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My word docs are suddenly converting to dms

I

IamSharonRW

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 8, 2019
8
1
Hi, I hope someone can tell me how to fix this.
I work from home and often send word docs I create to clients. Suddenly (as of a few days ago), every new doc I create and attach to an email morphs into a .dms doc. I am saving word docs the same way I always have.

Does anyone know what is going on? I'm not a techie; I'm a copywriter.

Thank you.
 
It's a bug. Make sure when you attach the Word files that you use the entire file name plus the extension; for example:
myfile.docx or the older myfile.doc.
 
chscag said:
It's a bug. Make sure when you attach the Word files that you use the entire file name plus the extension; for example:
myfile.docx or the older myfile.doc.
Click to expand...
Hi, I am doing that. However, when I attach and send a word doc to someone else, or to myself, it morphs into .dms and can not be opened. I've been on the phone with Apple tech support a couple times today and they are not able to figure it out either.
 
Suggestions:

When you send a file, include in the "text portion" of your email what the extension is supposed to be (i.e., "docx").

That way, if it gets changed "in the sending", the recipient can simply change it back, and the file should then open on the other end.

Alternative:
Can you use the finder's option to "compress" the file into a "zip" archive, and then send it that way?
If you do this, can the recipient then:
a. decompress the file
and then...
b. have the proper extension preserved?
 
Hi, thank you for the work-around suggestion. I'll see if I can figure out how to do that.
 
Assuming this is via email, what the server does to attachments is out of your hands, so trial and error is warranted.

Zipping the file as mentioned may also be enough to prevent the mangling.

Unless you are collaborating and the receiver needs to be able to edit, you might also try sending a .pdf copy....or even an .rtf too, which Word can open....although some formatting might be lost, depending on how involved the doc is.

What OS and what version of Word are you using? If .doc....it is probably very old. At some pointed dated software and/or OS combinations can misbehave. An recent updates to OS and/or Word?
 
Yes, the receivers do need to edit. I'm on Mojave; Word version 16.20. My recipients are on PCs, which is why I use .doc instead of .docx.
[doublepost=1547148186][/doublepost]Hmmm, zip is not one of my choices. I can choose .pdf but that won't allow the recipient to edit. Drop down menu when saving the document does not include zip; how do I do that?
 
IamSharonRW said:
Yes, the receivers do need to edit. I'm on Mojave; Word version 16.20. My recipients are on PCs, which is why I use .doc instead of .docx.
[doublepost=1547148186][/doublepost]Hmmm, zip is not one of my choices. I can choose .pdf but that won't allow the recipient to edit. Drop down menu when saving the document does not include zip; how do I do that?
Click to expand...
To create a zip of the Word file, control+click (or right click) and select "Compress "doc name"" from the popup menu. The doc will be compressed to a zip file. Attach the zip file in your email.

Compress_file.jpg
 
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Dang, doesn't work that way for me. I'm on the document. I do file/save as/control + click and the menu options that appear are: Rename, Move to Trash, Duplicate, Quick look or Move to Drop Box. Compress is not an option.
 
IamSharonRW said:
Dang, doesn't work that way for me. I'm on the document. I do file/save as/control + click and the menu options that appear are: Rename, Move to Trash, Duplicate, Quick look or Move to Drop Box. Compress is not an option.
Click to expand...
You do not do it while the document is open. Close the document, select the document file (single click), then do the control+click to access the contextual menu shown in my post.
 
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I called Microsoft for help as the issue is with Word docs and attaching them. The tech I got was fantastic, and he fixed the issue. Had to do the thing where he takes over my computer, but found it was a ghost of some type. It's gone. So over my head but I am just very relieved. Thanks all for weighing in.
 
IamSharonRW said:
I called Microsoft for help as the issue is with Word docs and attaching them. The tech I got was fantastic, and he fixed the issue. Had to do the thing where he takes over my computer, but found it was a ghost of some type. It's gone. So over my head but I am just very relieved. Thanks all for weighing in.
Click to expand...

Glad you got it figured out.
 
imaccooper said:
Glad you got it figured out.
Click to expand...
imaccooper said:
Glad you got it figured out.
Click to expand...
Sharon glad to hear it. Calling Microsoft tomorrow. I imagine there is a charge.
[doublepost=1559007184][/doublepost]
imaccooper said:
Unless the recipients are using old versions of word, pre-2007 versions, you can use .docx regardless of Mac or PC.
Click to expand...
My version is old and was working fine until last week. Now when I click “send a file” to email recipient that is blanked out. If I send as an attachment from Gmail it converts to a .dms file from .docx and I don’t think it’s anything I did. I just sent short stuff for the most part. Letters, recipes and one excel spreadsheet requiring no edits.
 
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