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Can't open Word files in Yosemite

I installed Yosemite on my MacBook Pro Saturday. Now, I can't open existing files with Microsoft Word 2011. I can create and open new files, but I can't open old files. What gives?

Posted on Nov 5, 2014 11:27 AM

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9 replies

Nov 6, 2014 5:57 AM in response to jlcoyle

Let's gather some more information:


How many of the following ways to open one of your old Word documents have you tried?

* Double-click in Finder

* Right-click in Finder, Open with..., Word

* File > Open inside Word

Do they all fail? In the same way?


When an open fails, does it...

* ... give an error message? (What message?)

* ... beep?

* ... fail silently?


What file extension do these files have?

* .DOCX

* .DOC

* .RTF

* .TXT

* something else? (What?)


Have you tried uninstalling Word, reinstalling it, and updating it to the current version? (The intent is to rule out the possibility some component of Word has gotten damaged at some time in the past, and Yosemite triggers the damage to manifest itself.)

Nov 6, 2014 2:13 PM in response to markwmsn

I've solved the problem. I had changed the folder name containing the files I couldn't open to include a semi-colon (;) in the folder name, not in the file names. Evidently, Word wouldn't open a file living inside a folder that contained a semi-colon in the folder name. Now I've changed the folder name, deleting the semi-colon, and the files in the folder open in Word. Everything appears to be copacetic. I still don't like the look of Yosemite, but I can live with it.


Thanks for your help.

Can't open Word files in Yosemite

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