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How to change the default “Save As” file format in MS Word 2008

October 23, 2008 by Ross McKillop 

Microsoft Word 2008 changed the default format for Word Documents to .docx. The problem is that people running older versions of Microsoft Word (in both Windows and OS X) probably can’t read these files. This brief tutorial will show you how to change the default “Save As” file format to .doc - which is readable in most previous versions of Word.

  1. As illustrated by the image below, the default format for saving files in Word 2008 is .docx. Though you can always use the Format: drop-down to change the type, if you frequently send files to people using earlier versions of Word, changing the default to .doc - a format they will have no problem reading - can save time.

  2. Start by selecting Word from the Apple Menu, then Preferences from the drop-down list.

  3. In the Output and Sharing section, select Save.

  4. From the Save Word files as: list, select Word 97-2004 Document (.doc). Click OK.

  5. Now when you save a file, the default format will be .doc, instead of .docx.

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Filed Under: Microsoft Office, Tutorials

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One Response to “How to change the default “Save As” file format in MS Word 2008”

  1. Mildred Collier on February 26th, 2010 11:11 pm

    I am having difficulty using my new mac computer. I don’t even know what it is, just that it is a mac. Can you tell me what tutorials I should do to learn how to opperate it ? I spend an awful amount in macword. Will that be a good place to start? Where can I do tutorials that will not cost me any money?

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