Clueless ? about "word" vs "works"

Community Leader
Registered: 04-19-2008
Clueless ? about "word" vs "works"
10
Sun, 11-21-2004 - 12:12pm
Hi, I hope I'm in the right place.  I've gotta dorko question about Microsoft Works, versus Microsoft Word.  When I purchased this 'puter, it came loaded with Microsoft Works.  But, when I try to attach anything - saved as a word doc - it comes out all jumbled.  Do ya'll know what I'm doing wrong?  Is there some kind of patch or 'fix' I could use, to be able to save the documents (like resume's) as a Microsoft Word file?  Most (smart!) people have Word, so they can't open my Works .doc.    Heeeeeep!  :)


^Whisper^ & Wonder's Mom

Whisper in the Heart


With my heart,
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001

Works is not the same program as Word. It is a "watered down" version, IMO, in that it doesn't have all the bells & whistles that Word does. It's still a pretty powerful multi-faceted program, however. I think a lot of computer companies include the Works suite because it's cheaper to do so than Office Suite that includes Word. If Works doesn't give you the option to save as a Word/doc file, can you save as a PDF file? PDF is a file anyone can read if they have the freebie Adobe Acrobat Reader program, so it's actually pretty universal and accessible. Unfortunately, the business world is pretty much steeped in using Word. There's always the option to save as a text file, which is also pretty universal, but then you lose all your formatting, so that's not satisfactory. :( The only other thought I had is can you fax it instead of attaching the resume to an email? When I have applied for work, I often faxed instead. Just a thought.

There are some great resident experts who post on this board; hopefully there will be a patch, translation program, or some other solution.

Good luck,
Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003

The programs part of the computer are not my strong point. My first computer had Corel WordPerfect. I liked it.


This one however came with works6. Oh, the word part is not as powerful as the real Word......I have been told. But because I don't have to use it for work nor do I make money off of it, the Works word is plenty powerful for me.


So far I have not found anything that (I) couldn't get done in there. Granted, like I said that is pretty limited...lol...but I have done Christmas Newsletters, Ads for yard sales, downloaded templates for different things like lables etc.....But alas, Word for me is hard to figure out all the things that I have done (except a normal letter) for me is best done in Printmaster...it is more visual for me.


I still get and save the Down and Dirty word newsletter which I have found that the things I have gone in to see if they worked, did work in works word...lol....


It is another one of those things where you have to ask........What are you going to do with it? Business? Then I would say get the Big Word. But for for the most part I have never even had to mail merge or some of those things that the people who know what they are doing do.......lol........


For me I kind of figured if I haven't tried to do something that I couldn't then I don't need it..Kind of like me getting a Hummer.....lol.......if you know what I mean.....Have fun........Janet



 


Have a nice day !.
Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003

I always get this wrong......I said Down and Dirty and it is really Quik and Dirty guide.......maybe this will help you too.


 


Have a nice day !.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Try this...

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001

On my previous two PC systems, I got MS Office included with my computer system purchase, so from our very first home computer back in '92, which had MS Works and Win 3.1, I went to Word, Publisher and so forth, and used them. When we bought our Mac a few months ago, I didn't want to pay the big bucks for MS Office, so I just got the Apple Works suite, which is very similar to MS Works suite with a wp program, spreadsheet program, drawing program, etc. It even comes with a graphics data base. I just figured out how to do my annual holiday newsletter on it, too, LOL! ;)) Set up two columns and away I went! :P The only thing I don't like is I can't import graphics/photos. Grrrr.... At least I haven't figured a way around it, but give me time, LOL! :D What I did discover, though, was the PDF option. And I can still fax, so KEWL! I was more into business functions with past computer systems, so I *did* ask myself the "what will I most use it for?" questions before I would buy a system, so that I got the program package I needed. I didn't do it so much with the Mac, because I really don't have as much of a need nowadays... And all my .doc files I wanted to keep from the PC, I can open in AppleWorks because the Mac came with a built-in translator from PC to Mac.

Gypsy




Edited 11/21/2004 3:38 pm ET ET by gypsywolfwoman


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003

Boy, I know it isn't rocket science but when you don't have to use it I would put it in the catagory of brain surgery......I have not figured out why when I saved some wordperfect files up at Yahoo and went open them I was told that these were Wordperfect files(DUH) did I want Works to open them I said yes and then I converted them. I don't know how it happened.... I supposed the programs looked back am me and thought here is a real idiot we have to give her all the help we can........lol......


I have learned how to type around pictures, and things like that but set up a data base? I know what to put in it but not how to do it....so I will leave that to the better able and just stick with the easy things.....lol......


I wanted to set up a list and since I am not good at getting them to come out so the numbers are not kind of snakey on the page, I opened up the spreadsheet program in Works, went to the internet found the exact template that I was looking for. It was perfect......but it was for Excel. The next time I went to get a template it said that I didn't have Excel installed on my machine.......now, I knew that the first time but once again the program was giving me the benefit of the doubt but never twice.......lol....


I really do admire all the people that have figured out that program.........OH, one more time, DH wanted me to make something for the fire department. I needed to have a table, I got that. I needed to have the items in the top row turned on the side, now, I know that it could be done but I didn't know what to call it. I looked up about a dozen things from turning text to sideways typing.......finally one day I saw an icon that looked different and I clicked on it and BAM that text was on the side.......That is really more work than I wanted to put into that sheet of paper......I really do like the fun stuff better......lol......


Janet


 


Have a nice day !.
Avatar for cl_emty_nstr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Don't worry about it I do that too come in anytime..........Janet

 


Have a nice day !.
Community Leader
Registered: 04-19-2008

Wow!

With my heart,
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001

Good luck! Hope things work out for you. In my understanding, and I'm by no means an expert, no matter what file format you attach to send to someone, if they do *not* have the same program on their computer, they will not be able to open it or they'll have it opened in WordPad or a text program of some kind, and lose all the formatting. For example, on the PC even, someone sent me a presentation type file and I couldn't open it because I didn't have a program that could deal with it. :( Programs aren't necessarily universal and you can't assume everyone you send something to, will be able to open it, unless its a jpg graphic or PDF format or text format. Then you're usually safe. I know on my new Mac, it has a translator program and was able to open old Word & Excel documents I brought over. However, at some point, the translator program won't open them anymore if I try to make changes. I don't know what's up with that, but when I open them I make sure to save as a program I have on the computer now, which is the Mac equivalent to your Works suite. I managed to salvage my holiday mailing list that way. PHEW!

Hope some of the suggestions help you out! :)

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001

With computer programs over the years, I have learned that where there's a will, dang it, I'll find a way, LOL! :D Just the other day I realized my AppleWorks wp program wouldn't import jpgs/graphics. I was trying to do a newsletter to include in holiday cards. I was freaking out; it came with it's own little graphics library, but I had digital photos I'd taken that I wanted to include. Well, I realized suddenly just because I decided to try it. What the heck, right? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I just put the jpgs on the desktop and dragged them right into the window! It worked! (only on a Mac, I think, though!) :P I also figured out how to do something in another program I have that wasn't designed to have a certain layout option. I figured out a way to set it up on the page so it would print out the way I wanted it. LOL! I get these brainstorms in the middle of the night, of course. Never fails, LOL! :P Last night I popped awake at 12:30 a.m. and started playing around with this program, and by 5:00 a.m. I had what I wanted! Hee! Hee!

Don't lose confidence. Ingenuity goes a longgggg way sometimes, LOL! :D

Gypsy




Edited 11/23/2004 1:05 am ET ET by gypsywolfwoman


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(