Anyone know what we are supposed to do with Office 2007 document formats in
Windows Mobile 6 standard and professional devices? I thought the native
compatibility was to Office 2003, but we are implementing Office 2007 now and
..docx documents are starting to get passed around. Our end users are not
going to like the "unrecognized file type" errors.

Just wondering if there is going to be some "Office 2007 compatibility pack"
for Windows Mobile 6 or 5?

RabbieBearns (RabbieBearns@discussions.microsoft.com) in
DF5CE31A-5DCF-4B1B-9F3D-931025403793@microsoft.com:

> Anyone know what we are supposed to do with Office 2007 document
> formats in Windows Mobile 6 standard and professional devices? I
> thought the native compatibility was to Office 2003, but we are
> implementing Office 2007 now and .docx documents are starting to get
> passed around. Our end users are not going to like the "unrecognized
> file type" errors.
>
> Just wondering if there is going to be some "Office 2007
> compatibility pack" for Windows Mobile 6 or 5?

1) Are the 2007 default formats different from the 2003 default ones?
(I don't know, and I don't yet plan to upgrade.)

2) If so, could your organization stick with the 2003 formats as defaults
(taking this for possible), or do you need any new functionality (in the
formats)?

3) Do the file formats of Windows Mobile 6 differ from those of WM5? If
not, then many features will get stripped upon conversion during
synchronization. I don't know whar remains retained in the desktop versions
of the synchronized documents when the mobile copies have been changed.

4) You could have a look at SoftMaker Office for the mobile devices. I
don't see any mentioning of Microsoft Office 2007 formats on
http://www.softmaker.com/english/ofp_en.htm, but you could ask.
SoftMaker Office currently consists of a word processor and a spreadsheet,
the pipeline is on http://www.softmaker.com/english/proj_en.htm.

--
Chris Laarman

>> office 2007 format support in wm6 <<

It is supposed to be supported in wm6... don't know if it's supported at
the moment or to come with an update

>> 1) Are the 2007 default formats different from the 2003 default
ones? <<

Yes, they are incompatible with all pre wm6 ppc's office apps

>>2) If so, could your organization stick with the 2003 formats as
defaults <<

The problem is that 2007 apps default to the 2007 format and a high
percentage of users have problems saving in "non default" formats...
that plus, if the boss ordered 2007, he/she's gonna want to know why the
format can't be the norm.

3) Do the file formats of Windows Mobile 6 differ from those of WM5?

good question... not sure if their formats are different or if they just
have the ability to open 2007 files... anyone?

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

2.) Is it possible (and I have not looked into this as we are still
standardized on Office 2003) to either:

a. Install Office 2007 with an admin install and a transform file
setting the default save format to Office 2003?

b. Apply a .adm file to via Group Policies or the gpedit.msc app to
have the default save as a Office 2003 format?

Just thinking out loud a bit.

Jim

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:
> >> office 2007 format support in wm6 <<
>
> It is supposed to be supported in wm6... don't know if it's supported at
> the moment or to come with an update
>
> >> 1) Are the 2007 default formats different from the 2003 default
> ones? <<
>
> Yes, they are incompatible with all pre wm6 ppc's office apps
>
> >>2) If so, could your organization stick with the 2003 formats as
> defaults <<
>
> The problem is that 2007 apps default to the 2007 format and a high
> percentage of users have problems saving in "non default" formats...
> that plus, if the boss ordered 2007, he/she's gonna want to know why the
> format can't be the norm.
>
> 3) Do the file formats of Windows Mobile 6 differ from those of WM5?
>
> good question... not sure if their formats are different or if they just
> have the ability to open 2007 files... anyone?
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>
>

>> default settings <<

Think this question is best asked in the office forum.

in any case, I don't think it's going to be an os (admin/gpedit) action
but rather an application specific solution... for example, mass edits
of config or application specific registry settings depending on how and
where these are stored.

