WD2000: Right-to-Left Formatting Lost When Document Is Saved As Word 6.0/95 (*.doc) (232052)

NOTE: This article discusses complex scripts functionality. Complex scripts functionality is available when you use the Office Language Settings tool to enable a language, such as Arabic or Hebrew, that requires this functionality. For more information about multilingual features, click Microsoft <I BRACKET="YES">your Office product</I> Help on the Help menu, type multilingual features in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics that are returned.

SYMPTOMS

If you save a right-to-left Word 2000 document in Word 6.0/95(*.doc), the document loses its right-to-left formatting, and other problems may occur.

CAUSE

In right-to-left versions of Word 2000, the file format Word 6.0/95 (*.doc) appears as Word 6.0/95 - European(*.doc). The name change is intended to avoid confusion about which format to choose when you save right-to-left documents. Word 6.0/95 - European(*.doc) is a binary format converter, and it is not enabled for right-to-left languages.

WORKAROUND

If you save a right-to-left Word 2000 document to be opened in a right-to-left version of Word 6.x or Word 95, you need to specify in the Save As dialog box to save the document in one of the following formats:

Word 97-2000 and 6.0/95 - RTF (*.doc)
Word 97-2000 and 6.0/95 Hebrew Converter (*.doc)
Word 97-2000 and 6.0/95 Arabic Converter (*.doc)