Encoding problem with Word and pdf docs - error message - file conversion

Question

Level 1

8 points

Encoding problem with Word and pdf docs - error message - file conversion

I have an iMac with Mohave version 10.14.2. I suddenly am unable to open Word documents or pdf documents that were sent to me via Mail. I can open them in Preview when I receive them. I save them just like always, but when I try to open them in Word, I get an error message telling me the document can't be opened. Clicking the file conversion options in the error message does no good. The files look like they have different icons than normal after saving. Can't tell exactly what they are because they are so small. Folks on the Microsoft Word forum suggested its a problem with Mail and suggested I try this group. Does anybody know how to fix this?

iMac 21.5", 10.14

Posted on Jan 25, 2019 10:28 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

126,100 points

Jan 26, 2019 2:18 PM in response to bneider

It is my understanding that only Windows Word versions can open PDF documents and attempt a conversion to Word .docx. This feature has never been provided in Mac versions of Word including Office 2019 for Mac. PDF documents are not internally in any recognizable word processing format, and Word on Mac will always reject trying to open them — until Microsoft adds support for this feature.

What version of Office for Mac are you using, and what is the error message that you receive when attempting to open Word documents? Screen shots would be useful.

People are sending you "Word Documents" but are they originally from MS Word, or exported/saved from another application (e.g. Google Docs)?

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Answer 2

bneider Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2019 5:36 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for responding. I don't recall not being able to open pdf documents before. Strange that Microsoft has not provided that capability. I updated to the latest version of Mohave and now I can open Word documents again.

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Answer 3

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Jan 26, 2019 1:38 PM in response to bneider

Hello bneider,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!

I understand from your post that you have not been able to open some PDF and Word documents that you have received as email attachments after saving them to your Mac. The following article has some helpful information about this type of issue under the section titled, "If the file cannot be opened in Word for Mac" that you may find useful:

Troubleshooting damaged documents in Word for Mac

Best Regards.

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Answer 4

bneider Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2019 2:03 PM in response to chris_g1

Thanks for the reference. Unfortunately, it did not allow me to open the encoded documents or solve the problem to prevent it from happening in the first instance. Any other suggestions?

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