In this project, you compare two files created in Microsoft Office to determine whether the files are different at the hexadecimal level. Keep a log of what you find. Use a Windows XP or Vista computer, and follow these steps:

 

1. Start Word, and in a new document, type This is a test.

2. Save the file as Mywordnew.doc in your work folder, using Word 97 - 2003 (*.doc) as the file type. Exit Word.

3. Start Excel, and in a new workbook, enter a few random numbers. Save the file in your work folder as Myworkbook.xls, using Excel 97 - 2003 (*.xls) as the file type.

4. Exit Excel, and start Hex Workshop (which you downloaded earlier).

5. Click File, Open from the menu. In the Open dialog box, navigate to your work folder and double-click Mywordnew.doc.

6. In Hex Workshop, there are two upper panes: the Editor pane and the Data Inspector pane. The Editor pane is divided into three columns: Offset, Hex, and Text. (Note: If needed, click Help, Contents from the menu, and read the Layout and Editing section.) You should see eight 0s in the Offset column. The file header D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 should be in the first row of the Hex column.

7. When you’ve finished examining this information, print just the first page of the document.

8. Click File, Close from the menu to close Mywordnew.doc.

9. Click File, Open from the menu. In the Open dialog box, navigate to your work folder and double-click Myworkbook.xls.

10. Examine the information in the Hex Workshop window, and then print the first page.

11. Close Myworkbook.xls, and compare the two printouts. There should be no difference between any files created in Microsoft Office, except in Microsoft Access files. Describe any differences you see in the Office 2007 header. Exit Hex Workshop.