Make Word 2007 Always Save in Word 2003 Format
After a dozen times of accidentally sending a Word 2007 document to co-workers still stuck on Office 2003, I've decided to make Word save in the Word 2003 format by default. (you can do the same thing in Excel)
To change this setting, click on the Office Button in the upper left hand corner.
Now click the Word Options button in the menu.
Click on the Save tab, and then change the drop-down menu for "Save files in this format" to be "Word 97-2003 Document".
Now you won't send the wrong format by accident anymore.
The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. When he's not coming up with great how-to articles, he's probably writing at his personal blog. This article was written on 06/29/07 and tagged with: Microsoft Office


This is a great site.
Can you help me? Where oh whee is the old formula command that so neatly added up my column in Word 97?
Nobody I know can answer this question.
I just recently learned it was even possible! But to answer M. Funes' question, check the Layout tab and the Group Group.
https://lucy.uwec.edu/help/Word07/tb-calc.htm
( I got a warning when I visited the site in Firefox but I could still get to it ).
Do you have a reg key that will make all of office 2003 save in the 2003 format.
Please help if you can…I have Cable Internet. My configuration ended up with the Cable. It seems I can't do email fulnctions within 2003 Word. I was told to made Word my default email. How do I do this??? I know this sounds really simple; maybe that's why I can't put it together.
I am trying to create a macro.
I want the following information in a footer:
Path & Filename
Name, Current Date, Current Time
Each time I play the macro, I get a runtime error.
This works flawlessly for Excel but my Word won't save the settings (it's still saving the doc in 2007 format instead of 2003). Is there something else i need to do to have Word save the 97-2003 as the default format?
@Carl
Here's the reg key to make office 97-2003 the default format
[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Options]
"DefaultFormat"=dword:00000038
Enjoy!
Hey MarcoH, that's so cool!
Thanks a lot!
This site was useful
how do i use the below thing which you have said,
Here's the reg key to make office 97-2003 the default format
[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Options]
"DefaultFormat"=dword:00000038
Enjoy!
@Tony
That's really useful, thanks!
The advice on how to change the 'Default' format in office 2007 applications is useful and fairly well publiced now. However, there is still an issue that no one has addressed. When you click on the Office Button and then mouse over the 'Save As' the first option on the list is to save in the default format (this is NOT effected by changing your default save format) this option will ALWAYS save in 2007 format.
We continually have our office staff clicking this first option because it does not state it is the 2007 format. I've looked everywhere on how to disable this menu item or at least re-name or re-order the list so they don't select it by accident.
Any advice.