Question about word processing programs

[medjay]

There was a comment in my puctuation thread that made me think about my word processing program.

Through elementary and high school I used a typewriter. In college I bought a simple low rent word processor (I don't even remember the brand).

Two years ago I bought my first actual computer. It came with the Microsoft ME operating system and Microsoft Works was the prevalent word processing program. I use it to write all my invoices, documents and stories; I like it and I'm comfortable with it. Apparently though, everyone else uses Word. I have to reformat all my stuff to Word documents if I want to e-mail them to someone (or submit a story here ).

I've tried to use Word but I just don't care for it. So what's the deal? Is Works a shitty program that's just not compatible with others? Who else uses it? Am I riding the Jalopy of word processing programs while everyone else has the Lexus; or is Works the wave of the future and everyone needs to catch up with me?

 

[MNGuy]

I use Microsoft Word, mostly because I'm used to it. I was told many years ago that WordPerfect is better, so I bought that initially, but it screwed up all my Write files when I tried to convert them, failed to recognize True Type fonts, installed Adobe fonts, that didn't work, and was a general disaster. This was quite some time ago, I believe at the time WordPerfect and Word didn't recognize each others files. So I returned it and went with Word and never looked back.

I'm comfortable with Word, I use Word 97, and still use Word 2.0 since I have some custom macros that I use frequently.

 

[MathGirl]

Hooray for WordPad

My computer has NotePad, WordPad, and the MS full bore word processor. I've found that WordPad does everything I need in a word processor. I've never had any trouble with things needed to be reformatted for EMail or submission to Lit. I even used it for my dissertation.
MG
Ps. Dear MN Guy, What the hell is that thing on your head?

 

[Awful Arthur]

MS Works

Medjay -
MS Works is a "lite" version of MS Office which MS sells or gives to computer manufacturers for distriution with new computers. Works word processor is not as powerful as Office Word and is not compatable with it. Microsoft may have a conversion utility for Works but I doubt it. You could check out the MS site to see.
An alternative you can check out at no cost is something new, developed by Sun Microsystems, called OpenOffice. It is an open source office suite compatible with MS Office that is distributed for free. A lot of people are going to it and apparently Sun is going to put some resources behind it. You can download it at:

http://www.openoffice.org

Hope this helps-

Awful Arthur

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I've always used Microsoft Word (various versions over the years). I'm not familiar with MS Works, but I can't understand why one Microsoft product wouldn't be compatible with another. Perhaps the problem lies with the default setting with respect to the format in which Works saves the file-- .txt,.doc,.rtf. With Word you can select the format in which you want to save the file. Maybe Works does the same and it's just a matter of going into the right menu.

SSBC

Edited to say: Oops, missed above. Never mind!

 

[MNGuy]

Re: Hooray for WordPad

Dear MN Guy, What the hell is that thing on your head?

My helmet to protect my powerful brains while battling evil doers!

 

[pop_54]

Ha

Yeppers word man here really, word 2000 now, so basic it's idiot proof really, auto correct functions and all sorts.

Wordpad is OK still I occasionally use it still for basic forms.

I also do a lot of writing in good old Notepad, simple as hell and just copy paste into word, or straight to site.

There is another free wordprocessor and office suite, and it is genuinely compatable with MS word, (saves in .doc format and all sorts). 602Pro PC suite. 15 Mb free download from 602Software.
Comes with a spread sheet clone and a nice simple to use photo editor thrown in.

pops...........

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

History-wise, I began with an Apple II and a 13" color TV, so my first wp was one called Homeword (I think) which was designed to work with that set-up and was incredibly easy to use. I later graduted up to Appleworks. After making the switch to PC's I used Wordperfect and when it started getting cranky, reluctantly went to Word.

MSWord is slow as hell by today's standards, but it's feature rich and the absolute standard word processor. Using it makes me feel like I've sold out to Bill "he's the devil" Gates, but I've already compromised most of my other principals so at least this feels like a natural situation.

