How to Use the Microsoft Office Converter Pack
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How to Use the Microsoft Office Converter Pack
This content is no longer actively maintained. It is provided as is, for anyone who may still be using these technologies, with no warranties or claims of accuracy with regard to the most recent product version or service release.
Many organizations upgrade gradually to new applications. During the transition, users often need to exchange files among old and new versions of an application.
To make the upgrade process go smoothly, the Microsoft Office Converter Pack provides tools that allow Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint users to share files with previous versions of Office and other applications.
The Office Converter Pack includes add-ins, converters, and filters for Word 97, Word 95, and Word 6.0; Excel 97, Excel 95, and Excel 5.0; and PowerPoint 97, PowerPoint 95, and PowerPoint 4.0.
Note The Office Converter Pack does not recognize Word 6.0 for Windows NT or Excel 5.0 for Windows NT. You cannot install converters or add-ins from the Office Converter Pack for these 32-bit versions of Word or Excel.
Components for users of previous versions of Office
The Office Converter Pack includes the 97-2000 and HTML converters, which are of particular interest to users of previous Office versions.
Word 2000 and PowerPoint 2000 users can open documents and presentations saved in previous versions of Word and PowerPoint by using the converters installed during Office 2000 Setup. However, to open files saved in 97-2000 format, Word 95 and Word 6.0 users and PowerPoint 95 and PowerPoint 4.0 users must first install the 97-2000 converters included in the Office Converter Pack.
When Office 2000 users save documents, workbooks, and presentations in Web Page format, the files are converted to HTML format. The add-ins and converters necessary for opening and saving files in HTML format are included with Office 2000 Setup. However, users of previous versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint must first install the HTML add-ins and converters included in the Office Converter Pack before they can open and save HTML files.
Components for Office 2000 users
The Office Converter Pack includes additional text converters and filters not included with Office 2000 Setup.
Word 2000 users can install the following text converters:
- Borland dBASE II, III, III+, and IV
- Lotus AmiPro 3.x for Windows
- Microsoft FoxPro 2.6
- Microsoft Windows Write 3.x
- Microsoft Word 3.*x – *6.0 for MS-DOS
- Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows
- Revisable-Form-Text Document Content Architecture (RFT-DCA)
- WordPerfect 4.0 for MS-DOS
- WordStar 3.3 – 7.0for MS-DOS and WordStar 1.0 – 2.0 for Windows
Word 2000, Excel 2000, and PowerPoint 2000 users can install the following graphics filters:
- AutoCAD
- Micrografx Designer/Draw graphics filter
- Targa graphics filter
Install Office Converter Pack components
To install the add-ins, converters, and filters included in the Office Converter Pack on users’ computers, perform the following steps:
- Specify the components that you want to install by editing the Convpack.ini file.
- Distribute the Office Converter Pack program files, and then instruct users to copy the files to a folder on their hard disks.
- Instruct users to run the Office Converter Pack Setup program by clicking the Setup icon or typing setup –s on the command line.
Toolbox The Office Converter Pack provides tools that allow Word 2000, Excel 2000, and PowerPoint 2000 users to share files with previous versions of Office and other applications. For more information about installing the Office Converter Pack, see Microsoft Office Converter Pack.
Edit the Convpack.ini file
The Office Converter Pack includes several program files; however, the Convpack.ini file is the only file that you can modify.
The Convpack.ini file stores Setup options for the Office Converter Pack. By editing the INI file, you can select the components that you want to install on users’ computers.
The default is to install the add-ins, converters, and filters listed in the Convpack.ini file. However, if an application is not installed on a user’s computer, the Office Converter Pack does not install any components for that application. For example, if a user doesn’t have Word 95 installed on their computer, the Office Converter Pack does not install any Word 95 components (such as the WordPerfect, WordStar, or Word 97-2000 converters) even though you might have specified text converters in the Word95 section of the INI file.
