The new Microsoft Word 2007 brings with it the introduction a new file format (*.docm). Currently, this format is not automatically supported or recognized by older versions of Microsoft Word or other word processing programs. There are several options for users sharing files between Word 2007 and older versions of Word.

For other users or computers to open, view or print your Word 2007 file they either have install a program update (if available) or the Word 2007 user should save documents in a more portable format.
Save options for more portable formats include:
• Save As Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)
• Save As Rich Text Format (*.rtf)

Saving a new document
When a new document is saved for the first time it performs a Save As function. In the Save As you can save the new document as a Word Document (*.docx), Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc) and Rich Text Format (*.rtf) as well as other formats. If a Word 97-2003 document (*.doc) is opened it will be automatically saved as a Word 97-2003 document when saved or closed.

Save As
1. Click on the "Office Button" located in top left hand corner of the office window)

2. Choose *Save As*

3. Choose your format.

What is Rich Text Format? (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):
The *Rich Text Format* (often abbreviated to *RTF*) is a proprietary document file format developed by Microsoft since 1987 for cross-platform document interchange. Most word processors are able to read and write RTF documents. Unlike most word processing formats, RTF is human-readable.

Most word processing software implementations support RTF format import and export, often making it a "common" format between otherwise incompatible word processing software.