One writer-type tip: the "New Courier" font tends to print very light. A font called "Dark Courier" can be downloaded free from the HP site. It is exactly the same as "NC" except it prints much darker.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[LustiRusti]

I've tried to use Word but I just don't care for it. So what's the deal? Is Works a shitty program that's just not compatible with others? Who else uses it? Am I riding the Jalopy of word processing programs while everyone else has the Lexus; or is Works the wave of the future and everyone needs to catch up with me?

I use MS Works as well.

In the past, I've owned (alright, my parents owned, but hey, it was in my bedroom...lol) a computer that had BOTH MS Works and MS Word on it. In my opinion, both programs are fairly similar.

But now, my current computer only has MS Works. (With the exception of a "note pad" and "word pad".) After some suggestions from others here at Lit, though, I've discovered that it really is easier to copy/paste text in the provided box on the submission page.


~Kenzie

 

[Jenny _S]

Back in the dark ages I had an Apple IIe with AppleWrite or some such. Then I went to an IBM AT with WordPerfect. The difference was like night and day. The time it took to learn the command keystrokes for WordPerfect were more than offset by the additional functions.

About three years ago I went to a Pentium II with Word 97. The learning time was pretty short. I like it better than WordPerfect. I live in Word and Excel so maybe that's what you have to do to get the hang of it.

 

[LustiRusti]

My helmet to protect my powerful brains while battling evil doers!

(Sorry, this is off topic.)

MMGuy, in your av is that Jax from the show Xena?

 

[Never]

(Sorry, this is off topic.)

MMGuy, in your av is that Jax from the show Xena?

Yes, it is.

TROLLOPS:
Joxer the Mighty,
Master of virility,
Every woman wants him
Je's so sexy it's a sin
If you want a special tryst
He's the man you can't resist
By every measure he's a prize

JOXER:
Just check out my shoe size!
Ha-ha!

TROLLOPS:
Joxer the Mighty,
Captain of debauchery,
Never seems to get enough
Of our tantalizing stuff
If you need some company,
With Joxer there's a guarantee

JOXER:
Of the highest potency!

TROLLOP:
Heck, I'd even work for free!

LEAH:
Take your filthy hands off me!

ALL:
He's Joxer—
Joxer the Mighty!

 

[Wantonica]

Yay!!

There was a comment in my puctuation thread that made me think about my word processing program.

Through elementary and high school I used a typewriter. In college I bought a simple low rent word processor (I don't even remember the brand).

Two years ago I bought my first actual computer. It came with the Microsoft ME operating system and Microsoft Works was the prevalent word processing program. I use it to write all my invoices, documents and stories; I like it and I'm comfortable with it. Apparently though, everyone else uses Word. I have to reformat all my stuff to Word documents if I want to e-mail them to someone (or submit a story here ).

I've tried to use Word but I just don't care for it. So what's the deal? Is Works a shitty program that's just not compatible with others? Who else uses it? Am I riding the Jalopy of word processing programs while everyone else has the Lexus; or is Works the wave of the future and everyone needs to catch up with me?

For once, I seem to have the singular answer to a question. I have Word and Works, but prefer and use Works. You cannot cut and paste with it, but try this: highlight the text, go to edit, hit copy, then go to your location and paste. That's how I post my stuff.

Hugs,
Wantonica

 

[The Heretic]

Back in the dark ages I had an Apple IIe with AppleWrite or some such.

Remember Bank Street Writer? Ahh, those were the days.

 

[medjay]

Re: Re: Question about word processing programs

. . . here at Lit, though, I've discovered that it really is easier to copy/paste text in the provided box on the submission page.

Thanks, but the real reason I have to reformat in order to post stories here is that every piece I've written contains italics somewhere in the text. This means I have to submit it in a rich text format and the quickest way I could find to do that was to convert the file to a Word document.

