MS-DOS with Line Breaks Format in Word 2002 and Word 2003

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 1, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2002 and 2003

When you save a document, Word normally saves it in Word format, meaning that all the formatting and objects your document contains are saved, as is. Word also allows you to save your files in a number of other formats, however. One format that has long been available in word is "MS-DOS with Line Breaks." This format seems to be missing from Word 2002 and Word 2003, however.

Never fear--a file format by that particular name may no longer be available in the Save As Type drop-down list, but the functionality is still built in. Follow these steps:

Create your document as you normally would.
Choose Save (or Save As) from the File menu. Word displays the Save (or Save As) dialog box.
Using the Save As Type drop-down list, choose Plain Text (*.txt).
In the File Name box, specify the name you want to use for the saved document.
Click on Save. Word displays the File Conversion dialog box.
For Text Encoding, choose MS-DOS.
Make sure the Insert Line Breaks check box is selected.
Click on OK.

That's it; you have now created a text file that is the same as the older MS-DOS with Line Breaks format.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1659) applies to Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Adding a Font Menu

You can customize Word so it includes a Fonts menu.

Discover More

Continually Saving Normal.dot

If your Normal.dot file is continually saved when you exit Word, even when you haven't made any changes to it, the ...

Discover More

Turning Off Names

You can use some of the tools in Excel to convert cell references in formulas into names. Converting back (from names ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (menu)

Linking Word Documents

Want to add one document to another document? You can do it by adding links, described in this tip.

Discover More

Importing a Text File and Inserting after a Bookmark

Word macros are a great way to automate some of the ways in which you create documents. If you have a need to insert the ...

Discover More

Printing Documents in a Folder

If you want to print a group of documents at the same time there are a couple of ways you can accomplish the task. Here ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is four minus 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.