[PeterParker]

Hey,
hope it's ok to ask something like this here... I'm in a bit of trouble, trying to convert old documents to a newer format. I found an okay way I think which, after all, works for batch conversions. However, for the moment, the only formats offered to me are RTF (Mac version of that it says, I think) and Word (98, later entitled in Leopard 97-2004, hmm). I just wonder how to judge things: I'm switching to Mountain Lion and Office 2011 from older versions and I suppose Office 2011 could still open these older Word documents; I was often encouraged as regarding Office as being very compatible among itself (Mac<->PC, and older versions with each other, e.g. Office 2004 can still open everything it gets).
1. When I convert to Word, I have read Office 2011 can use Automator to convert any Word documents to PDF, so that would be a format for a long time to come and probably no loss of formatting from Word->PDF.
2. Converting to RTF, I wonder how good this format really is, Wikipedia says while the format is ok, it is already disbandoned by MS. True? Reliable? Isn't this still the TextEdit format? (And is Pages really using something proprietary, btw?)

So, I checked already and there is minor change in formatting which is ok for me, at least I can keep all the documents readable. I'm not sure about the Word->PDF conversion and I wonder if RTF is a good idea for the future.

Any thoughts?

Trying, thanks,
Pete

[PeterParker]

(apparently, you can no longer edit a few days after the post...)

I eventually decided to convert everything into RTF and I'm rather fine, as converting went pretty fine. However, one question remains. I used an older converter and I wonder how about RTF versions, as I thought it generated a file in an older RTF version. Is that alright? Could that become an issue? What's the difference between RTF versions anyway? Any thoughts?

Thanks already!
Pete

[macnuke]

just my 2cents....

I have seen your plight and that of others that failed to convert from older dead apps with their documents.
and yes. there is always the chance for any application.

I use as little MS products as possible.... they tend to charge even more than Apple does for some pretty underwhelming upgrades.

I am pretty fond of OpenOffice for my word processor tho.
and it will save in multiple formats.
multi platform.... same price.... free