Next question... if you have to default to an older format, is there
justifiable value in installing 2007 in the first place?

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Yes there will be updates to support the XML file format native to the 2007
Office products. Don't know if this will be a simple patch or be rolled into
an update, which would likely need to be provided by your device OEM, and I
can't give you a time frame. I am a bit surprised that you are making such
use of the new formats, since the likelihood of collaborating with others
using 2007 may not be that great yet. I have set my Office 2007 to save in a
legacy format, until the penetration gets a bit better.

For Bev, yes the upgrade to 2007 has advantages (or possibly disadvantages)
beyond the new file format. The move to an XML file structure sets the stage
for greater interaction between the various Office products, and other
applications as well. The changes to the user interface, whether you like
them or not, are there whether or not you save in docx or doc.

--
Sven
MS MVP Mobile Devices

"RabbieBearns" <RabbieBearns@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DF5CE31A-5DCF-4B1B-9F3D-931025403793@microsoft.com...
> Anyone know what we are supposed to do with Office 2007 document formats
> in
> Windows Mobile 6 standard and professional devices? I thought the native
> compatibility was to Office 2003, but we are implementing Office 2007 now
> and
> .docx documents are starting to get passed around. Our end users are not
> going to like the "unrecognized file type" errors.
>
> Just wondering if there is going to be some "Office 2007 compatibility
> pack"
> for Windows Mobile 6 or 5?

Hello,

Office 2007 documents are not natively supported in Windows Mobile 6. An
update to support this new format is coming this summer.

The file extensions are the same but the file xml structure was
significantly re-written thus the new "format" of sorts.

There is a free update for Office 2003 to be able to read Office 2007 files
on the Microsoft site for your PC.

Regards,

--
Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!


"RabbieBearns" <RabbieBearns@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DF5CE31A-5DCF-4B1B-9F3D-931025403793@microsoft.com...
> Anyone know what we are supposed to do with Office 2007 document formats
> in
> Windows Mobile 6 standard and professional devices? I thought the native
> compatibility was to Office 2003, but we are implementing Office 2007 now
> and
> .docx documents are starting to get passed around. Our end users are not
> going to like the "unrecognized file type" errors.
>
> Just wondering if there is going to be some "Office 2007 compatibility
> pack"
> for Windows Mobile 6 or 5?

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] (BevNoSpamBevHoward.com) in
OCfjnv8pHHA.4196@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Next question... if you have to default to an older format, is there
> justifiable value in installing 2007 in the first place?

1) You would still have the gains in program features, those that don't
influence the data output format.
2) "Default" implies the ability to shift away from it - like when needing
the new features that do influence the data format.

:-)

--
Chris Laarman

Sven (sejohannsen@hotmail.com) in efc$Ns%23pHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:

> For Bev, yes the upgrade to 2007 has advantages (or possibly
> disadvantages) beyond the new file format. The move to an XML file
> structure sets the stage for greater interaction between the various
> Office products, and other applications as well.

That looks appealing! It would indeed increase portability of documents
(data files in general) across applications, operating systems and makers.
Or at least simplify writing filters.

--
Chris Laarman

A correction to my post....

The extension did change in Office 2007. It is now a four character
extension.

Thanks Scott for catching my mis-step.

Regards,


--
Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!


"Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices"
<management@NOSPAMMIETHANKIE.clintonfitch.com> wrote in message
news:ekU$z2%23pHHA.3644@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> Office 2007 documents are not natively supported in Windows Mobile 6. An
> update to support this new format is coming this summer.
>
> The file extensions are the same but the file xml structure was
> significantly re-written thus the new "format" of sorts.
>
> There is a free update for Office 2003 to be able to read Office 2007
> files on the Microsoft site for your PC.
>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
> Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
>
>
> "RabbieBearns" <RabbieBearns@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:DF5CE31A-5DCF-4B1B-9F3D-931025403793@microsoft.com...
>> Anyone know what we are supposed to do with Office 2007 document formats
>> in
>> Windows Mobile 6 standard and professional devices? I thought the native
>> compatibility was to Office 2003, but we are implementing Office 2007 now
>> and
>> .docx documents are starting to get passed around. Our end users are not
>> going to like the "unrecognized file type" errors.
>>
>> Just wondering if there is going to be some "Office 2007 compatibility
>> pack"
>> for Windows Mobile 6 or 5?
>
>

