[rjc3]

Hi all,
Okay, my stepfather is set to buy a new laptop for his work as petroleum engineer. His only requirements are that it have MS Word and Exel, and be completely compatible with his windows network at work (i.e., he can email docs to and from work and open them on either end). I have been trading word docs with windows users for years so was suprised that he is unable to get it to work.
The problem: WHen we email word docs (.doc files) from an OS 9 iMac using Outlook express, the file arrives at his work with a ".bin" extension that he is unable to access from work. The same thing occurs when we attempt to send him .docs from my OS X Pismo using the APple Mail application. He is able to open the docs just fine if we send them via Yahoo webmail.
Is there a way to open ".bin" files on windows computers? (workaround) Is there a way to stop our email programs from compressing them as such? (ideal solution). I am no compeuter whiz, so speak slowly if you have advice.
I know our email clients are to blame because when we send documents via yahoo webmail, they arrive and open just fine on his end.
Like I said, this is the only thing keeping my stepfather from buying an Apple, so any assitance takes the form of super mac evangelism, as far as I'm concerned.
THanks in advance for the assistance!
RJC

[Developer]

On OS 9 you should be able to select "MIME 64 encoding (for Windows)" or similar in the settings for the attachment in Outlook Express.

On OS X strip the resource fork before sending a file. You can use the Grim Ripper Contextual Menu for that.

On both systems make sure the documents have a .doc extension.

[rjc3]

Thanks for the response. If my step dad buys an APple, it is going to run OS X. There must be some way to share Word docs with others across platforms via email using Mail short of modifying code? Apple has really hyped their interoperability with windows, and in particular of their compatability with windows versions of Office. Surely I must be missing something?

[kcmac]

I send email attachments (word, excel, etc) all the time at work. I am the only mac in a 1500+ PC using office. No problems whatsoever. I don't strip resource forks or anything. Just attach and send. I believe Panther will only improve this situation (which isn't a situation for me.)

I am confused at your dilemna unless it is just a problem you are having in OS 9. I can't help you there. I left that platform long ago....

Like said above, make sure your attachment says .doc, etc. You can set your preferences to make all files show extensions. I do this and haven't seen any problems.

[Orion27]

MS Word in OS X (MS Word for OS X ) saves files in .doc format by default. Just send the .doc file as an attachment in email and any Widows computer with MS Word will open it. Entourage by default encodes all mail to be read by both platforms ( AppleDouble) You can simply request a MIME/Base64 encoding if you know the file is going to a windows computer but normally this isn't necessary. Really, in OS X with MS Word version X this is really seamless and you really needn't give it a second thought.http://www.microsoft.com/mac/

[rjc3]

thanks again for the great replies. I personally trade .docs between my OS X pismo and windows computers by the dozens and have never had any problems. THat is why this is so vexing. It SHOULD work, yet doesn't. AGain, my stepdad is able to open docs sent via yahoo webmail just fine, but when we send them (with .doc extentions) via Mail (under OS X) or Outlook Express (OS 9), he can't open them. Impossibly, he is able to open excel files (.xls) regardless of how we send them. One thing my stepdad just told me is that his office runs Office 97. Might this be the culprit? ANy workarounds?