Author Topic: A computer question?? (Read 2376 times)

PatRobinson · « **on:** March 28, 2010, 11:08:43 AM »

Hi guys,
In the past I have created documents in Microsoft Works word processor and attempted to attach them to emails I sent to modeling buddies. The problem is they have Microsoft Word and they can't open my attachment.
Apparently Works word processor is some mutant step-child that can't play nice with other Microsoft products.
I downloaded Microsoft Word reader to see what they sent me but I can't send any attachment back.

I have gotten tired of this and looked online and found some open source Word-compatible word processors that are either free or low cost to down load. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest version of Microsoft Word so I am looking for advice.

( In addition, I have read reviews that Word 2003 is a better & easier to use product than Word 2007)

So guys what do you suggest??
Pat Robinson

Garf · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:09:06 PM »

I'm looking for a free program that will read a ".doc" format file.

Greg L Bahrman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:11:14 PM »

I would suggest you change your files to PDf's and then the problem goes away and all can read them.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:51:08 PM »

check out OpenOffice. It reads and writes .doc format without issue. it's open source and free. Available for Linux, Microsoft Windows and Mac.

http://www.openoffice.org/

For windows download:

http://download.cnet.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-18483_4-10263109.html

Brett Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:16:00 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on March 28, 2010, 01:51:08 PM

check out OpenOffice. It reads and writes .doc format without issue. it's open source and free. Available for Linux, Microsoft Windows and Mac.

http://www.openoffice.org/

For windows download:

http://download.cnet.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-18483_4-10263109.html

This is the correct answer.

Brett

Peter Ferguson · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2010, 04:10:42 PM »

Hey Steve H , we were just talking about this. There you go! Randy, do you have a free .pdf maker for Steve.

jim gilmore · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2010, 04:14:46 PM »

+1

for open office.

Sorry Bill Gates I'm using xp but I'm not a supporter of your software.

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2010, 06:03:57 PM »

I have been using Open Office for several years and every version has worked fine. It can even read or output in most word processor formats. It includes a word processor, spread sheet, data base, power point and a drawing program. Look at the drawings attached to the posts in my U/Tronics Control section of the Vendors Corner. They were all done in Open Office Draw.

BillLee · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2010, 06:35:41 PM »

And OpenOffice will output PDF files directly if that's what you need.

Regards,

Bill Lee

PatRobinson · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2010, 08:54:03 PM »

Hi guys,
Thanks for everyones help. I will take your advice.

Pat Robinson

Randy Powell · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2010, 10:14:03 PM »

Ty,

Sorry, should have said the OpenOffice will also output .pdf format.

Now that I've learned my way around Fontworks in the writer, I've given up Word entirely.

11290 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2010, 11:54:32 PM »

Depending on the version of Microsoft Word you are using and the version of Microsoft Works that created the document, Word should be able to open the Works document.

To open a Works document in Word, choose "Open" from Word's "File" menu. In the Open dialog that appears, ensure that "All Files" is selected in the "Files of type" field at the bottom of the dialog window. Navigate to the folder in which your Works document is stored. If you can see the Works document in the list of files, then your version of Word can open your Works documents.

Or here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf41401e-70fa-465d-ae2e-cf44dbf05297&DisplayLang=en

for the Microsoft Works 6–9 File Converter.

Mike Lauerman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2010, 12:06:55 AM »

Ty,

Sorry, should have said the OpenOffice will also output .pdf format.

Now that I've learned my way around Fontworks in the writer, I've given up Word entirely.
*********************************************************************

WORD...

Randy Powell · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2010, 10:20:30 AM »

Mike,

Uh, Microsoft Word that is.

Mike Ferguson · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2010, 11:05:46 AM »

Open Office is the best long-term answer, no doubt about it.

Short-term: if you're using Works, save the file as a .rtf (rich text format) file. That should keep most, if not all, of the pertinent file formatting like headers, bold/italics, tabs, etc. and someone can use MS Word to open it.

Andrew Tinsley · « **Reply #15 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:34:57 PM »

Just as most folk have said.........Open Office is the way to go........no compatibility problems and regularly updated. Knocks spots off Microsoft! Oh and I forgot..... it is FREE!
I wouldn't dream of going back to Microsoft even if they paid me. There is just no contest.

Andrew.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2010, 03:04:11 PM »

Quote from: Andrew Tinsley on March 29, 2010, 02:34:57 PM

Just as most folk have said.........Open Office is the way to go........no compatibility problems and regularly updated. Knocks spots off Microsoft! Oh and I forgot..... it is FREE!
I wouldn't dream of going back to Microsoft even if they paid me. There is just no contest.

Andrew.

OpenOffice actually does better with Word proprietary formats than Word. I just got done fixing a horrifically corrupted Word file with OpenOffice. It was absolutely hopeless with Word, read it into OpenOffice, spit it back out as a .doc, most stuff was fixed.

Brett

Randy Powell · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2010, 04:03:30 PM »

I would note that OpenOffice has some quirks, but they are both less than Microsoft stuff and generally not fatal. OpenOffice Writer is generally pretty easy to work it and is quite a bit more intuitive than MS Word. Took me a bit to figure out how to use Fontworks (similar to WordArt in MS Word), but that was mostly because I was still in Word mode and using Word logic.

It's also easy to put together front ends for it's own internal database or connect front ends to other databases like MySQL. Overall, it's easier to work with than MS Office and the help files aren't written in MSSpeak. They are actually helpful.

OK, OpenOffice commercial is over.

Wayne Collier · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2010, 05:26:07 PM »

Just a curious question. In microsoft access 2007, I can build a data base query in design veiw and access 07 can convert it to SQL. In can then paste it into an email and mail it to a co-worker in any of several other towns. The coworker can then paste it into access on their end and use it. Also, a query can be written in SQL and then pasted into access. This open office software can do this also? And be compatible with several database formats? Is SQL always portable?

Brian Massey · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2010, 09:37:10 AM »

Absolutely; go with Open Office! I got it mainly for converting .doc files to .pdf. It is a great program.

Brian

Garf · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2010, 09:55:40 AM »

I just downloaded Open Office. Now I just need to learn how to use it. I'm used to Word Perfect.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2010, 10:00:44 AM »

Quote from: Garf on March 30, 2010, 09:55:40 AM

I just downloaded Open Office. Now I just need to learn how to use it. I'm used to Word Perfect.

My wife is a died in the wool Word Perfect user and hates Word. I haven't even suggested she try Open Office. As you probably guessed, Open Office acts and feels just like Word.

Brian

Randy Powell · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2010, 10:15:00 AM »

Wayne,

Keep in mind that Access doesn't really use standard SQL. It uses the MS version of SQL that is not quite the same. OpenOffice understand standard SQL very well (it can, after all, connect to MySQL that more than half the internet runs on). I would imagine you could do just what you describe with OpenOffice. And generally, Access can understand standard SQL.

I built a database using Access a couple of years ago. I had an interesting time learning the quirks that MS had put into it, but it wasn't THAT different.

Another note then I'll stop the OpenOffice commercial. OpenOffice Writer can mimic WordPerfect. It has a WordPerfect compatibility mode. I'm told Word does too, but reports I've heard are that it doesn't work all that well. I've never tried it.