When you open a document in Microsoft Office Word that was created in Microsoft Office Word 2003, Word 2002, or Word 2000, Compatibility Mode is turned on, and you see Compatibility Mode in the title bar of the document window. Compatibility Mode ensures that no new or enhanced features in Office Word are available while you are working with a document, so that people who are using previous versions of Word will have full editing capabilities.

You can work in Compatibility Mode or you can convert your document to the Office Word file format. Converting your document allows you to access the new and enhanced features in Office Word. However, people who are using previous versions of Word may be prevented from or have difficulty editing certain portions of the document that were created by using new or enhanced features in Office Word.

Note The File menu has been replaced with the Microsoft Office Button button image.What do you want to do?

Work in Compatibility Mode

When you open a Word 97-2003 document in Office Word, Compatibility Mode is turned on, and you see Compatibility Mode in the title bar of the document window. In Compatibility Mode, you can open, edit, and save Word 97-2003 documents but you won't be able to use any of the new Office Word features.

Document elements that behave differently in Compatibility Mode

The following elements will be permanently changed when you are working in Compatibility Mode, and you cannot convert them to Office Word elements even if you convert your document later.

Office Word element Behavior in Compatibility Mode
Heading and body fonts Converted to static formatting.
Relative text boxes Converted to absolute positions.
Margins Converted to absolute tabs.
Bibliography Converted to static text.
Citations Converted to static text.
Placeholder text in citations Converted to static text.
Placeholder text in content controls Converted to static text.
Themes Permanently converted to styles. If the file is later opened in Office Word, you cannot automatically change the style by using themes.
Theme colors Permanently converted to styles. If the file is later opened in Office Word, you cannot automatically change the style by using theme colors.
Theme fonts Permanently converted to styles. If the file is later opened in Office Word, you cannot automatically change the style by using theme fonts.
Theme effects Permanently converted to styles. If the file is later opened in Office Word, you cannot automatically change the style by using theme effects.
Content controls Permanently converted to static text.

The following document elements will be changed when you are working in Compatibility Mode, but you can convert them to Office Word elements if you convert your document later.

Office Word element Behavior in Compatibility Mode
Office Art Only a limited set of diagram types is available..
Diagrams Converted to images that cannot be edited.
Equations Become graphics and cannot be changed.

Convert a document to Office Word

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Convert.
  2. In the Microsoft Office Word dialog box, click OK.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • To replace the original file with a file in the Office Word file format, click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Save.
    • To save the original document in its original file format and create another document in the Office Word file format, click the Microsoft Office Button, click Save As, and then type a new name for the file.