Editing Doc (computing) (section)

==Overview==

[[Binary file|Binary]] DOC files often contain more [[text formatting]] information (as well as [[script (computer programming)|script]]s and undo information) than some other [[document file format]]s like [[Rich Text Format]] and [[Hypertext Markup Language]], but are usually less widely [[computer compatibility|compatible]].

The DOC files created with [[Microsoft Word]] versions differ: Word for Windows 1.0 and 2.0 uses a format that was changed in the following Word 6.0 and 95 ("7.0") releases. DOC was changed once again into an [[Object Linking and Embedding |OLE]] and [[Compound File Binary Format |CFBF]]-based format used from Word 97 ("8.0") to 2003 ("11.0"). Word for [[MS-DOS]] used its own specific DOC format.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Configuring the File Block Settings |url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/strategicsm/10.1.1?topic=settings-configuring-file-block |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.ibm.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

In order to allow users of Word 6.0 and Word 95 to be able to open and read documents created in the newer (97–2003) format, Microsoft released the downloadable Word 97 Import Converter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WD: Word 97 Import Converter: How to Do an Administrative Setup |url=https://helparchive.huntertur.net/document/57119 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=helparchive.huntertur.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-10-09 |title=Q162214 - WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-2000 Import Converter |url=https://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q162214 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021009230952/https://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q162214 |archive-date=2002-10-09 |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Microsoft}}</ref>

In [[Microsoft Word 2007]] and later, the binary file format was replaced as the default format by the [[Office Open XML]] (<code>.docx</code>) format, though Microsoft Word can still produce and open DOC files. Microsoft released the Office Compatibility Pack allowing users of Word 2003, 2002, 2000 and 97 to open the new format as well as edit and save them.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-12-06 |title=Download details: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206161051/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en |archive-date=6 December 2006 }}</ref> Modern versions of Word can also open documents in the pre-97 DOC formats, but should be manually enabled in the File Block Settings.<ref name=":0" />