Description of the text converters that are available with Word 2003

This article describes the text converters that are installed with Microsoft Office Word 2003. Additionally, the article contains lists of the text converters that are built into Word, the text converters that are installed in a default installation of Word, and the text 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 Office 2003 or with the Microsoft Office Converter Pack. By default, the most frequently used converters are installed with Word 2003. 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 other converters.

Note In Word 2003, you can collaborate with others who use earlier versions of Microsoft Word or other programs. However, earlier versions of Word and some other programs may not support all the features of Word 2003.

Converters that are built into Word

The following file formats are built into 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
• Plain Text
• Encoded Text
• Rich Text Format (RTF)
• XML
• Recover Text (import only)

Text converters that are installed in a default installation

The following text converters are set to the Run from My Computer installation state. These converters are installed when you perform a default installation of Word. For example, the converters are installed when you click Install Now on the Choose the type of installation you need page of the Office 2003 Setup Wizard:

• Word 97-2003 & 6.0/95 RTF 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
• Microsoft Works for Windows 7.0

You are prompted to install the converter when you use the feature for the first time.

To install the text converters that are set to the Installed on First Use installation state, use one of the following methods, depending on 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:

Method 2: Run Setup and set the text converters to the "Run from My Computer" installation state

Run Office 2003 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 the hard disk. To install the text converters that you want by running Office 2003 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. Exit Word and all other Office 2003 programs.
2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
3. In the list of currently installed programs, click the version of Office that you are running, and then click Change.
4. On the Maintenance Mode Options page, click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
5. On the Custom Setup page, click to select the Choose advanced customization of applications check box, and then click Next.
6. On the Advanced Customization page, expand Office Shared Features in the Choose update options for applications and tools list.
7. Expand Converters and Filters.
8. Perform one of the following actions:
   • To install all text converters, click the arrow next to Text Converters, and then click Run from My Computer.
   • To install only the text converters that you want, expand Text Converters, click the arrow next to each text converter that you want to install, and then click Run from My Computer.
9. Click Update.
10. Click OK when you receive the message that states that Setup successfully updated your installation.

Other 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 2003 programs, see the Microsoft Office 2003 Resource Kit. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site: