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Microsoft Office 2008 Issue: Open XML documents suggest updating software

The latest update to Microsoft's Office 2008 for Mac, Service Pack 2, has created a host of issues for users. One of the more prevalent problems on our comment boards and in our email relates to Open XML documents (.pptx, .xlsx, .docx) returning an error

CNET staff
2 min read
The latest update to Microsoft's Office 2008 for Mac, Service Pack 2, has created a host of issues for users. One of the more prevalent problems on our comment boards and in our email relates to Open XML documents (.pptx, .xlsx, .docx) returning an error message to download the latest software updates when they are opened.

MacFixIt users have been expressing their frustrations with the SP2 update all week. Microsoft, in response, has released a knowledge base article describing a possible workaround for the issue:

"To work around this issue, first download and install any available updates for Office 2008 for Mac by using the Microsoft AutoUpdate.
To use Microsoft AutoUpdate, click Check for Updates on the Help menu in any Microsoft Office program.
For an Excel for Windows workbook that does not open in Excel 2008 for Mac, save the workbook in the XLSB file format from Excel for Windows. You can then open and resave to XLSX, XLTX, XLSM, or XLTM from Excel 2008 for Mac.

If updates do not resolve the issue, you can re-create or save the Excel workbook, Word document, or PowerPoint presentation in a file format other than Open XML. For example, you can save the file in the .xls, .doc, or .ppt file format."

As always, before attempting any troubleshooting methods we describe on MacFixIt, be sure to have a secure backup of all your important data.

Resources
Read the entire Microsoft KB Article regarding the issues when opening Open XML documents using Microsoft Office 2008 Service Pack 2.

Resources

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