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Word Processors

gleneagles
Aspiring Legend
Posts: 11,105
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Registered: ‎02-08-2007

Word Processors

I Have a fairly old version of microsoft office but these days I only use it as a simple word processor.
I Cannot justify purchasing the latest version. Can anyone recomment a cheap or free word processor that has the ability to read microsoft documents irrespective of the version on which it was created. ?
We are born into history and history is born into us.
13 REPLIES 13
Oldjim
Resting Legend
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Word Processors

http://www.openoffice.org/ it even opens docX and saves them in standard .doc format
HPsauce
Pro
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Registered: ‎02-02-2008

Re: Word Processors

There is a free Word Reader from Microsoft.
You can then cut and paste into whatever you finally decide on.
shutter
Community Veteran
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Registered: ‎06-11-2007

Re: Word Processors

I wanted a program to read Microsoft Publisher 95 or 98 documents which are .pub but Open Office does not do this..... Cry  Cry
( I wanted it because I want to switch to Linux Mint , and I needed to access my former documents.....)
Fortunately I have a Lotus Smartsuite 97 . Giveaway CDrom, from a magazine.... (on the flash it says "as sold for £374 ! ! Cheesy
By using the Lotus Word Pro, it is possible to read the .pub file, then re-save it as an ODF or any other type of document file.... that can be read by Open Office. Wink
Oldjim
Resting Legend
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Re: Word Processors

I didn't know that - goes away to see if he still has that CD (bet I threw it out though  :()
shutter
Community Veteran
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Re: Word Processors

CORRECTION ! ! ... Undecided
Actually Lotus Wordpro can`t read the .pub file...... BUT... if you open the original .pub file, then click Save AS..... then check the little box at the bottom left of the window, [ save all text as file ]  and choose .Rich Text File  and then save.... you can then open the .rtf file in other progs, and Lotus Wordpro 97 can do that...
(Possibly Open Office can do that.. .. .. .. .. .!  )
Just checked....... and it can..... so no need for Lotus on this one ! ! !...   (what fun.... !  Grin Grin Grin )
Oldjim
Resting Legend
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Word Processors

Waldo
Grafter
Posts: 473
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: Word Processors

For simple word processor AbiWord is worth a look.
i can't say how well it deals with Microsoft documents; probably depends on the complexity of said docs.
johpal
Grafter
Posts: 550
Registered: ‎20-04-2008

Re: Word Processors

Microsoft produce a compatibility pack that enables older versions of Office to read the newer formats:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displa...
Oldjim
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Re: Word Processors

Yup - and as I found out - install that on an Office 2003 installation and suddenly you get all the Office 2007 security patches as well
shutter
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Re: Word Processors

Quote from: johpal
Microsoft produce a compatibility pack that enables older versions of Office to read the newer formats:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displa...

BUT.... does it work the other way round.... i.e. newer versions of DTP can read older versions ? ? ?
Oldjim
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Re: Word Processors

It doesn't work for publisher at all
shutter
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Re: Word Processors

Have you tried my "workaround" , on .pub files ?
open the .pub file
then re save it
save as
check the box, bottom left (save as all text file) and choose an alternate ....e.g. Rich Text Format
click save...
then open in OO to edit/print if necessary
Oldjim
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Re: Word Processors

Only one problem with that
Without a Publisher you can't open it in the first place  Shocked
The only person I know who still uses it uses CutePDF to save the result as a pdf so that other people can open it when she circulates it