X
Files in WebCT
By Dick Evans
Students are purchasing new computers with Office
2007 installed. The default file formats are .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, etc. This
seems simple enough, but it is not just an extension rename. If a student s=
ends
you a file with an x at the end of the familiar extension, you cannot just
rename the file to fit the old extension. The rename will work but the file
will not open correctly.
Installing
the Converter
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image002.jpg")
To open an X file in Office 2003, you must insta=
ll the
converter from Microsoft. It is a free download and installs quickly. Once
installed, any X file will open in your Office 2003 applications. You can e=
ven
save files in Office 2003 as X files. Here is the link to download the
installation file:
Microsoft Office
Compatibility Pack for 2007 Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats=
WebCT will allow X files to be uploaded and
downloaded in both v4.1 and v6. Students may attach their homework X files =
to
emails or upload them and submit assignments. You will have to install the
converter to read them.
You can ask them to save their files in Office
97-2003 format, but depending on them to do that may not work. The converte=
r is
the way to go.
Save
As the Old Format
Well I have Office 2007 so this is not a problem=
for
me, you say. Correct, you will be able to open both Office 2007 and other
version files without any problem. When you open a 2003 formatted .doc file=
in
Office 2007, it opens in compatibility mode. Unless you decide to Save As in
the new X file format, the file saves in the same format as it was opened a=
s.
In other words, files sent to you as X files will open and save as X file. =
Files
sent to you in the old format will open and save in the old format.
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image004.jpg")
You will have to be careful when creating new
documents to be sent to the students. If you use the X file format, you must
educate them about downloading the converter. If you discipline yourself to
Save As in the old format, nothing has to change on their part. However, you
will not be able to use a number of the new features found in the Office 20=
07
suite.
Configuring
Office 2007 to use the 97-2003 Formats
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image005.jpg")
If you decide to configure Office 2007 to always=
use
the previous file format, open the application (ie: Word), click the Office
Button, and then choose Word Options. Click Save, change Save files in this
format to Word 97-2003 (*.doc), and then click OK. Repeat this procedure for
Excel and PowerPoint.
Opening
an X File in WebCT
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image007.jpg")
1.&n=
bsp;
The File Download dialog box o=
pens
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image008.jpg")
2.&n=
bsp;
Clicking Open reads the file a=
s a
.zip and shows its contents
WebCT cannot open an X file. It views them as .z=
ip
files and opens the compressed folder displaying the inner files which are
meaningless to the average user. Office 2007 uses these files, hiding them =
in
the X format.
How
to Open an X file from WebCT
If you post Word documents for students to open,
post them as Office 97-2003 documents and they will not have any issues with
the files. If you post as X files, instruct them to Save them to their desk=
top
instead of opening them in WebCT. They can rename the file’s extension
from .zip to .docx or whatever it should be. Then double-clicking the file =
will
open it in the Office 2007 application or in the Office 2003 application if=
the
converter was installed.
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image010.jpg")
1.&n=
bsp;
Save to their computer
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image012.jpg")
2.&n=
bsp;
Open the Folder
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image014.jpg")
3.&n=
bsp;
Rename the file as an X file
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image016.jpg")
4.&n=
bsp;
Double-click to open in the Of=
fice
2007 application
Saving As a P=
DF
![](3D"XFilesinWebCT_files/image018.jpg")
Saving the file as a .pdf creates a file which t=
he
student can read and not be able to easily change. Office 2007 has a feature
(needs to be downloaded from Microsoft as it is not in the default
installation) that allows a file to be saved as a .pdf. Using another PDF
writer such as PDFredirect or PDF995 work equally as well.
Saving
As a Single File Web Page
Another approach is to save the file as a
single-file web page (.mht). This creates a file which can be opened in a
browser and has been a great approach to use in WebCT as the pages open
immediate without having to open an application first. This works. Files sa=
ved
as .mht using Office 2007 can be opened in WebCT.
To summarize my suggestions:
1.&n=
bsp;
Download and install the conve=
rter
2.&n=
bsp;
Post files you need to have re=
ad
in WebCT in the Office 2003 format
3.&n=
bsp;
Do not use the Office 2007 fea=
ture
to save PDF files
4.&n=
bsp;
Use .mht files to post lecture
notes, content pages, syllabus, etc