Microsoft Word .docx files not opening

I just installed El Capitan on my iMac 927-INCH, MID 2011). Word files (.docx) made previously won't open. They report the error:User uploaded file


If I open a blank file and save it as a .docx, it opens fine. There seems to be an incompatibility with Word 2011 14.5.9 (151119) with El Capitan and files saved on Yosemite.


Excel and Powerpoint files seem to work properly.


Any suggestions, other than revert back to Yosemite?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 12 GB Ram

Posted on Dec 17, 2015 7:04 AM

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3 replies

Dec 17, 2015 7:07 AM in response to PianomanDave

I had been testing .docx files in a particular folder. they didn't work. I tried .docx files directly on the Desktop and from the folders and they worked perfectly.


I noticed that the folder had an accidental "\" at the end of the folder name. I erased the backslash and the files worked fine.


The notification about the possibility of file name having an invalid character, actually was referring to the full path name of the file.


I guess I don't get points for fixing my own problem, but I thought I would document what happened just in case others run into the same problem.

Dec 17, 2015 7:22 AM in response to HelgeKreutz

Helge,


Thanks. See my other reply. My problem was an invalid character in the folder name. Apparently Mavericks and Yosemite will allow Word files to be open without considering invalid characters in the path name, but El Capitan checks the entire path name for invalid chapters for Word.


Other interesting features are that with an invalid character in the folder name, a .xlsx file opened fine. Of course with the folder name fixed, it also worked. But..... with a correct folder name, if I added an invalid character to the file name, it would not work.


Also, Pages seems to open all of these files, even if I add a "\" into the name.


I just love the consistency in operation between Microsoft products, and the nonsense restrictions it places for no good reason. I'm so glad I use Apple.

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Microsoft Word .docx files not opening

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