings you are getting are not telling you that the document won't look right in MS Word, but it is telling you it might not do so. My experience is that there are subtle changes between Word 97 and 2000 that might make things look different anyway. If you don't want the warning to appear you can get rid of it by choosing tools\options\openoffice\load &save\general and change the default for text documents to MS Word. You will get a warning message asking whether you really want to do it, but you won't be nagged thereafter.

Seems to me that you won't want people editing these documents so I would work in OOo format and export to pdf.

Ian

[8daysaweek.co.uk]

PDF was, of course, my next suggestion

Just responding to the question, that's all
_________________
James
www.8daysaweek.co.uk - A User-Focused OOo site

[Betsy]

Thank you for your replies!

I have been sending a sample to a friend to check if it works or not, thank you for the link to the viewer, I will definately check into that...so I can view them myself!

They will only be viewing the files...no editing at all.

I am not familiar with using the PDF option as I have never done so. Does it allow my graphics to be viewed as intended? I am only using one graphic and it is my business logo in the header.

Currently, I create the files then put then in a folder and WinZip the file then email to my clients. How would I send it to my clients using PDF? Do they have to have a program to view PDF? Sorry, for so many questions...just have never used PDF and don't know anything about it.

Thanks again, ...for such quick replies and great suggestions! Betsy

[8daysaweek.co.uk]

Betsy,

The PDF button on the toolbar makes them really easy to create, and yes, your graphics should be included without any problems.

You shouldn't have to Zip the files, as most email clients will allow PDFs, although you could of course handle the files exactly the same as your MS Word files and zip them up before sending if you wish.

Yes they need a program to view PDF, (Adobe Reader) but it's one of the most popular programs around, you may already have it as it's often automatically installed with programs.

If you don't have it you can download it from here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
_________________
James
www.8daysaweek.co.uk - A User-Focused OOo site

[The Liquidator]

The pdf should work great with graphics.

You create (and save) your document in OOo format for future editing. Then, with it still open you can either hit the pdf export button in the toollbar(or file\export\as pdf). Alternatively you can use file\send\document as pdf attachment and (so long as OOo has been set to use your default e-mail client) you will get a blank e-mail which is ready for typing with the document already attached.

I would try the file\export function first just to make sure your document exports properly.

Ian

[Betsy]

Do you think MAC computer users can download the MS Word Viewer to view my MS Word .doc documents?

Just wondering...if this will work, I can offer this link as an option to those who have MAC's.

Thanks for your help.

Betsy

[avantman42]

[Betsy]

Pardon...my reluctance about using PDF. It's because I am not familiar with it, and I am trying not to make too many changes with my service. I just started my business in October [url]CarterCafe.com [/url]and find making too many changes with new subscribers...makes them anxious. And, once they get used to one way...they sometimes prefer the old to the new regardless if it's better...just because they became comfortable with it.

I don't have any subscribers that use MAC...but was trying to curtail any obsticales in the future for those who might.

Thank you so much for your help...this forum has been a wonderful resource. Betsy

[Betsy]

Uh..oh!

My default has now switched from OOo to the Word Viewer? Do you know how I can change the default back to OOo?

Thanks, Betsy

P.S. I opened my document in the the Viewer and in Word Pad and noticed that my "header" and my "footer" are missing? Guess...I'm off to play around with PDF!

[Betsy]

Hope ya don't mind...I have another PDF question?

I saved my documents as .pdf, then went into Outlook Express and mailed them to myself to test them. They worked...but, I have a question?

I attached them as separate files. I would prefer my clients only have to open (1) file, and have them all appear consecutively. How would I go about that? Is there an option in OOo that will allow me to say...merge the files without really merging them?

My "Weekly Menu's" contain 18 separate documents. I would like for my clients to be able to open (1) document and then have it contain all of the 18 documents, then have them choose print, and have it print them from 1-18...is this possible?

Thanks (sorry for so many questions), Betsy

[avantman42]