[cjm563]

Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the Word logo
before the document name. When I try to open the file it opens Microsoft
Word, then shows a small window with the documents contents seen in a font
that is mostly symbols and a message on top that says "Select the encoding
that makes your document readable". But none of the offered choices of
encoding make the document readable.

How can I read this document?

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

A .doc extension doesn't necessarily mean that it's a Word document.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"cjm563" wrote in message
...
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the Word
logo
before the document name. When I try to open the file it opens Microsoft
Word, then shows a small window with the documents contents seen in a font
that is mostly symbols and a message on top that says "Select the encoding
that makes your document readable". But none of the offered choices of
encoding make the document readable.

How can I read this document?

[Graham Mayor]

While Suzanne is correct - don't try opening Word documents directly from
e-mail messages. Save to the hard drive first. Word documents sometimes
corrupt in transit. Check with the sender that it is indeed a Word document,
and if it is ask the sender to zip the file and resend it.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the
Word logo before the document name. When I try to open the file it
opens Microsoft Word, then shows a small window with the documents
contents seen in a font that is mostly symbols and a message on top
that says "Select the encoding that makes your document readable".
But none of the offered choices of encoding make the document
readable.

How can I read this document?

[cjm563]

I did save on the hard drive first. Also I know this is a Word file which was
created in Word 2000.What is the purpose of a zip file? The document is not
large.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

While Suzanne is correct - don't try opening Word documents directly from
e-mail messages. Save to the hard drive first. Word documents sometimes
corrupt in transit. Check with the sender that it is indeed a Word document,
and if it is ask the sender to zip the file and resend it.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the
Word logo before the document name. When I try to open the file it
opens Microsoft Word, then shows a small window with the documents
contents seen in a font that is mostly symbols and a message on top
that says "Select the encoding that makes your document readable".
But none of the offered choices of encoding make the document
readable.

How can I read this document?

[Graham Mayor]

The ZIP file is to compress the file and minimize the possibility of
corruption in transit.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
I did save on the hard drive first. Also I know this is a Word file
which was created in Word 2000.What is the purpose of a zip file? The
document is not large.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

While Suzanne is correct - don't try opening Word documents directly
from e-mail messages. Save to the hard drive first. Word documents
sometimes corrupt in transit. Check with the sender that it is
indeed a Word document, and if it is ask the sender to zip the file
and resend it.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the
Word logo before the document name. When I try to open the file it
opens Microsoft Word, then shows a small window with the documents
contents seen in a font that is mostly symbols and a message on top
that says "Select the encoding that makes your document readable".
But none of the offered choices of encoding make the document
readable.

How can I read this document?

[cjm563]

I now find that the document was created some years ago and saved on the hard
drive. The person who created it can himself not open it. He mailed it to me
hoping it would open for me. Any ideas as to what to do?

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

The ZIP file is to compress the file and minimize the possibility of
corruption in transit.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
I did save on the hard drive first. Also I know this is a Word file
which was created in Word 2000.What is the purpose of a zip file? The
document is not large.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

While Suzanne is correct - don't try opening Word documents directly
from e-mail messages. Save to the hard drive first. Word documents
sometimes corrupt in transit. Check with the sender that it is
indeed a Word document, and if it is ask the sender to zip the file
and resend it.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and the
Word logo before the document name. When I try to open the file it
opens Microsoft Word, then shows a small window with the documents
contents seen in a font that is mostly symbols and a message on top
that says "Select the encoding that makes your document readable".
But none of the offered choices of encoding make the document
readable.

How can I read this document?

[Graham Mayor]

Send it to the link on my web site and I'll see if it can be opened.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
I now find that the document was created some years ago and saved on
the hard drive. The person who created it can himself not open it. He
mailed it to me hoping it would open for me. Any ideas as to what to
do?

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

The ZIP file is to compress the file and minimize the possibility of
corruption in transit.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
I did save on the hard drive first. Also I know this is a Word file
which was created in Word 2000.What is the purpose of a zip file?
The document is not large.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

While Suzanne is correct - don't try opening Word documents
directly from e-mail messages. Save to the hard drive first. Word
documents sometimes corrupt in transit. Check with the sender that
it is indeed a Word document, and if it is ask the sender to zip
the file and resend it.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


cjm563 wrote:
Received a file attachment in Outlook with a .doc extension and
the Word logo before the document name. When I try to open the
file it opens Microsoft Word, then shows a small window with the
documents contents seen in a font that is mostly symbols and a
message on top that says "Select the encoding that makes your
document readable". But none of the offered choices of encoding
make the document readable.

How can I read this document?