WPCorp's Explanation And Findings On "Incompa

DocumentID: 628233
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 1:42:25 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: If a customer receives the error message "Incompatible File Format" when retrieving a file, it is an indication that the WordPerfect file on disk has a damaged or missing document prefix. In regards to this type of file damage, the specialists have usually found problems with the customer's local environment and the immediate computer that the file was last saved on. The 16-byte WP header on the prefix is usually what is damaged or missing. Users often feel that WP caused the problem, which WPCorp has found to be false. The 16-byte header is taken from a software template inside WP code. The possibility of WP damaging it in any version or release has never been documented. WPCorp has been able to help users resolve the problem if they can duplicate the situation by having a normal file and then saving it and the problem occurring. The fix has been made to the user's computer. If the user can't duplicate the problem, WPCorp can only fix the file and offer the following suggestion for such hostile environments. Place the following command in the user's AUTOEXEC.BAT file: VERIFY=ON This command sometimes corrects the problem for users. DOS now verifies that the data moving from RAM to the disk is qualified in terms of integrity. It will only work if the data in RAM is correct in the first place. If the data is already damaged in RAM, then it will not help. Customers have called back from time to time saying that it has solved their problem. This definitely indicated for the users that called back, that the problem was unrelated to WP code. There is an enhancement request for WP 5.1 that users have an option in Setup that when a file is saved, it is tested for general problems just after being saved. This option will warn a user that the file has a problem before the document is removed from the screen, and thereby allow them the opportunity to try some other type of save or convert to rescue their current work.

Answer:

Details:

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