How to recover text from any files by using the "Recover Text from Any File" converter of Word 2002 and Word 2003 (290946)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q290946
For a Microsoft Word 97 version of this article, see 156573.

For a Microsoft Word for Macintosh version of this article, see 180871.

For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 212274.

SUMMARY

This article describes the "Recover Text from Any File" converter in Microsoft Word and how to use it to recover damaged documents.

MORE INFORMATION

What Is the "Recover Text from Any File" Converter?

The "Recover Text from Any File" converter allows you to extract the text from any file. The file does not have to be a Word document.

What Will I Lose by Using the "Recover Text from Any File" Converter?

The "Recover Text from Any File" converter has its limitations. Document formatting is lost, along with anything that is not formatted as text. Graphics, fields, drawing objects, and so on are not converted. However, headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, and field text are retained as simple text.

My Document Is Damaged: How Can I Recover the Information?

Note When you change the selection in the Files of type box (on the File menu, click Open) to Recover Text from Any File, Word retains this setting and uses it the next time that you open a document. To avoid this behavior, reset the Files of type box to Word Document (*.doc) after you have completed the recovery of your damaged document.

To Open a Word Document

To use the "Recover Text from Any File" converter with a Word document, follow these steps:
  1. On the File menu, click Open.
  2. In the Files of type box, click Recover Text from Any File(*,*).
  3. Select the document that you want to recover the text from.
  4. Click Open.

To Open a Non-Word File

To use the "Recover Text from Any File" converter with a non-Word file, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Click to select the Confirm conversion at Open check box, and then click OK.
  4. On the File menu, click Open.
  5. In the Files of type box, click Recover Text from Any File.
  6. Select the document that you want to recover the text from.
  7. Click Open.
Word converts and recovers all text from the document.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/23/2006
Keywords:kbhowto kbinfo kbtshoot KB290946 kbAudEndUser
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