Compatibility is always a major concern for computer users, especially for those who frequently share files with other Macs and PCs. As new applications come out it’s expected that they offer backwards compatible support, but sometimes that entails remembering to jump through a few hoops; this is the case with Microsoft Office 2008.
With the release of Microsoft Office 2008, we were introduced to some new file extensions. Microsoft Word files by default are saved as .docx, Excel spreadsheets now save as .xlsx and PowerPoint presentations save as .pptx. If you’re sending these files to those on Macs or PCs running the latest version of Office, there are no issues, but what about if you need to send the files to someone on a slightly older version of Office? Well, they plain can’t open the file.
Luckily, there’s an easy solution. When given the option to save your file, there’s a drop down menu that displays the type of format the file should be in. Simply use the drop down menu to save the file as a .doc, .xls or .ppt. Voila, your files will now open just fine on your own computer as well as your friends and co-workers machines. This is great to keep in mind, especially if you’ve recently upgraded to the newest version of Office and have been getting back some angry emails from people who can’t open your files. Hope this helps solve some frustration!