I got an email from a good friend and legal IT Director asking me for some insight into what other firms are doing or thinking about Word 2007. She asked: What do we need to know? I'm seeing/hearing about converting files and of course.... that makes me VERY uneasy. Is there any whitepaper out there that would address this? Am I just not seeing the information or am I the only one worrying about it?
So I decided to tap the aforementioned Ben Schorr for information - he is a great source with direct connections to Microsoft - who better?! Here's what he had to say:
The new formats rock – in addition to being more open they’re also quite a lot smaller in size than the old ones. Below is a brief document that talks about them a little more.
2007 File Format Fact Sheet from Microsoft
If she wants to interoperate with people using earlier versions of Word (Excel, etc.) she should send this link to her other people. It’s to the file converters that all people using Office 2000 or 2003 to open/edit/save in the 2007 file formats. Also here’s a useful article on the new file formats that also includes with some links to useful tools/resources like the Migration Planning Manager. For the very techy - here is a link to the Office 2007 TechNet Resoure Page.
Finally here’s a link to Brian Jones’ blog he’s the guy who owns the new file formats at Microsoft and he has a lot of good (albeit fairly technical) discussion of the new formats.
Hope that helps!
Ben M. Schorr
Chief Executive Officer
______________________
Roland Schorr & Tower
www.rolandschorr.com
Of course that helps! Thank you, Ben.
