WD97: Differences Between RTF and Binary Export Converter

This article discusses the differences between the Microsoft Word 6.0/95 (RTF) and the Microsoft Word 6.0/95 (binary) export converters, how to obtain the converters, and when to use them.

HISTORY OF THE CONVERTERS

Word 97 RTF Export Converter (non-Service Release 1)

NOTE: This is the converter that comes with the original version of Microsoft Word 97, not with Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1).

To use this converter, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save As.
2. In the Save as type box, click Word 6.0/95 (*.doc).
3. Type a file name, and then click OK.

This saves the document in a format that earlier versions of Microsoft Word can open. This converter saves the document in Rich Text Format (RTF), while giving it a .doc file extension.

Compressed RTF Export Converter (no longer available)

NOTE: This is the same name that was used for the original RTF export converter. In an attempt to reduce the file size of the RTF document that was created when using the original Word 6.0/95 export converter, a modified version of the export converter was created and was made available for download on the Microsoft Web site for a short period of time.

This export converter also created an RTF file with a .doc file extension. This converter significantly reduced the size of the RTF file that was generated by compressing graphics into a binary format instead of using the traditional ANSI format. The RTF file that was created by this converter is not compatible with other applications that read RTF format.

NOTE: This converter is no longer available.

This converter, when installed, could be used by following these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save As.
2. In the Save as type list, click Word 6.0/95.
3. Give the file a name and then click OK.

Word 6.0/95 Binary Export Converter

NOTE: This is the same name that was used for the original RTF export converter.

To make a conversion from Microsoft Word 97 to Word 6.x or 7.x easier, a Word 6.0/95 (*.doc) binary export converter was created. This converter saves from Word 97 into a true binary format that Word 6.x or 7.x can understand, as opposed to the modified RTF format used in the earlier converters. This converter significantly reduced the size of the exported file, making it smaller than what was created by the earlier versions of the export converters, listed earlier.

If you are running the original version of Microsoft Word 97, you can obtain the Word 6.0/95 (binary) export converter by obtaining Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 2(SR-2). For additional information about SR-2, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If you are running Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1), you already have the Word 6.0/95 (via RTF) and the Word 6.0/95 (binary) export converters. Word 97 SR-1 shipped with:

File Name	Date	Size	Description
Wrd6ex32.cnv	7/2/97	1024 KB	Word 6.0/95 Binary Export Converter
Wrd6er32.cnv	7/2/97	19 KB	Word 6.0/95 RTF Export Converter

NOTE: The Binary Export Converter is the same file that is available on the Microsoft Web site.

To use the binary export converter, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save As.
2. In the Save as type box, click Word 6.0/95.
3. Give the file a name and click OK.

In Microsoft Word 97 SR-1, the Word 6.0/95 export (via RTF) converter that shipped with the original release of Microsoft Word 97 was renamed from Wrd6ex32.cnv to Wrd6er32.cnv. In the list of Save as type formats, it will be displayed as Word 97 and 6.0/95 - RTF (*.doc).

To use the Word 6.0/95 (via RTF) export converter, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save As.
2. In the Save as type list, click Word 97 & 6.0/95 - RTF.
3. Give the file a name and click OK.

USING THE CONVERTERS

What Happens When You Save a Document Using the RTF Export Converter?

Microsoft Word 97:

For more information about saving using the RTF export converter, click Office Assistant, type Saving as Word 6.x or 7.x, click Search, and then click Results of saving Word 97 documents in other formats.

Click the topic Learn about what happens when you save a Word 97 document in Word 95 or Word 6.x format.

You will be presented with a topic that lists the features that are (and are not) supported when saving documents in this format.

Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1):

For more information about saving using the RTF export converter, click Office Assistant, type Saving as Word 6.x or 7.x, click Search, and then click Results of saving Word 97 documents in other formats.

Click the topic Learn about what happens when you save a Word 97 document in Word 97 & 6.0/95 - RTF format.

You will be presented with a topic that lists the features that are (and are not) supported when saving documents in this format.

What Happens When You Save a Document using the Binary Export Converter?

For more information about saving using the RTF export converter, click Office Assistant, type Saving as Word 6.x or 7.x, click Search, and then click Results of saving Word 97 documents in other formats.

Click the topic Learn about what happens when you save a Word 97 document in Word 6.0/95 format.

You will be presented with a topic that lists the features that are (and are not) supported when saving documents in this format.

HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH CONVERTER TO USE

Advantages Using the Binary Export Converter

The binary export converter creates an exported file that is significantly smaller than what is created when you use the RTF-based export converter. Note that Microsoft Word 97 uses a great deal of graphics compression that did not exist in earlier versions of Word. Therefore, files containing graphics, especially bitmaps, will be significantly smaller in native Word 97 format than they will be in native Word 6.x or 7.x format.

The binary export converter is less confusing to use than the RTF-based converter because the file is a true Word document and not an RTF file with a .doc file extension.

Advantages Using RTF-Based Export Converter

The RTF-based export converter offers Better retention of formatting if you open a document in an earlier version of Word but do not save it in the earlier version.

To retain as much formatting as possible, do the following:

1. Create a document in Microsoft Word 97.
2. Save the document in Word 6.0/95 format using the RTF based converter.
3. Open the document in Word 6.x or 7.x.
   
   NOTE: some of the formatting and features from Microsoft Word 97 that are not supported in the earlier versions of Word will be gone.
4. Close the document in Word 6.x or 7.x without saving the changes.
   
   NOTE: Do not save the changes. If you re-open the document in Microsoft Word 97, all of the Word 97 features and formatting will be in the document, even though they did not appear in the earlier versions of Word. All of the Microsoft Word 97 formatting and features are retained when you re-open the document in Microsoft Word 97 without saving the document in the earlier version.
   
   If you saved the document in an earlier version, all of the Microsoft Word 97 specific formatting and features will be lost. They will not re-appear when you re-open the document in Microsoft Word 97.