Paragraph alignment changes when saving a Word 2000 document with a different file name in Word 2002 (293116)

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

In Microsoft Word 2002, when you open a Microsoft Word 2000 document formatted with right-aligned, right-to-left text and then save it with a different file name, the paragraph alignment changes from right-aligned to left-aligned. And, when you open a Word 2000 document formatted with left-aligned, left-to-right text in Word 2002 and save it with a different file name, the paragraph alignment changes from left-aligned to right-aligned.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

A document formatted with right-to left alignment was originally created in a left-to-right version of Word 2000 (for example English Word 2000), or a document formatted with left-to-right alignment was created in a right-to-left version of Word 2000 (for example, Arabic or Hebrew Word 2000).
The paragraph direction was set as a property of the paragraph style (in the Style dialog box) and not by means of direct formatting (in the Paragraph dialog box).

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Create a Copy by Using Windows Explorer

In Windows Explorer, locate the file you want to rename, right-click it, and then click Rename on the menu that appears. After you rename it, open it in Word 2002 and make the changes you want.

Method 2: Save the File in Word 2002 Format before Editing It

Open the file in Word 2002, and immediately click Save on the File menu. This will save the file in Word 2002 format.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.