Compatibility mode blocks new or improved features in Office for that document. This ensures that users who have earlier versions of Office will still have full editing capabilities when they open the same document. Compatibility mode also preserves the layout of the document. As part of your overall Office training plan, you should provide.

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Applies to:Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, Office 2019, and Office 2016

In Office, compatibility mode is used automatically to open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents that were created in earlier versions of these applications. Compatibility mode ensures that no new or improved features in Office are available while users work with a document so that people who use earlier versions of Office will have full editing capabilities. Compatibility mode also preserves the layout of the document.

How Office uses compatibility mode

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint use compatibility mode to open binary Office documents that were created in Office 2003 or earlier versions of Office. Word also uses compatibility mode to open OpenXML documents that were created in Word 2007 and Word 2010.

Set default compatibility mode on file creation for Word

If you use Group Policy, you can use the Set default compatibility mode on file creation policy setting to manage the default compatibility mode that Word uses to create new Word documents. This might be necessary if you have add-ins or macros that use the layout functions that are used in Word 2007 or Word 2010. When you enable this policy setting, you can specify which versions of Word that new Word documents are compatible with. Several configurations options are available for this setting:

  • Word 2003 This mode disables features in Word that are incompatible with Word 2003.

  • Word 2007 This mode disables features in Word that are incompatible with Word 2007.

  • Word 2010 This mode disables features in Word that are incompatible with Word 2010.

  • Full functionality mode This mode makes sure that all new features remain enabled. This is the default setting for Word.

When you choose the Word 2003 option, Word is configured to create new Open XML files that have Word 2007 and later features disabled. Doing so makes sure that the Open XML files do not contain content that Word 2003 users can't edit. However, users of Office 2003 must still have the Compatibility Pack installed before they can edit Word Open XML files that are compatible with Word 2003.

If you select Full functionality mode, there is no effect on the Word 2007 and Word 2010 users. They can open and edit Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 documents. The only difference is that new features in Word 2013 and later are not available in Word 2007 or Word 2010.

Compatibility

You can download the Group Policy Administrative Templates files (ADMX/ADML) for Office from the Microsoft Download Center. Revise ict publisher for mac. The Set default compatibility mode on file creation policy setting is located under User ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesMicrosoft Word 2016Word OptionsSave.

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While technological advancements can help you work more efficiently, new technologies can sometimes cause problems that decrease productivity. Older versions of Microsoft Excel, for example, may not be able to display features in a workbook you save using a newer Excel version. The program’s Compatibility Mode resolves this issue, so that you can create workbooks that others can view perfectly using older Excel versions.

Find Your Incompatibilities

Excel's Compatibility Checker runs automatically when you attempt to save a workbook in the 'Excel 97-2003 (*.xls)' format. The Compatibility Checker window warns you that your document may lose some features or those features may be degraded if you save it in the older format. The window also displays a list of those features for you to review. For example, a list item may inform you that your document contains table references that Excel 97-2003 versions don’t support.

Review Your Incompatibilities

You have two options when the Compatibility Checker discovers issues: save your document in a newer Excel format, or click 'Continue' to save it in the older version and lose some functionality. While the Compatibility Checker window is open, click the 'Find' link next to an item to jump to the location in the document that has the compatibility problem. To learn more about a compatibility issue or discover a possible workaround, click the 'Help' link next to an item.

Excel Compatibility Mode

After you save a workbook in an older format, Excel runs in Compatibility Mode. In this mode, you can’t use any newer functionality that your newer Excel version provides. This ensures that you do not add enhanced features to the document that people using an older Excel version cannot view. Exit Compatibility Mode by clicking 'File,' selecting 'Info,' and then clicking 'Convert.' Excel converts the document into the current Excel format that matches the application version you’re using. For example, if you’re working in Excel 2013, it converts the document into that format to give you the ability to take advantage of Excel 2013’s latest features.

Check Compatibility Manually

While working with an Excel version higher than 2010, you can run the Compatibility Checker manually to create documents that are compatible with Excel 2010 and 2007. Launch the Compatibility Checker by clicking 'File,' selecting 'Info,' and then clicking 'Check for Issues.' The Compatibility Checker window opens and displays compatibility issues it finds. Put a check mark in the 'Check Compatibility When Saving This Workbook' check box if you want Excel to check the document's compatibility in the future automatically.

Disclaimer

These steps refer to checking compatibility in Excel 2013. Your steps may differ if you use another version.

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About the Author

After majoring in physics, Kevin Lee began writing professionally in 1989 when, as a software developer, he also created technical articles for the Johnson Space Center. Today this urban Texas cowboy continues to crank out high-quality software as well as non-technical articles covering a multitude of diverse topics ranging from gaming to current affairs.

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