I am attempting to address some of the issues you are likely to confront when working with documents created in other versions of WordPerfect or even other word processing programs. Hopefully, this will save someone some time doing post-conversion clean-up.
It may seem obvious, but when you take documents created in a recent release of WordPerfect and convert them to an older release, all the features supported in the earlier release do not convert. For example, such things as First Line Indent and Spacing Between Paragraphs are not supported in WordPerfect for DOS 5.1 or WordPerfect for Windows 5.2.
When a feature (or more accurately, a code) is not supported in a given release of WordPerfect, several things can or will happen. When the document is converted or saved in an earlier format, an [Unknown] code may be inserted in place of the unsupported code. If the document is reopened in its original release, the [Unknown] code reverts back to the original code. When exchanging documents with users of earlier versions, ask that the [Unknown] codes are left in the document.
In some cases, unsupported codes are converted to the closest equivalent feature. For example, a First Line Indent Code may be converted to an Advance code. If the result is equal, leave it alone; otherwise, you must adjust the setting or delete the code entirely.
Another example is when a user inserts several comments in a WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS document. When the document in opened in WordPerfect 8 (for example), the comments are nowhere to be seen. Why? The 8-user is viewing the document in Page Mode, where comments are displayed as boxes on the far left side of the document screen so that you have to manually scroll over to see them. A quick look in the Reveal Codes shows a Comment code, right where it should be.
Beginning with 7, WordPerfect files support the OLE Compound File format specification, so 5.x and 6.x users wont be able to open files that are saved in the 7 format. Thankfully, 7 defaults to saving in the 6.1/6.0 format, so this normally should not be a problem. To be on the safe side, before sending the document out, you should double-check in the SAVE FILE dialog box what format you are using to save your document.
Those of us who still work in an office where WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS is used primarily, all documents are saved in WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS format so that anyone using WordPerfect for Windows 6.1 or Microsoft Word 7 can open and edit them. We have found this to be the cleanest format for conversion, even though 5.1+ for DOS can read WordPerfect for Windows 6.1 files.
In some word processors, WordPerfect 5.x is the only WordPerfect file format available for exporting files. For example, Word 97, the most recent version of Microsoft Word, offers three WordPerfect export formats: WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS, WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS and WordPerfect 5.x for Windows. Since the WordPerfect 5.x format is acceptable to all versions of WordPerfect (except versions 4.x and earlier) and many other applications, offices that frequently exchange files have made this the standard format for all shared files. This is particularly helpful when you have attorneys and/or paralegals who work at home and bring documents in on disks.
Features that cause the most problems in conversion include tabs, indents, tables, lines, table of contents, forms, columns and some graphics.
Since every situation is unique, trouble shooting problems in converted documents can be tedious and a time-consuming process. However, with prior planning, you can reduce the amount of time you spend figuring out what went wrong and how you can fix it.
Have a good Summer, see you next issue.