WD98: How to Recover Text from Any File

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

This article explains what the "Recover Text from Any File" converter is and how to use it to recover damaged documents.

MORE INFORMATION

What Is the Recover Text From Any File Converter?

The Recover Text From Any File converter allows you to extract the text from any file. The file does not have to be a Word file.

What Will I Lose Using the Recover Text from Any File Converter?

Using the Recover Text From Any File converter does have its limitations. Document formatting will be lost, along with anything that is not of a text nature. Graphics, fields, drawing objects, and so on, will not be converted. However, headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, and field text, will be retained as simple text.

My Document Is Damaged: How Can I Recover the Information?

Word 98 Macintosh Edition provides a converter for recovering the text from any file.

To use the converter on a Word file:

1. On the File menu, click Open, and select the document.

2. In the List Files Of Type box, select "Recover Text from Any File," and click Open.

1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.

2. Select the General tab.

3. Select the "Confirm conversion at Open" check box, and click OK.

4. On the File menu, click Open.

5. Select the file you want to recover, and click OK.

   You will be presented with the Convert File dialog box.

6. In the Convert File dialog box, select the "Recover Text from Any File" converter, and click OK.

What Does the "...Attempt recovery now" Message Mean?

When Word detects that there is a damaged document to be recovered, Word displays the following message:

   Word encountered file corruption while opening <file name>.
   Part of this document may be recoverable. Attempt recovery now?

If you click No, Word will not attempt to recover the document, and the document will be permanently lost.

If you click Yes, Word will attempt to recover the document. If Word is successful in recovering the file, save the document as a normal Word document.

"Recover Text from Any File" Doesn't Appear in the Convert File Dialog Box

The "Recover Text from Any File" converter is not installed. You will need to run Office Custom Install to install this converter.

1. On the Microsoft Office CD-ROM, double-click the Office Custom Install folder.

2. Double-click the Microsoft Office Installer icon.

3. Select Custom Install in the list at the top of the window.

4. Click on the triangle tab next to Converters and Filters.

5. Click on the triangle tab next to Text Converters.

6. Click to select the Recover Text Converter check box, and then click Install.

   Microsoft Office 98:Shared Applications:Text Converters