DOC file format files

External Since: Jul 04, 2006 Posts: 8122

RTF is an industry standard format used for formatted document exchange and
was the standard format for Word 95.

Word 97 to 2003 use the same proprietary format (which Microsoft does not
document for public consumption). However from 97 to 2003 each Word version
added extra functionality. It is the functionality that the earlier versions
cannot achieve and not the document format, thus if you have a late document
with (say) nested tables, Word 97 which cannot use nested tables cannot
display them correctly.

Word is backward compatible but not forward compatible. Older versions
cannot interpret what later versions can write to the file structure. But
file format is the same throughout and capable of storing the same data.

Word 2007 can read and write the 97-2003 format (and the earlier 95 - RTF
format) but its default format is XML.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> I got a question for you, macropod. When does a format become a
> different format? If there's no real difference in Word 97-2003
> format, why does my Word 2003 offer to save in "97-2002 & 6.0/95 -
> RTF (*.doc)" format. Just what the heck kind of format is that,
> anyway? And, since you say that there *are* minor differences in each
> version, is anything lost when opening a newer version's product in
> an older version of Word (referring only to versions 97 through
> 2003.) Is *no* conversion required? Because I could swear recalling
> notices to the effect that due to the version of the DOC file being
> newer, some features or whatever you want to call them, may be lost?
>
> Seriously, it's been asked of me to explain all this stuff, so I
> could use some help. I *could* figure out some of this myself, I
> suppose, but it would take quite a while (not including searching my
> archives for all the installers.)
>
> What defines "format" for Office documents? Is there some definitive
> spec sheet that lays it all out? Some document that lists the specific
> differences between the various "different but the same" formats
> encompassed by Word 97 thru 2003 (other than the notation in the
> file?) Or at least between that/those *.DOC format(s) and Word 2007
> formats? (I'm sure the last one exists in at least one expression. I
> ask only in hopes of getting the best info.)
>
>
> "macropod" <macropod.TakeThisOut@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:OG$frlE%23IHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Hi robbio,
>>
>> As previously stated, Word 97-2003 all used the same file format.
>> Whilst each version might store slightly different information in
>> the file, the format is the same. And AFAIK, there is no way to tell
>> which of these versions was used to create a document if its later
>> been edited in a different version. And don't forget the various Mac
>> versions of Word that have also used the same file format.
>>
>> --
>> Cheers
>> macropod
>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>
>>
>> "robbio" <roberto674.TakeThisOut@supereva.it> wrote in message
>> news:%23bzDBBC%23IHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi Macropod,
>>>
>>> thanks for your answer.
>>> Anyway, if you're talking about the extension ".doc" then you're
>>> right because from Word 97 to Word 2007 the extension doesn't
>>> changed (in Word 2007 it is introduced the docx also).
>>> But I don't mean the extension, I mean the the internal doc file
>>> format: the compound binary file format and the various structures
>>> each version of word saves into it. Each version of Word saves some
>>> slightly different information, so this is the reason why I need
>>> different doc file from each of Word version.
>>>
>>> I was looking into the web, but there was a lot of Word related
>>> information and nothing about some doc files as examples...
>>>
>>> Thank you
>>> roberto
>>>
>>> if you mean
>>> "macropod" <macropod.TakeThisOut@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:uhA0Rs89IHA.2332@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi robbio,
>>>>
>>>> Word 97-2003 all used the same file format. Word 2007 can use that
>>>> format too, but also has two new formats of its own - docx and
>>>> docm. I'm sure a web search would soon turn up some examples.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Cheers
>>>> macropod
>>>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "robbio" <roberto674.TakeThisOut@supereva.it> wrote in message
>>>> news:ODYJFd59IHA.6052@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi at all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I need different doc files, that is doc files created from each
>>>>> version of Microsoft Word: Word97, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
>>>>> Where I can find these example doc files?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you in advance
>>>>> roberto

External Since: Aug 06, 2007 Posts: 8

Well, thanks for trying, and I think I understand now, but it seems to me a
distinction without a difference. (Except in the case of Word 2007.) The
format, since 97, has been *capable* of storing nested tables (to use your
example), but the programmers of Word 97 just didn't get around to including
nested tables? (Seems like a basic feature to me but what do I know?)

