Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 11, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
When converting Word documents from an older version of Word to a newer version, you may notice changes in the sizes of the documents. Particularly, you may notice that some files shrink in size. The biggest potential reason for this is the settings you have selected in the newer version of Word.
For instance, let's say that you had been working with a document for quite some time in Word 97, and you had the "Allow Quick Saves" feature turned on. In this case, the file could have quite a bit of the "quick save" edit data saved with the base file (resulting in a very bloated disk file). If you have this feature turned off in Word 2002, then when you loaded the document, and saved it back out, the edit data was incorporated into the base document and the document was saved as a whole. The result is that less disk space is required to save the document.
Other settings which may potentially affect the size of your files are those settings dealing with how Word stores graphics with your documents. In addition, how you have inserted the graphics into your document will also affect the size. If you suspect there is a problem, it is typically best to select Options from the Tools menu and check out your settings.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (156) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Sometimes it seems that we focus on getting a particular document hammered out to the exclusion of other documents we ...
Discover MoreIf 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 MoreYou can easily insert one document within another document. What you may not know is that you can limit which part of a ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments