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Mallrat · Jan 18, 2004, 11:25 PM

The reason I became a mac user in the 1st place was I got tired of using Word.

And I love to use Appleworks.

But a lot of time I have to use word for my resume and for documents I want to send to my PC friends.

But I just can't take it. For no reason things space, and tab and do all these weird things for no reason.

i dont' get it! How can I use Word without it trying to help me, but indirectly messing me up.

I can I shut off all those special help features so it's like Appleworks. I can just type and go.

Cadaver · Jan 19, 2004, 12:05 AM

Launch Word
Go to Format -> Auto Format...
Click the Options... button in the dialog box that opens.
Select the Auto Format As You Type tab.
Deselect the ones that you wish (auto lists, etc).

That should make Word stop trying to guess what you are trying to type.

CharlesS · Jan 19, 2004, 05:17 AM

If you are using Mac OS X 10.3 or higher, TextEdit is capable of reading and writing files in the Word doc format. Then you can make .doc files to send to your friends without having to spend 30 minutes in the Word Customize panel to make it usable.

typoon · Jan 19, 2004, 07:52 AM

You can also use Mariner Write which will make RTF's and will open in Word as well.

Mallrat · Jan 19, 2004, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
Launch Word
Go to Format -> Auto Format...
Click the Options... button in the dialog box that opens.
Select the Auto Format As You Type tab.
Deselect the ones that you wish (auto lists, etc).

That should make Word stop trying to guess what you are trying to type.

Do you have to do this for each document you open in word or could you make that the permanent settings?

yeah, I usually write in Appleworks, then copy and paste in word. Works fine.

But sometimes, like when I use my resume I have to have fun using word. Things like I in order to move a word to the left, I have to press enter, then for some reason backspace will work then. All these weird things happen in word

Cadaver · Jan 19, 2004, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by Mallrat:
Do you have to do this for each document you open in word or could you make that the permanent settings?

You have to set your auto-format settings like you want them, then save out a new Normal template. It will then be the default setting for all new documents.

Mallrat · Jan 20, 2004, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
You have to set your auto-format settings like you want them, then save out a new Normal template. It will then be the default setting for all new documents.

I turned all the auto-format stuff off in one document. And I quit and it every new document I use, the settings are the same.

I didn't save a template (how do you do that?)

But it seems to work, so now I'm happy.

Love Calm Quiet · Jan 20, 2004, 05:00 AM

AppleWorks also give the option to "Save As" in various formats, including several versions of WORD (see bottom of Save As window). Default is of course Appleworks.

Does anyone know how well is does in exporting to "Word-Windows 1997 2000 XP-2002" ? I'd like to use it in sending "Word" docs to PC recipients, but I'm wary of AppleWorks quality.

Anybody checked out their Appleworks exports to Windows? footers & headers work right? how about placement of .jpg graphics? (any other form of graphics work better for PC users?)

Lebensm�de · Jan 20, 2004, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by Love Calm Quiet:
AppleWorks also give the option to "Save As" in various formats, including several versions of WORD (see bottom of Save As window). Default is of course Appleworks.

Does anyone know how well is does in exporting to "Word-Windows 1997 2000 XP-2002" ? I'd like to use it in sending "Word" docs to PC recipients, but I'm wary of AppleWorks quality.

Anybody checked out their Appleworks exports to Windows? footers & headers work right? how about placement of .jpg graphics? (any other form of graphics work better for PC users?)

Additionally, if I use a text correction feature in another word processor, will the corrections, i.e. the red markings, be maintained when saved to a .doc format?

khufuu · Jan 20, 2004, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
If you are using Mac OS X 10.3 or higher, TextEdit is capable of reading and writing files in the Word doc format. Then you can make .doc files to send to your friends without having to spend 30 minutes in the Word Customize panel to make it usable.

Yup.

pete · Jan 20, 2004, 09:06 AM

There is other good news...I HATE word and was hoping that Nisus would be returned to its former glory but was disappointed. I personally think Mellel is a very nice application - if it only was more word compatible. This is what the company told me in response to my query about word compatibility:

With our upcoming version we intend to incorporate a full reader/writer for Word RTF and, possibly, also the option for opening and saving .doc files with a limited amount of options supported.

RTF, as it supports every option in MS Word and being an open format (although buggy, but that's another matter) supply in our view all the needed functionality for working vis-�-vis MS Word users.
The implementation planned (will be ready later this month) will support all the essential options: styles, font, size, face, tables, footnotes and endnotes and the like. In addition, we will allow for "font-control" that will enable you to control font replacement to minimise the difference in appearance when working with MS Word users.

I suggest that you wait until we issue our RTF reader/writer and see if it fits your needs and then decide if Mellel suits you.

Best regards

Ori Redler

milhouse · Jan 20, 2004, 05:55 PM

I really like Mellel. I purchased it but rarely use the app because it lacks rtf/.doc support.
This might be pretty sweet

ryaxnb · Jan 21, 2004, 07:21 PM

"make .doc files?"
WTF? I would almost NEVER make a .Doc file with third-party apps. Reading them can be useful, but you should make .Rtf files, readable by all modern versions of Word.

Cadaver · Jan 21, 2004, 08:45 PM

While I think Word is huge, clunky and slow, its the only thing I can find that works well.
Nisus needs a lot of work - both bugs and features. Mellel needs .rtf support (and .doc-read support), and Mariner Write is only a bit better than Nisus.

TampaDeveloper · Jan 22, 2004, 10:40 AM

I just downloaded the trial version yesterday and it brought in my RTF documents fine, minus the images... so thats what I'm going to be messing with tonight. I really like it.

CharlesS · Jan 22, 2004, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by ryaxnb:
"make .doc files?"
WTF? I would almost NEVER make a .Doc file with third-party apps. Reading them can be useful, but you should make .Rtf files, readable by all modern versions of Word.

There's a lot of people out there that go "RTF? What's that?!" and won't open it because they're afraid it might be a virus. Ironic, I know, but that's the way it is.

Cadaver · Jan 22, 2004, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
There's a lot of people out there that go "RTF? What's that?!" and won't open it because they're afraid it might be a virus. Ironic, I know, but that's the way it is.

Perhaps true, but Windoze users with Office installed should see .rtf files as generic Word document icons (look the same as .doc files). At least with Office 97-XP.