Description of the text converters that are available with Word 2002

This article describes the text converters that are installed with Word 2002. It also provides a list of the text converters that are built in to Word, converters that are installed in a default installation of Word, and converters that are installed on first use.

When you open or save a document in Word, text converters are used to convert the file format of the document. To convert documents to and from different file formats, you must install the appropriate converters that are included with Microsoft Office XP or the Microsoft Office Converter Pack. By default, the most frequently used converters are installed with Word. If you want to open or save a document in a file format that is not installed by default, you may have to obtain and install additional converters.

NOTE: In Word 2002, you can collaborate with others who use earlier versions of Word or other programs. However, earlier versions of Word and some other programs may not support all of the features of Word 2002.

Converters That Are Built in to Word

The following file formats are built in to Word. You do not have to install an additional text converter to open or save files that use the following file formats:

• Web page
• Web page, Filtered
• Web Archive
• Text with Layout
• MS-DOS Text with Layout
• Plain Text
• Encoded Text
• Rich Text Format (RTF)

Text Converters That Are Installed in a Default Installation

The following text converters are set to the Run from My Computer installation state, and they are installed when you perform a default installation of Word (for example, when you click Install Now on the Choose the type of installation you need page of the Office XP Setup Wizard):

• Word 97-2002 & 6.0/95 RTF Converter
• Word 6.0/95 Export Converter
• Recover Text Converter
• Word 97 for Windows/Word 98 Macintosh

Text Converters That Are Installed on First Use

The following text converters are set to the Installed on First Use installation state:

• WordPerfect 6.x Converter
• WordPerfect 5.x Converter
• Text with Layout Converter
• Microsoft Excel Converter
• Word for Macintosh 4.0-5.1 Converter
• Word for Windows 2.0 Converter
• Microsoft Works for Windows 4.0
• Works 2000
• Word 6.0/95 for Windows/Macintosh
• Lotus 1-2-3 Converter

You are prompted to install the converter when you use the feature for the first time. To install the converter, you must have access to the Office XP CD-ROM or the network server from which you installed Word 2002.

To install the text converters that are set to the Installed on First Use installation state, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your situation.

Method 1: Install the Text Converter on First Use

When you open or save a document for which the converter is not installed, you receive one of the following messages (depending on your circumstances): -or- To install the converter, insert your Office XP CD-ROM into the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then click Yes on the message. Word installs the text converter and then opens the document.

Method 2: Run Setup and Set the Text Converters to the "Run from My Computer" Installation State

Run Office XP Setup and set the text converters that you want to install to the Run from My Computer installation state. When you do this, the converters are installed to your hard disk. To install the text converters that you want by running Office XP Setup, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

1. Quit Word and all other Office XP programs that are running on the computer.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of currently running programs, click Microsoft Office XP, and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features - Change which features are installed or remove specific features, and then click Next.
6. Expand Office Shared Features, and then expand Converters and Filters.
   
   NOTE: To expand an item, click the plus sign (+) that is displayed to the left of the item.
7. Do one of the following:
   • To install all text converters, click the down-arrow next to Text Converters, and then click Run from My Computer.
     
     -or-
   • To install only the text converters that you want, expand Text Converters, click the down-arrow next to each text converter that you want to install, and then click Run from My Computer.
8. Click Update.
9. Click OK when you receive the message that Setup successfully updated your installation.

Additional converters are available in the Office Converter Pack. For more information about the Office Converter Pack, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about how to deploy, configure, and manage Office XP programs including Word 2002, see the Microsoft Office XP Resource Kit. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site: