What happens when I turn off features not supported by Word 97?

Some features in Microsoft Word 2002 aren't supported in previous versions of Word. To make sure that documents appear correctly in earlier versions of Word, formatting that isn't supported can be removed and replaced with formatting that is supported.

When you select the Disable features introduced after check box (Tools menu, Options command, Save tab), you make features that are not supported by Word 97 unavailable for use in the document. Choosing to disable these options makes it easier for you to create documents that appear correctly in Word 97.

Features that are unavailable in Word 97

Colors

24-bit color in Word 2002

With 24-bit color you have more choices for items such as fonts, borders, and shading. Items colored with shades not available in Word 97 will be converted to the nearest supported color.

Table formatting

This formatting in Word 2002	Looks like this in Word 97
Space between table cells.   Example of no space between table cells   Example of space between table cells	Space between table cells is lost in Word 97.
In Word 2002, you can add cell "padding" (spacing between the boundary of the cell and the text inside the cell) by changing the cell margin.	Cell margins are lost in Word 97.
Allow page breaks in a table turned on.	Allow page breaks in a table turned off in Word 97.
	.

Character formatting

Underline color 

Underline color becomes the color of the associated text.

Decorative underline styles 

Decorative underline styles become a single underline.

Page layout

This formatting in Word 2002	Looks like this in Word 97
Text-wrapping line break	Regular line break

Graphic formatting

This formatting in Word 2002	Looks like this in Word 97
	.
Pictures and objects are aligned horizontally right, center, inside, or outside.	Pictures and objects that are aligned horizontally right, center, inside, or outside shift slightly but are close to their original position in Word 97.
Objects and pictures with allow overlap turned off.	Objects and pictures are allowed to overlap. Some objects and pictures may be obscured in Word 97.
Objects and pictures do not allow overlap.	Objects and pictures are allowed to overlap. Some objects and pictures may be obscured in Word 97.
Pictures and objects are positioned relative to line.	Pictures and objects that are positioned relative to line are positioned relative to paragraph. Objects and pictures may shift in Word 97.
Pictures and objects are positioned relative to character.	Pictures and objects that are positioned relative to character are positioned relative to column. Objects and pictures may shift in Word 97.

Markup

Markup balloons

Although markup balloons are not turned off in Word 2002 when you use turn off features not supported by Word 97, Word 97 does not use them. Instead, tracked changes appear in the text of the document and comments are displayed in the comment pane or in ScreenTips rather than in balloons.

Security

Digital signatures

Digital signatures are lost.

Asian text formatting

Horizontal in Vertical

Horizontal in Vertical becomes horizontal text in Word 97.

Two Lines in One

Two Lines in One becomes one regular line in Word 97.

First and last line breaks control characters

Line breaks do not respect these character settings in Word 97.

Character grid

Text does not snap to grid in Word 97.

Emphasis characters

Emphasis characters are removed and text is underlined in Word 97.

Web page formatting

Frames pages

Frames properties in Web pages are lost. The Web pages used by the Frames page are saved. In Word 97, the document shows the text "This page uses frames but your browser doesn't support them."

Linked style sheets

Linked style sheets are only supported in Web format files. All links to style sheets will be lost.

HTML DIV borders

HTML DIV borders, or group borders, are lost.