July 22, 2009 11:32 AM PDT
Microsoft Office 2008 Issue: Open XML documents suggest updating software
The latest update to Microsoft's Office 2008 for
Mac, Service Pack 2, has created a host of issues for users. One of the more prevalent problems on our comment boards and in our email relates to Open XML documents (.pptx, .xlsx, .docx) returning an error message to download the latest software updates when they are opened.
MacFixIt users have been expressing their frustrations with the SP2 update all week. Microsoft, in response, has released a knowledge base article describing a possible workaround for the issue:
entire Microsoft KB Articl... More from Late-Breakers
MacFixIt users have been expressing their frustrations with the SP2 update all week. Microsoft, in response, has released a knowledge base article describing a possible workaround for the issue:
"To work around this issue, first download and install any available updates for Office 2008 for Mac by using the Microsoft AutoUpdate.As always, before attempting any troubleshooting methods we describe on MacFixIt, be sure to have a secure backup of all your important data.To use Microsoft AutoUpdate, click Check for Updates on the Help menu in any Microsoft Office program.For an Excel for Windows workbook that does not open in Excel 2008 for Mac, save the workbook in the XLSB file format from Excel for Windows. You can then open and resave to XLSX, XLTX, XLSM, or XLTM from Excel 2008 for Mac.If updates do not resolve the issue, you can re-create or save the Excel workbook, Word document, or PowerPoint presentation in a file format other than Open XML. For example, you can save the file in the .xls, .doc, or .ppt file format."
Resources
Read the entire Microsoft KB Article regarding the issues when opening Open XML documents using Microsoft Office 2008 Service Pack 2.
I have reverted to Office version 12.1.9 (available at http://tinyurl.com/me8qmt) and have turned Auto Update off.
Microsoft's volunteer moderators at their mactopia.com forums are extremely defensive, suggesting (should we think otherwise?) that it's not the update causing this problem, but, rather the Mac system.
Their suggestion to repair disk permissions, then restart the Mac after the 12.2.0 update <b>DOES NOT</b> solve the problem.
This presumes that: (1) we have a PC and (2) it has Microsoft Office installed.
Is there something I need to do to invoke this problem?
Who ever heard of a SP2 issue that insisted you install the almost impossible to find SP1 update BEFORE it will update.
Come on Microsoft you have been doing software from your own design and others for years and surely know the rule of SP updates is that they are supposed to be complete standalone packages otherwise it doesn't deserve a SP label!!
Why thanks Redmond, I've been meaning to spend more time learning Numbers.
Seriously, please fix this. I followed auto update and now .xlsx file from my windows friends will not open. Sure hope this is not same for .docx and .pptx
I like the idea of using NeoOffice. Has anyone tried that?
Has anyone had success using a PC to open/re-save these documents?
- by paulbel November 14, 2009 7:10 PM PST
- I"ve updated to 12.2.3 and also done the Open XML update and now Word crashes at the "EPS Import" stage when trying to open a .doc file
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