In the Convpack.ini file, you can also specify the mode in which you want users to run the Office Converter Pack Setup program:
Quiet mode
The Office Converter Pack is installed on user’s computers with the options specified in the Convpack.ini file. Users are not prompted to select components for installation.
Full user interface mode
Users are prompted to select add-ins, converters, and filters for installation.
To modify the Convpack.ini file
Open the Convpack.ini file in a text editor, such as Notepad.
In each section of the INI file, set the options that you want.
In all sections of Convpack.ini (except the ConvPack section), the default for each option is Yes, which installs or automatically registers the component. If you do not want to install or automatically register a particular add-in, converter, or filter, you must change the value of the option to No.
The following syntax is used in the Convpack.ini file:
option = value
ConvPack section
The ConvPack section of the Convpack.ini file determines the Setup mode for the Office Converter Pack. The two options in this section include the following.
- Quiet
- PreventUninstall
When the value of the Quiet option is set to No (the default), the Setup program runs in full user interface mode and users are prompted to select add-ins, converters, and filters for installation.
If you do not want the Setup program to prompt users to select components, set the value of the Quiet option to Yes. The components that you specify in the Convpack.ini file are installed automatically on users’ hard disks when they run the Setup program.
Note If a user does not have an application on their computer, the Office Converter Pack does not install any components for that application even though you might have specified components for installation.
When the value of the PreventUninstall option is set to No (the default), the Uninstall Microsoft Office Converter Pack submenu is added to the Programs menu in Windows. By clicking Uninstall Microsoft Office Converter Pack, users can remove Office Converter Pack components from their computers. Users are prompted to confirm the removal of any shared components.
If you do not want users to remove components, set the value of the PreventUninstall option to Yes. The Setup program does not add a submenu to the Programs menu. However, users can still remove Office Converter Pack components by clicking Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
Word sections
The following table identifies the options in the Word2000, Word97, Word95, and Word6 sections of the Convpack.ini file. The default value for each option is Yes. If you do not want Word users to install a particular converter, change the value of the option to No.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| AmiPro2 | Lotus AmiPro 2. 0 for Windows. Included in Word6 section only. |
| AmiPro3 | Lotus AmiPro 3.x for Windows. Not included in Word6 section. |
| dBASE | Borland dBASE II, III, III+, and IV |
| FoxPro | Microsoft FoxPro 2.6 |
| Excel | Microsoft Excel 2.x – Excel 97 |
| HTML | Hyper Text Markup Language (import and export). Not included in Word6 section. |
| Lotus123 | Lotus 1-2-3 versions 2.0 – 4.0 |
| RFT-DCA | Revisable-Form-Text Document Content Architecture |
| Text | Text with Layout converter and recover text from any file |
| Word97-2000 | Microsoft Word 97-2000. Included in Word6 and Word95 sections only. |
| Word6-95 | Microsoft Word 6.0/95. Included in Word97 section only. |
| DOSWord | Microsoft Word 3.x – 6.0 for MS-DOS |
| MacWord | Microsoft Word 5.x and 4.0 for the Macintosh |
| WordPerfect4 | WordPerfect 4.0 for MS-DOS |
| WordPerfect5 | WordPerfect 5.x for MS-DOS and Windows |
| WordPerfect6 | WordPerfect 6.x for MS-DOS and Windows. Not included in Word6 section. |
| WordStar | WordStar 3.3 – 7.0for MS-DOS and WordStar 1.0 – 2.0 for Windows |
| Works3 | Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows. Not included in Word6 section. |
| Works95 | Microsoft Works 4.x for Windows. Not included in Word6 section. |
| Write | Microsoft Windows Write 3.x |
Excel sections
The following table identifies the options in the Excel97, Excel95, and Excel5 sections of the Convpack.ini file.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| RegisterHTMLAddIn | Registers the HTML add-in |
| HTML | HTML Language add-in |
| Lotus123 | Lotus 1-2-3 version 4.0 add-in. Included in Excel5 section only. |
| QuattroPro1 | Quattro Pro 1.0 – 5.0 for Windows add-in |
| RegisterQuattroPro7AddIn | Registers the Quattro Pro 7.0 – 8.0 for Windows add-in. Included in Excel5 and Excel95 sections only. |
| QuattroPro7 | Quattro Pro 7.0 – 8.0 for Windows add-in |
For Excel 97, Excel 95, and Excel 5.0, the default is to install and automatically register the HTML add-in. The RegisterHTMLAddIn option is set to Yes, and a semicolon appears in front of the HTML option. If you don’t want users to install and automatically register the HTML add-in, change the RegisterHTMLAddIn option to No. Then delete the semicolon in front of the HTML option, and set the option to Yes or No depending on whether you want users to install the HTML add-in.
