On 16/02/2008 20:38, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi
I have recently bought a new computer with windows vista home basic 32bit
and have found I am unable to read word documents that have been sent to me by
e-mail to be downloaded.
I can read the e-mails ok and down load the attached documents but cannot
read them as it just shows encrypted information.
Can open office help with this problem?
A friend of mine who works in IT recommended your site as possibly being
able to help suggesting I download any of your software that says Bit 32.
Can you please help even if it is to advise me as to which software I need
to buy.
Many thanks
John Western
The answer depends on exactly what is being sent to you.
If the documents you are receiving are in Microsoft's *new* format,
referred to as Office 2007 or OOXML, then the answer is no, OpenOffice
will not be able to read them until version 3, due later this year (I
believe September is the target date). But then not even older versions
of Microsoft Office can read that format without additional software
only just released by Microsoft.
On the other hand, if the documents are in more traditional MS format
then yes, OpenOffice can read them. Mostly. OpenOffice can't handle MS
Office "macros" and certain other advanced features. Also, 100%
compatibility, in terms of the documents' appearance, is *not*
guaranteed. But for the vast majority of MS documents, OpenOffice is
completely adequate.
I'm a bit puzzled though. Didn't your new computer come with at least a
trial version of MS Office 2007 installed? That should be able to read
your received attachments. Perhaps your respondents are sending you
encrypted files?
Beware. If you do have a trial version of MS Office 2007 and if you use
it to create documents in the 2007 format and then let the trial expire
you won't be able to read/edit those documents without paying for the
full version of MS Office 2007.
--
Harold Fuchs
London, England
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