I'm sure there's another way to do it but I was too lazy to look for it. Plus I haven't submitted anything in over half a year and don't plan to in the near future, so I guess it's moot.

 

[ag2507]

Works uses a perfectly adequate Word Processor but it is limited for several reasons:
1) MS bought it from a third party with the rest of Works
2) It isn't compatable with anything but Word will read works files (wordpad won't)
3) It doesn't use an object oriented storage format nor does it use iStream (don't ask, you won't understand the answer)
4) MS is trying to winnow down to One application. There has been next to no investment in Works in the last few years: there's a version of Works already that substitutes Word for wps WP program. That trend will continue.
5) Anticipate Works sometime being replaced by Office Light - Ms Office with a lot of functionality removed.
6) PC Distributers like it because it costs less and is cheaper to support.

I gave up on Works a long time ago: it just doesn't do enough for me.

AG

 

[LustiRusti]

Thanks, but the real reason I have to reformat in order to post stories here is that every piece I've written contains italics somewhere in the text. This means I have to submit it in a rich text format and the quickest way I could find to do that was to convert the file to a Word document.

I wanted my italics in my story. I tried submitting a "rich text" file twice, but it was denied saying "the file was empty" when they opened it. *sigh*

But, then I decided I wanted my story posted MORE than to have italics in it so I copy/pasted it into the box.


~Kenzie

 

[The Heretic]

I wanted my italics in my story. I tried submitting a "rich text" file twice, but it was denied saying "the file was empty" when they opened it. *sigh*

But, then I decided I wanted my story posted MORE than to have italics in it so I copy/pasted it into the box.


~Kenzie

You can export to HTML in Word, but the HTML really sucks big time if there is anything complex like tables, paragraph formatting etc.

Not being a Lit. author I don't know what Lit. accepts, but there are all kinds of conversion programs out there.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I love Joxer the Mighty! I've been meaning to compliment MN_Guy on his a/v.

I prefer word to works because it has so many more spiffy things. More fonts, more formatting help, easier ways to do things like cut and paste.

I'm using the new version of Office (or it was new as of a year ago) b/c that's what came on my computer.

 

[BardsLady]

Word Programs

My computer, fortunately or unfortunately, has Notepad and Wordpad. The problem is, neither of them have Spellcheckers on them.

Technically, Wordpad SHOULD, but when I got this computer it was being sold by a friend who used to go through that one course that gives you all the programs you need? Well, he forgot to install the Spellchecker onto the Wordpad, so that was the pits.

So, having cursed and groaned at my computer for so long, I went surfing for a Shareware/Freeware thing.

After Looking around a bit, I found a program that really fits the bill. It's designed for writers, has a built in spellchecker, and autosaves without you ever having to stop typing.

It's called RoughDraft. It's a DonationWare program. But it's easily downloadable, very easy to use and understand. The spellchecker is kind of interesting as it doesnt always recognise words. But it does get the job done w hen needed.

I highly reccomend this program if you're having troubles with the builtin Windows programs.

BardsLady

 

[Guest]

A two-step write/submit process works best for me. I write a story using a true wordprocessor, like Word (or Wordperfect), complete with all the tools you'll need to develop your story using spell and grammar checkers, thesaurus, formatting, use of italic fonts, etc.

After I'm completely done, I convert to the file to rich text format (*.rtf) just prior to submission to Lit (I never post the story in the "Text Box" field). I've found that when I used to submit the Word document file, some of the special (embedded) characters did not convert well, like a non-breaking hyphen appearing as "%", instead, screwing up the appearance of the text. The other nice thing about RTF files is they can be shared easily with others using different wordprocessing programs.

The two-step process will take a little longer for a story to post, but it allows me to work a story using my favorite wordprocessing program, and the conversion to RTF perfectly preserves the formatting and any special characters (like em-dashes, italic fonts, etc.) while stripping away all the overhead and embedded code associated with the original wordprocessing program (Word in my case).