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Thread: *.docx blues

  1. #1
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    *.docx blues

    RANT ON

    My law school careers service distributed what promised to be an illuminating document in *.docx format--that's MSFT's new format for Word 2007 and later.

    Of course, I can't view this, and so I e-mailed, saying: "It would be nice if the document were distributed in *.doc, too."

    Their response:

    "That's the system/program the university provided for us -- it was our upgrade – as most student’s systems can handle. If you need it as a .doc -- just ask, or come into the office to obtain a paper version."

    Uh, no. If anything *.docx breaks the de facto standard that MSFT's *.doc had become--and for no real benefit. Hell, I'm not even asking them to distribute in a free format.

    I don't even know why this dismays me. The IT infrastructure at school isn't terribly "with it." I've known this for years. But it's stupid stuff like this that gets me down.

    RANT OFF

  2. #2
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Open office 3.0 supports .docx files.
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  3. #3
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Quote Originally Posted by hyperdude111 View Post
    Open office 3.0 supports .docx files.
    Not very well though.
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  4. #4
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Did you "rant" back to the school with something similar to what you posted here? Especially the "Uh, no. If anything *.docx breaks the de facto standard that MSFT's *.doc had become--and for no real benefit. Hell, I'm not even asking them to distribute in a free format." point you make?
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  5. #5
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    Re: *.docx blues

    You could also look around and see where it says on their IT sites that students are required to have support for Office 2007 and later data files.

  6. #6
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Ask them if they are incapable of opening it at their end, and choosing save as -> Office 97-2003 so that everyone can read it.

  7. #7

    Re: *.docx blues

    Office 07 is perfectly capable of saving in .doc format, docx is just a deliberate breaking of backwards compatibility to force people to upgrade to 0ffice 07, complete with its horrible new interface.
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  8. #8
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  9. #9
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Based on the response you got, I'd say you aren't dealing with someone who is particularly computer-savvy, and probably doesn't realize how simple it would be to save as .doc (much less realize the importance of using formats *all* students can easily access rather than one that *most* students can access when it provides no tangible benefit).

    I prescribe a treatment of patient, but insistent, education, while trying to avoid antagonizing the person as much as possible. You might also contact the IT department and see if they can provide this person with training necessary to provide accessible documents to students.

    Be diplomatic, but don't be apologetic for using something other than Microsoft's products.

  10. #10
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    Re: *.docx blues

    Also Google Docs supports docx AFAIK...

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