Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Confirming File Conversions.

Confirming File Conversions

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 27, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Word uses a set of file converters that allow you to load files created with other word processors. Word can automatically translate the text and formatting into the Word format—all you have to do is open the file. By default, Word does its translations automatically, without seeking input from the user. You can force Word to seek your confirmation by following these steps:

  1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
  2. Choose the General tab. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The General tab of the Options dialog box.

  4. Use the Confirm Conversion At Open check box to control whether Word asks you to confirm loading foreign-format files.
  5. Click on OK.

When you have this option selected, Word not only informs you that it is doing a conversion, but gives you the opportunity to select a different file converter, if desired. If the option is turned off, then Word does the conversion without any pause or notification.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (3412) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Confirming File Conversions.

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. ...

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