So the in-laws have a computer that came with Microsoft Works 9 for free. I installed Open Office when I was here over the summer, and that’s been working great for them — except that they have some Works files that just wouldn’t open, even in Works 9.
It took a while (an excessive while) to pin down the problem. OO doesn’t really deal with Works files for some reason, largely because Microsoft hasn’t even provided much support for its own programs in doing so. And, after digging around for an hour or so, I discovered that Works 9 doesn’t include the conversion file (works432.cnv) that is needed to read Works 4 files (the version they previously had). No particularly reason given why not, it’s just not included. And, of course, in saying so, Micro$oft doesn’t actually give you a way to get the conversion file; it just says, “Hey, load up an older version of Works, or a copy of Word, that can convert these things and convert whichever ones you want.” Which doesn’t really solve the problem, now, does it?
Fortunately, in searching around I found a site that has a bunch of older Works conversion files that you can download, plus a registry update to have the MS applications see them. And, hey presto, Works 9 can now read the older files, letting them save them in a format that OO can then read. Huzzah.
Earned my pay for the week.
***Dave, you rock. I just spent two hours today with a senior citizen who has a bunch of old Works files she couldn’t open in OO.
Glee!
I’m glad I could help. I put these sorts of posts up not to demonstrate my Awesome 1337 Tech Support Skillz, but on the off chance that someone else will find them useful. Which, it seems, you did. Yay!
And here I thought you put these posts here so that you’d be able to remember how you fixed it the last time . . ..
Well, sometimes that, too. 🙂
Though, God willing, I won’t need to be reading old Works files ever again.