For Excel 95 and Excel 5.0, the default is to install and automatically register the Quattro Pro 7.0 – 8.0 for Windows add-in. If you don’t want users to install and automatically register the add-in, change the RegisterQuattroPro7AddIn option to No in the Excel95 and Excel5.0 sections. Then delete the semicolon in front of the QuattroPro7 option, and set the option to Yes or No depending on whether you want users to install the add-in.
PowerPoint sections
The following table identifies the options in the PowerPoint97, PowerPoint95, and PowerPoint4 sections of the Convpack.ini file. The default for each option is Yes. If you do not want PowerPoint users to install a particular converter, change the value of the option to No.
Note If you change the value of the PowerPoint97-2000 option in the PowerPoint4 section to No, you must also update the Filters16 section by removing the semicolons that appear in front of the EMF, JPEG, PICT, and PNG options and setting these filter options to Yes or No depending on whether you want users to install these filters.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| PowerPoint95 | PowerPoint 95 converter for PowerPoint 4.0. Included in PowerPoint4 section only. |
| PowerPoint97-2000 | PowerPoint 97-2000 converter for PowerPoint 95 and PowerPoint 4.0. Included in PowerPoint95 and PowerPoint4 sections only. |
| HTML | Hypertext Markup Language converter. Included in PowerPoint95 section only. |
| Harvard | Harvard Graphics 3.0 and 2.3 for DOS converters |
| Freelance | Lotus Freelance 4.0 for DOS and Lotus Freelance 1.0 – 2.1 for Windows |
Filters16 section
The Office Converter Pack includes a set of 16-bit graphics filters for Word and PowerPoint users.
The following table identifies the options in the Filters16 section of the Convpack.ini file. The default for each option is Yes. If you do not want Word or PowerPoint users to install a particular filter, change the value of the option to No.
Note By default, the PowerPoint97-2000 option in the PowerPoint4 section is set to Yes and a semicolon appears in front of the EMF, JPEG, PICT, and PNG options in the Filters16 section. If you don’t want PowerPoint 4.0 users to install the 97-2000 converter, change the value of the PowerPoint97-2000 option to No in the PowerPoint4 section. Then delete the semicolon in front of the EMF, JPEG, PICT, and PNG options in the Filters16 section, and set the options to Yes or No depending on whether you want users to install the filters.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| BMP | Bitmap import filter (Bmpimp.flt, Iffbmp.dll) |
| DRW | Micrografx Designer & Draw import filter (Drwimp.flt) |
| DXF | AutoCAD import filter (Dxfimp.flt) |
| EPS | Encapsulated PostScript import filter (Epsimp.flt) |
| GIF | Graphics Interchange Format import filter (Gifimp.flt, Iffgif.dll) |
| HPGL | Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language import filter (Hpglimp.flt) |
| PCX | PC Paintbrush import filter (Pcximp.flt, Iffpcx.dll) |
| TGA | Truevision Targa import filter (Tgaimp.flt, Ifftga.dll) |
| TIFF | Tag image file format import and export filter (Tiffimp.flt, Ifftiff.dll) |
| WMF | Windows Metafile import filter (Wmfimp.flt) |
| WPG | WordPerfect graphics import (Wpgimp.flt) and export (Wpgexp.flt) filters |
| EMF | Windows Enhanced Metafile import filter (Emfimp.flt) |
| JPEG | JPEG File Interchange Format import and export filter (Jpegimp.flt, Iffjpeg.dll) |
| PICT | Macintosh PICT import filter (Pictimp.flt) |
| PNG | Portable Network Graphics import filter (Pngimp.flt) |
Filters32 section
The Office Converter Pack includes a set of 32-bit graphics filters for Word and PowerPoint users.
