Office: Solve File Format Compatibility Problems

With the release of Office 2007, Microsoft introduced a new file format standard that was very different from the one that it had used since the 1990s. This radical format change was made to provide standardisation and full interoperability that the older binary files (.DOC, etc.) lack. The new format, called OOXML, is an improvement over the old binary formats but has created a compatibility problem for users of earlier versions of Microsoft Office and other office productivity software. The main issue is that if an Office 2007 user needs to share a file in the new format with a person who hasnt got the latest version, then the recipient will be unable to open it. Fortunately there are a number of software tools, add-ons, and techniques that overcome this barrier. You will discover by reading this article how to work successfully with Microsofts new file format by using a number of different techniques, with some great free tools on this website to help you along the way.