I recently downloaded an extremely informative and useful white paper by Ross Kodner’s microsystems entitled “.doc & .docx – It’s a Dual-Format World.”
The white paper details the issues involved in converting from one format to the other, including the loss of numbering schemes and formatting and pagination changes. Further, the “compatibility tool” that lets people still using Word 2003 access documents from 2007 and 2010 has a number of known issues.
But most firms just plowed blindly ahead, converting or not converting with no real plan. Many users got little or no training in the new versions, not even a minimal instruction in customizing the labor-saving Quick Access Toolbar. (See my February 2010 blog entry)
Firms owe it to themselves to systematize their practices in this area. Ross’s white paper is really a must read.
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