After installing Microsoft Works, you can have an icon on the desktop that launches the Works tasks. The various main tasks you can do in Microsoft Works include Word Processing, a spreadsheet, database, calendar, address book, invoke Microsoft Money, invoke Internet Explorer, and synchronize the calendar and address book with a Palm device, and many more tasks. I cannot use the Works launcher since every time I try, it hangs up and I had to end the task. I also could not find a way to open an existing document when I started the launcher. The launcher seems worthless because of this.
From the start menu, you can open the calendar, the database, the portfolio, the spreadsheet, the task launcher, the word processor, and the address book. Since I just received a Palm Zire, I first tried to synchronize the Palm with Works. The operation went as expected and now I can view my appointments either on the Palm or in Works calendar. Because of the ease of this operation, I will use Microsoft works calendar with the Palm to keep track of appointments.
I have tried to open many documents in the Works word processor. I could not open some old files that were created with an old version of Works on a Macintosh. I had to open and save those files on a previous version of Works and then I could open them on Works 7.0. One of the strong points of Works in the past has always been its ability to convert word processing formats. I tried to open documents created in Word 97 and they opened without any problem. You can save in a variety of formats including Rich Text, Text, HTML, Windows Write, several old versions of word (Word 2.x, 6.0, 97-2000 for Windows, Word 4, 5, 5.1 for Mac, Word 3 - 6 for MS - DOS), Word Perfect, and Works 2000, 3.0, and 4.x. The word processor is full featured enough to satisfy most of the needs of the user including tables, spell check, mail merge, and inserting pictures and spreadsheets.
The spreadsheet is a good spreadsheet with all the basic functions you would need for most home tasks. There are many built in formulas to help you perform a wide variety of calculations. You can fill down or across and create charts to better illustrate your data. The spreadsheet is a simpler version of Excel, but will be more than adequate for all but the most complicated needs.
The database allows you to create fields such as number (formatted as money, British money, percent, scientific format, and regular format), date field with several formats, time field with several formats, text, fractions, and a serialized field where you can select the starting value and the increment for each record. You can sort data and create reports that include totals and subtotals. It is a very functional, but not complex database that will be more than adequate for most needs.
The address book allows you to keep track of names including title, nickname, and e-mail address; home address with phone, fax, and mobile number; business address with many fields; personal for keeping track of spouse, children, gender, birthday, and anniversary; other (place to write notes); and Net conferencing (server and address). This seems like more than enough information to keep track of.
I wrote a letter using Works and found it to work in a similar manner to Microsoft Word. It handled automatic spelling correction in the same manner and did a good job of creating and printing an envelope to go with the letter.
I used the address book to enter in the names of several relatives, including name, address, phone number, and personal information. The only trouble I had was when I tried to add children’s names in the personal information. I was not able to type anything into the box. I then synchronized the address book with my Palm Zire and the data transferred perfectly. Since it is more time consuming to enter the address book information in the Palm, I plan to use the address book in Works to type in the information and transfer it to the Palm.
Overall, I like Works. I will especially use the address book and the calendar with the Palm Zire that I have. I will also use the word processor for many different tasks. Since I do not have Microsoft Access on my computer and I do not need the advanced functions of Access, I will use the Works database when I need a database. The only objections I found with Works was that the Launcher hangs every time I try to use it and the very annoying fact that I can’t read some old Works files created on a Mac with this version of Works.
Microsoft Works 7.0
Microsoft.com/Works
Price: About $70