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Graham Mayor" <gmayor.RemoveThis@REMOVETHISmvps.org> wrote in message
news:OzID8YG%23IHA.1228@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> RTF is an industry standard format used for formatted document exchange
> and was the standard format for Word 95.
>
> Word 97 to 2003 use the same proprietary format (which Microsoft does not
> document for public consumption). However from 97 to 2003 each Word
> version added extra functionality. It is the functionality that the
> earlier versions cannot achieve and not the document format, thus if you
> have a late document with (say) nested tables, Word 97 which cannot use
> nested tables cannot display them correctly.
>
> Word is backward compatible but not forward compatible. Older versions
> cannot interpret what later versions can write to the file structure. But
> file format is the same throughout and capable of storing the same data.
>
> Word 2007 can read and write the 97-2003 format (and the earlier 95 - RTF
> format) but its default format is XML.
>
> --
> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
> Graham Mayor - Word MVP
>
> My web site www.gmayor.com
> Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>
>
>
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>> I got a question for you, macropod. When does a format become a
>> different format? If there's no real difference in Word 97-2003
>> format, why does my Word 2003 offer to save in "97-2002 & 6.0/95 -
>> RTF (*.doc)" format. Just what the heck kind of format is that,
>> anyway? And, since you say that there *are* minor differences in each
>> version, is anything lost when opening a newer version's product in
>> an older version of Word (referring only to versions 97 through
>> 2003.) Is *no* conversion required? Because I could swear recalling
>> notices to the effect that due to the version of the DOC file being
>> newer, some features or whatever you want to call them, may be lost?
>>
>> Seriously, it's been asked of me to explain all this stuff, so I
>> could use some help. I *could* figure out some of this myself, I
>> suppose, but it would take quite a while (not including searching my
>> archives for all the installers.)
>>
>> What defines "format" for Office documents? Is there some definitive
>> spec sheet that lays it all out? Some document that lists the specific
>> differences between the various "different but the same" formats
>> encompassed by Word 97 thru 2003 (other than the notation in the
>> file?) Or at least between that/those *.DOC format(s) and Word 2007
>> formats? (I'm sure the last one exists in at least one expression. I
>> ask only in hopes of getting the best info.)
>>
>>
>> "macropod" <macropod.RemoveThis@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:OG$frlE%23IHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi robbio,
>>>
>>> As previously stated, Word 97-2003 all used the same file format.
>>> Whilst each version might store slightly different information in
>>> the file, the format is the same. And AFAIK, there is no way to tell
>>> which of these versions was used to create a document if its later
>>> been edited in a different version. And don't forget the various Mac
>>> versions of Word that have also used the same file format.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Cheers
>>> macropod
>>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>>
>>>
>>> "robbio" <roberto674.RemoveThis@supereva.it> wrote in message
>>> news:%23bzDBBC%23IHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi Macropod,
>>>>
>>>> thanks for your answer.
>>>> Anyway, if you're talking about the extension ".doc" then you're
>>>> right because from Word 97 to Word 2007 the extension doesn't
>>>> changed (in Word 2007 it is introduced the docx also).
>>>> But I don't mean the extension, I mean the the internal doc file
>>>> format: the compound binary file format and the various structures
>>>> each version of word saves into it. Each version of Word saves some
>>>> slightly different information, so this is the reason why I need
>>>> different doc file from each of Word version.
>>>>
>>>> I was looking into the web, but there was a lot of Word related
>>>> information and nothing about some doc files as examples...
>>>>
>>>> Thank you
>>>> roberto
>>>>
>>>> if you mean
>>>> "macropod" <macropod.RemoveThis@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>>>> news:uhA0Rs89IHA.2332@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi robbio,
>>>>>
>>>>> Word 97-2003 all used the same file format. Word 2007 can use that
>>>>> format too, but also has two new formats of its own - docx and
>>>>> docm. I'm sure a web search would soon turn up some examples.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>> macropod
>>>>> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "robbio" <roberto674.RemoveThis@supereva.it> wrote in message
>>>>> news:ODYJFd59IHA.6052@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Hi at all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I need different doc files, that is doc files created from each
>>>>>> version of Microsoft Word: Word97, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
>>>>>> Where I can find these example doc files?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you in advance
>>>>>> roberto
>
>