The following table identifies the options in the Filters32 section of the Convpack.ini file. The default for each option is Yes. If you do not want Word or PowerPoint users to install a particular filter, change the value of the option to No.
Note By default, the GIF option is set to Yes and the PNG option is disabled. (A semicolon appears in front of the PNG option.) If you don’t want users to install the GIF filter, change the GIF option to No. Then delete the semicolon in front of the PNG option, and set the option to Yes or No depending on whether you want users to install the PNG filter.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| BMP | Bitmap import filter (Bmpimp32.flt) |
| CDR | CorelDRAW import filter (Cdrimp32.flt) |
| CGM | Computer Graphics Metafile import filter (Cgmimp32.flt, Cgmimp32.fnt, Cgmimp32.cfg, Cgmimp32.hlp) |
| DRW | Micrografx Designer & Draw import filter (Drwimp32.flt) |
| DXF | AutoCAD import filter (Dxfimp32.flt) |
| EMF | Windows Enhanced Metafile import filter (Emfimp32.flt) |
| EPS | Encapsulated PostScript import filter (Epsimp32.flt) |
| FPX | FlashPix™ and Microsoft Picture It!® import and export filter (Fpx32.flt) |
| GIF | Graphics Interchange Format import and export filter (Gifimp32.flt) |
| PNG | Portable Network Graphics import and export filter (Png32.flt) |
| JPEG | JPEG File Interchange Format import and export filter (Jpegim32.flt) |
| PCD | Kodak® Photo CD import filter (Pcdimp32.flt, Pcdlib32.dll) |
| PCX | PC Paintbrush import filter (Pcximp32.flt) |
| PICT | Macintosh PICT import filter (Pictim32.flt) |
| TGA | Truevision Targa import filter (Tgaimp32.flt) |
| TIFF | Tag Image File Format import and export filter (Tiffim32.flt) |
| WMF | Windows metafile import filter (Wmfimp32.flt) |
| WPG | WordPerfect graphics import (Wpgimp32.flt) and export (Wpgexp32.flt) filters |
Distribute the Office Converter Pack
After selecting the components that you want users to install by editing the Convpack.ini file, you are ready to distribute the Office Converter Pack program to users.
An easy way to distribute the program is to copy the Convpack.ini file and other files to a network location where users can download the files. When it’s time for users to install add-ins, converters, and filters, you can notify the users to copy the Convpack.ini file and other files from the network location to a folder on their hard disks.
Install add-ins, converters, and filters on users’ computers
Users can install the add-ins, converters, and filters on their computers by running the Office Converter Pack Setup program.
To install add-ins, converters, and filters
Type setup –s on the command line.
– or –
In the Office Converter Pack folder, double-click the Setup icon.
If the Quiet option in the ConvPack section of the INI file is set to No (the default), the Setup program runs in full user interface mode and users are prompted to select add-ins, converters, and filters.
If you changed the value of the Quiet option to Yes, the components specified in the INI file are installed automatically on users’ hard disks and users are not prompted to make selections.
Remove Office Converter Pack components
If users no longer need the add-ins, converters, and filters that they installed with the Office Converter Pack, they can remove the components by using one of the following methods.
Clicking the Uninstall Microsoft Office Converter Pack submenu on the Programs menu in Windows.
The submenu is available to users only if the PreventUninstall option in the Convpack section of the INI file is set to No.
Clicking Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
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Friday, March 5, 1999 |