word 5 for DOS conversion problem

[jtdoom]

Hi,
an odd place to ask, perhaps, but here's the problem

people I know still use word 5 for DOS.
They have hundreds of documents...

Their old printers are wearing out, and they need to BE ABLE to Convert the documents to a newer version of wordprocessor so as to use their new printer.
(they have Two DOS only machines, and one with DOS/win31. (which may be a godsent)

Their latest is a speedmonster running winME (soon to be WIN98se)
--------------------

they intend to get at least one other new dedicated machine to...

a; do conversions on without loss of layout.

b; or to be able to just print it when required, in original layout. (which is VERY important)
(on an a newer model printer)

C; burn it to CDr media for archival purposes

they'd also like to be able to use the old template in their newer wordprocessor
(its sort of a officialese form)
Thus, they want to at least try use the template in a new wordprocessor, which means they want to try convert it to the new WP, and then use it for NEW documents.

as you can see, the LAYOUT aka template needs be retained.
-----------------

so, they use word 5 for DOS
these old documents were saved with extention.txt
(I never used word 5 for DOS, and did not know that.. I used wordperfect5.1 in them days))

QUESTION
anyone ever done template conversions with office 4.3 ???

or maybe office 95..
(in both cases, I would assume a full install, with all conversion filters)

we already tried wordperfect 2000

MS-office 2000 doesn't print them either


(its a problem with hidden txt which becomes unhidden and gets printed...)

I would think many people here may still use office 4.3 or even word 5 for DOS.

Please enlighten us?
Please?

(you see, word 5 for DOS has a real year 2000 issue, and then there is their hardware which is gonna give the ghost...)

Thanks, Jaak

mods, please don't close this one, I KNOW its posted at 95 forum as well.

these folks really need help.


[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 08-10-2001).]

[readrj]

Yo jtdoom,

I use MS Word for windows 98 version 7.0a
I can use:
File/Open/Files of Type/Word 3.x-5.x for MSDos

Then it can be "saved as" any of about a dozen different formats.

Hope this helps.

[jtdoom]

Hi,

do you know of any problems with hidden txt?

I haven't yet gotten some of their files to run trials on.

Thanks, Jaak

[readrj]

Sorry I haven't checked this area for awhile,
no I don't know of any problems with it. I haven't actually used the facility, I just know it is available. Don't see why there would be any problems.

Good luck.

[jtdoom]

Hi,

yesterday I had the "pleasure" of recieving a few test files.

seems there is indeed a problem with hidden txt.
(additional info>> the way they are, a one page document may print as 30 pages... wordpad shows weird stuff, so does notepad)

the files I recieved had extention TXT
so, when asked to open a word5-for DOS file and directed to the folder they was in, word 95 did not find them as word 5-DOS- files.
I then changed the extention to DOC on copies I made of these testfiles, and then it wanted to open, but was clamoring for a file I did not have.

I assumed this is either the layout or the extra file with hidden info...

>>EDIT>>
have clean formatted my test machine, installed win98/office97, and installed the converterpacks
see "allowed" double post aboutword conversion

the file it asked for was STYLE SHEET C:\com\standard.DFV

anyway, we will see what gives.
this file it was clamoring for MUST have its location embedded in the file to be opened.
why else ask would it ask for file C:\com\standard.dfv
--------

this is only half of the puzzle...
one of the testfiles had a companion
sampletxt.txt
sampletxt.SIK

the other was a single file
test.txt

when the extention was renamed, and then opened BOTH clamored for the style sheet file
(what would that *.SIK thing be??)


anyway, I have this feeling this is gonna have to be done on a machine these files reside on.

when I was asked about this problem, my initial thoughts were to copy the entire content of these 240megabyte drives to a partition on one of their newer machines. (one that is capable of running win95/DOS alongside)

or on a new machine dedicated to conversions / printing these older files when they recieve request for a hardcopy.
right now, after these trials, I think it's gotta be done that way.

correctly printing these files is only half their problem.
They also wanted to import the style-sheet and use it as template in the newer wordprocessor...and I don't know if that is ever gonna work...
we'll see.

in any case, thanks for your interest.


[This message has been edited by jtdoom (edited 08-20-2001).]