This is a Mac office and in it, I often open Word files from clients who are PC users. No problem. Between a handy little utility file called icWord and keeping a version of Microsoft Office for Mac on my secondary computer, I rarely encounter issues.

Till today.

A client sent me a zipped file with the file extension you see in the title of this post and when I clicked on it to upzip (using the latest version of Stuffit Expander), it generated a bunch of XML stuff.

Googling that unfamiliar file extension, I found this discussion (and the apparent solution) on one of MS’s discussion forums.

From Mactopia, I found this description of the problem, er, solution:

“Open XML Converter allows you to convert Open XML files that were created in Office 2008 for Mac or Office 2007 for Windows so that you can open, edit, and save them in earlier versions of Office for Mac. Open XML Converter can convert Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations that are in the Open XML Format so that you can open and edit the files in Office 2004 for Mac and Office v. X for Mac. You can choose to convert and open one file, or convert a large number of files.”

So, what does this mean to you, if you get one of these files?

• FIRST you need to update your version of Office for Mac 2004 with a 11.5.0 Updater (you must have Jaguar/OSX10.2.8 or later).

• THEN, you will grab the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0 (for this you must be running Tiger/OSX 10.4.9 or later).

Pay attention to this discrepancy: if you are running Jaguar, you may update your version of Office, but you will have to update to Tiger to be able to run Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0.

Both downloads you need were released just two days ago, and can be found here. The instructions are clear, but you’ll find if you click on “How to Install,” you land on a stylish window that encourages you to print the installation instructions. Someone forgot to create print stylesheets and you’ll get a document that is dark gray printed on black. At least I couldn’t read it, but then I’m 55 years old.

Here is another page where you’ll find the Mac 11.5.0 Updater and one for the Open XML Converter (on which the print out is legible).

Does that make you just a tad nervous? Are the downloads going to be buggy? Will you be able to open your Word docs? Did you happen to see how many updates and downloads and patches are released on a daily basis over there at Microsoft’s dowload center. Eek.

How does it work?

Well, the file did open, and I was able to edit it. Altogether, It took about an hour to find the reference to the issue, locate the downloads, read through the system requirements, download, install and test.

We’ll see.