help! Word for mac 2011 won't open files

Question

help! Word for mac 2011 won't open files

Hi,

I wasn't able to find a suitable category to place this question under, but hope someone can help all the same.

I have Word for Mac 2011 on my 2011 iMac. In the last couple of days, it has stopped opening files (by double-clicking on them, or by going to File > Open). Instead, I get an error message which reads:

"Document name" uses a file type that is blocked from opening in this version

(The message then continues with smaller print, telling me how this is for security reasons but that I should be able to use File > Open to access the file - which I can't).

The only way I have found to open the files is by using File > Open and in the 'Enable' box choosing 'Recover Text from any file'. However, this is pretty unhelpful because I lose the file's logos and formatting.

Note that this problem happens to all files regardless of which version of Word they were created on.

Please help! I really need to access my Word docs...

Thanks in advance.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 11:35 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 22, 2012 3:29 PM in response to rhodrifromoxford

I have suddenly encountered this problem. It must stem from the latest (automatic) update of Microsoft word. The best workaround I can find is to open the file in OpenOffice (free software) and save it as rtf. The rtf file will then open in Word with all the formatting (I don't know about logos). Hope Moicrosoft will correct the problem ultrasoon.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 22, 2012 8:37 AM in response to rhodrifromoxford

I am also suddenly having this problem. It seemed to start after I upgraded to Lion. I had Word 2003 until I upgraded to Word 2011 last year, so I don't have 2008 to go back to. The documents it won't open are just blank. They will open with Open Office. This is just so annoying! I thought it was a Lion incompatibility, but you are saying it is a Microsoft problem?

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 22, 2012 9:47 AM in response to desertlovin

It appeared to be a Microsoft Office problem, which amazingly disappeared as quickly as it arose. For about two days, all old Office documents (Word or Excel) produced the silly message and I had to woek around with OO. Then all was well again. Lion?, Microsoft? who knows

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 22, 2012 9:56 AM in response to clydefromcarrickmacross

It seems I can open most of the documents I already have on my computer, but I am having trouble opening some that are coming in email or are on the web.

Reply