Save an Office file as an earlier version

If you are using Microsoft Office 2010, you can share files with people using an earlier version of Microsoft Office by saving the file in the appropriate file format. For example, you can save your Word 2010 document (.docx) as a 97-2003 document (.doc) so a person using Microsoft Office Word 2000 can open it.

Notes: 

• You can check compatibility with earlier versions of Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Excel 2010 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010by Using the Compatibility Checker.

• Office 2010 continues the use of the XML-based file formats, introduced in the 2007 Office release, for files created in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, the Office 2010 programs may have features and functions that aren't supported in the 2007 Office release. For more information on the XML-based file formats, see Open XML Formats and file name extensions , or click the links listed at the end of this article.

• For more information on saving files in other formats, see Save a file.

• Office 2010 does not support saving in Microsoft Office 95 and earlier.

What do you want to do?

Save a file for use in an earlier version of the program

Get more information on specific products

Save a file for use in an earlier version of the program

The steps for saving a file for use in earlier versions can vary depending on which program that you are using.

Which program are you using?

Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Visio, Word

Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Visio, Word

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Save & Send.

3. Under File Types, select the earlier file format that you want to save the file in.

4. If you want to rename the file, type a new name for the file in the File name box.

5. Click Save.

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Access

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Save & Publish.

3. Under File Types select the earlier file format that you want to save the file in.

4. If you want to rename the file, type a new name for the file in the File name box.

5. Click Save.

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InfoPath Designer

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Save As.

3. If you want to rename the file, type a new name for the file in the File name box.

4. In the Save as type box, select the earlier file format that you want to save the file in.

5. Click Save.

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OneNote

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Save As.

3. Under 1. Save Current:, select whether you want to save a Page, Section, or Notebook.

4. Under 2. Select Format, select the earlier file format that you want to save the file in.

5. If you want to rename the file, type a new name for the file in the File name box.

6. Click Save.

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Project

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Save & Send.

3. Under File Types, select the earlier file format that you want to save the file in.

4. If you want to rename the file, type a new name for the file in the File name box.

5. Click Save.

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Get more information on specific products

Access

• Save an Access 2010 database in an earlier file format

• Use the custom toolbars and startup settings from earlier versions of Access

Excel

• Use Office Excel 2010 with earlier versions of Excel

• Use Excel Starter 2010 with earlier versions of Excel

PowerPoint

• Open a PowerPoint 2010 presentation in an earlier version of PowerPoint

• Determine whether a PowerPoint 2010 presentation is compatible with earlier versions of PowerPoint

Project

• Use Project 2010 with previous versions

Word

• Use Word 2010 to open documents created in earlier versions of Word

• Open a Word 2010 document in an earlier version of Word

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