imho, what's missing is a universal way to convert 2007 documents to
other formats... even if it's possible to save or even run a converter
on a pc, mobile users have zero options if they can't request the
conversion from the originator or have access to a pc to run a
conversion... which kinda defeats the "mobile" concept.

It would be nice if there were an email based utility where you could
email 2007 attachments and get an automated reply containing a
conversion in a legacy format.

I's suggest a web based interface, but, the majority of ppc's in use at
the moment have no way of "uploading" files to such an interface.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

As Clinton has pointed out Office 2007 support is coming this summer. More
specifically Microsoft announced today it is coming in Q3 and available for
WM5 touchscreen (Pocket PC) and all WM6 devices.

More details here:
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handhelds/ontheradar/0,39050970,62019010,00.htm

-Krip

P.S. Thanks to Jason Langridge for the heads up:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2007/06/06/office-2007-support-for-windows-mobile-6-and-5-0-announced-as-well-as-japanese-support.aspx

Absolutely agree, but Office 2007 was not designed so PPC/SP users could
benefit. It was designed to streamline collaboration, between people and
between applications. You and I have both seen numerous instances where the
hands of MS were not aware, or coordinated with the other hands. It's way
beyond left hand and right hand, we have Vishnu here*. WMDC not quite
keeping up with Vista, Office desktop and Office Mobile being out of sync.
Office Mobile being on SPs but no SP file sync (happened a week or two ago
for AS and today for WMDC). The company has gotten too big with too many
disparate entities working in vacuums, or at least fog banks. Heck, there
isn't even a document reader for the new XML formats yet on the desktop,
AFAIK. Users can certainly save back to earlier formats, by exception, or
set it to do that by default. This isn't the first time this has happened.
I still have issues with PowerPoint, Visio and access files that are sent
around and the recipient can't open them due to versioning. You call each
other, find what the earliest version is and the luckier one saves in the
earlier format. More embedded capability requires new formats, that's just
the way it is. You can always strive to make sure you have backwards
compatibility, but forward compatibility requires a level of clairvoyance
that could be very useful in the stock market.

As far as the new XML format (not that XML is new mind you) think of it like
this. If you have an HTML file, you can open that in IE, FireFox, Opera,
Frontpage, ColdFusion, etc. Won't guarantee it will look the same, but each
app will get the data...the information intended to be passed. Now imagine
one file that has data in it that I can report with the capabilities of
Word, graph and manipulate with Excel, and sort and query with Access, and
present with PowerPoint. That's the goal. It's all about the content, not
the container.

--
Sven
MS MVP Mobile Devices

*No offense intended here to the Hindu element. It is common in western
circles to indicate corporate schisms as 'the right hand not knowing what
the left hand is doing." Vishnu is an image that I associate with multiple
hands. MS is so big, it seems that often none of the hands know what the
others are up to.

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:uJiiMmFqHHA.1144@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> imho, what's missing is a universal way to convert 2007 documents to other
> formats... even if it's possible to save or even run a converter on a pc,
> mobile users have zero options if they can't request the conversion from
> the originator or have access to a pc to run a conversion... which kinda
> defeats the "mobile" concept.
>
> It would be nice if there were an email based utility where you could
> email 2007 attachments and get an automated reply containing a conversion
> in a legacy format.
>
> I's suggest a web based interface, but, the majority of ppc's in use at
> the moment have no way of "uploading" files to such an interface.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>
>