Yeah, that's a real PITA. I just send the damn thing back and tell them to make it compatible. No return with readable format? No problem, they need me they be a-doing it so I can work with it. Simple and worked every time. Of course a few people missed deadlines and got chewed on which just made me grin.

Makes for a real show sometimes; now where's the popcorn?

Ah. So, hopefully it'll fill the dependency certain apps have for "Word". I may never actually use it as Office per-se (I prefer Open Office to the ribbon..), but it's potentially very useful. For free.

I have fond memories of Microsoft Works back in the day. I used to love using the DOS version (IIRC it was Works 2 for DOS or something long those lines). It had some great tutorials on how to use it. Now, well Microsoft tend to bundle help files, or even point to online help and expect companies to provide training.

I haven't used Works in years (I've looked at it, but not really used it much). Mainly it's been trying to convert the Works files to something else which is a real pain in the arse (like converting Publisher files).

I'd say anyone who has Works and is looking to change, make sure you open and re-save your documents in something like Word 6/95/97 and Excel 5/95/97 formats if you want to do something useful with the files. Alas I don't know if the databases can be converted. Still, I dare say the data could possibly be exported to CSV.

Rob

The problem is not using the "save as" function in office to allow other people to read your documents.

The problem is that people send you documents created in the latest version of office and _expect_ you to be able to properly open them.

I know that you can often get document "filters" or "converters", and now openoffice can open docx files (for instance), but it can't be done perfectly.

Sticking to open formats saves a whole world of pain for everyone.

Is ALL these publicans can find is "Donots"?

I've a pint for Starters and boot the Landlady!

Aye-aye. Let's not get "Finchy" on the office, would you?

"...instead of using the Vole's proprietary document formats that it changes every few years to force you to buy the next version of its expensive software."

You ever see the 'save as' function Nick? Try actually using the software a bit, rather then just sitting around bitching about it! Nothing worse then ingorant people trying to talk about things they are ingorant about. Oh, wait, who does the US have in office?

Great! Now will they publish away to uninstall the crap?

I have switched to Open Office.org and to me it's as good as Microsoft Office. Microsoft Works Wrong formats. Microsoft office way to much bloat ware. i will stay with Open Office.org and did i say it,s "FREE".

It’s horrible, you know exactly what’s going to happen, yet you can’t tear your eyes away. The pilot thinks he’s got the aircraft perfectly under control, yet he’s heading straight into the mountainside.

This is a company so fixated on its existing business model that it hasn’t noticed that the market has changed, and its customers are starting to move on.

Pass the popcorn...

What a way to work that pun. I bet you had an Office full of people Working on that :s

So basically we're moving from one crippled version of Office to another crippled version of office but with a new feature... advertising?

it was annoying and incompatible bloat anyway
did microsoft actually think people liked it?
it was probably made to frustrate people into buying the mega-expensive microsoft office software - until open office came along

hahahaha... epic fail!

So no more Microsoft Works. Seems it didn't work out for Microsoft. Well my old Microsoft Works still works so I guess I'll continue working with it. Not that it works particularly well and since Microsoft is not working on it any more I guess I'll have to try OpenOffice. Does it... you know... work?

Disclaimer: yeah yeah bad pun.